Understanding the Four Madhhabs

Why four schools of thought? Is it necessary to follow one? Discussion on these and other questions. A great book for those confused about this subject. Because of the traditional pious fear of distorting the Law of Islam, the overwhelming majority of the great scholars of the past - certainly well over ninety-nine percent of them - have adhered loyally to a madhhab. It is true that in the troubled fourteenth century a handful of dissenters appeared, but even these individuals never recommended that semi-educated Muslims should attempt ijtihad without expert help.