Taqleed

Following one's nafs

Q: Please can you advise if it is permissible for one to claim to be half Shaafi'ee and half Hanafi i.e. incorporate Shaafi'ee rulings that they have taken a liking to into their daily lives. Hence they declare themselves part Shaafi'ee and part Hanafi. If this is not permissible, please advise the harms and dangers this poses to ones Imaan.

Why should we follow an Imaam?

Q: Why should we follow an Imam such as Abu Hanifa, Ahmed bin Hanbal etc. as following the ways of of Prophet Muhammad (Sallallahu Alayhi Wasallam) is the best way? If Imams were correct enough then why do they have different way of offering Salaah? In this case one Imam can be correct while other three may be totally wrong in their practice.

Following a mazhab

Q: Do we really need to follow a Mazhab?If yes why didn't the Prophet (Sallallahu Alayhi Wasallam) or his companions not do so? My friends confused me with this points because I know that we cannot add anything to Islam unless it's told or practised by the prophet Muhammed (Sallallahu Alayhi Wasallam).

Picking and choosing from other mazhabs

Q: Can a shaafi follower follow hanafi fiqh in matters of tahaarah and purity and perform salah, fasting and hajj according to shaafi fiqh when he feels hanafi fiqh is easier in tahaarah matters than shaafi fiqh? Or can a shaafi follower adopt some opinions of the hanafi Imam in matters of tahaarah not as a whole because he feels it easier? Will he be sinning by doing like this when his intention is not to follow his nafs but to make his life easier? Allah Ta'ala and our Rasul (Sallallahu Alayhi Wasallam) also teach that we should make our deen easy to follow?