Jurisprudential Possibility of Conformity (Taqlid) to Teachings of Non-adult Mujtahid

All people in the Islamic community need to refer to the religious scholars. In most instances, these scholars are aging, mature and familiar with the principles of religion. If religious scholars are adult, assuming that other condition is met and in fact there is a consensus among jurisprudents over the possibility of allowing people to refer to them. But in the absence of the adulthood requirement, is it possible to conform to the teachings of such a jurisprudent according to demonstrative jurisprudence? In this context, there are three opinions among Shiite jurisprudents. The famous opinion considers adulthood to be a requirement. Others hold that this requirement is compatible with precaution while the third opinion, which belongs to contemporary jurisprudents, does not consider it as a requirement. The findings of this study, which have been done in a descriptive-analytical manner, prove that based on reason and the narrations in Taqlid section, the reasons are provided by the first two opinions and it is possible to conform to the teachings of a non-adult jurisprudent. Moreover, the third opinion which is not famous has superiority over others.