TAQLID ( FOLLOWING O4 IMAMS BLINDLY) PERMISSIBLE OR IMPERMISSIBLE IN ISLAM

 

TAQLID ( BLIND FOLLOWING OF IMAM ) PERMISSIBLE OR IMPERMISSIBLE 

INTRODUCTION OF TAQLID ( BLIND FOLLOWING )

Meaning of Taqlid

Taqlid is an Arabic  verbal noun which comes from kallada means to encircle a person or part of body with a band or belt. In Islamic legal terminology taqlid means to “ follow a mujtahid “{an Islamic scholar who can interpret and deduced from sharia i.e. ( Islamic rule )} It further means following the decision of Imam ( religious expert ) blindly, without examining the Scriptural basis or reasoning of that decision. Simply adhering to one of schools ( madhabs ) of Jurisprudence. ( e,g shafi , humbali, hanafi, maliki , zaidi etc.)

Sheikh Samee Hanaf explain taqlid as “ to take statement of someone without knowing the evidence.”{ Aqood Rasam Al- Muftee p 23 }

Allah says in Quran “ So ask the people of the message if you do not know “ [ AL Ambia 21:7 ]

Shayk Muhammad Ibn Sahil Al Uthaymeen commented on this verse “ Allah does not instruct us to ask them except for purpose of following their opinion. This is called taqlid but if one start adhering to specific madhabs by following it in all cases even it goes against the evidence and start believing that this is the way to Allah. So this type of taqlid is forbidden. But the one who has the ability to work things out ( ijthaad ) the one who is talib ul ilm (seeker of knowledge) may engage in Ijtihaad on the basic of evidence, so accordingly he can follow the one who he thinks is correct, or is not likely to be correct. As for the ordinary Muslim and beginner or seeker of knowledge they should strive to follow the one who they think is more closer to the truth (quran and authentic hadith) because of his rich knowledge, strong religious dedication and piety. 
[ Al Ilm p- 205 see Islam qa fatwa no. 113687 ]

According to some scholar following Prophetic Hadeeth is Taqlid

Imam Shafiee explain “ Following someone blindly and without evidence is Taqleed and Allah (swt ) has not made it permissible to follow anyone except Prophet peace be upon him [ Mukhtasar al Muzmi Kitab adab al Qada ]

Comment: Scholars used word Taqleed to follow Prophet peace be upon him. Imam Shafiee meant here that one should accept the saying of prophet without any doubt or evidence. (mention by Ar Ruwiyani in Bahr ul Muhit vol 6 page 271)

The verse in Quran in Surah an Nahl verse 43

“ So ask the people of the message if you do not know”

Amr bin Qais commented on this verse 'it means “ people of Knowledge” [ Al Faqeeh Wal Mutafiqqah 2168 ]

Khateeb Baghdadi Commented on this “It is not allowed to do taqleed of anyone to leave the approved sunnah of prophet peace be upon him” ( Al Faqeeh Wal Mutafiqqah 1:145 )

It is understood that one can approach the imam about Islamic ruling and can follow him till the time it does not contradict Quran and authentic hadith.A lay man can also ask the fatwa or proof at the same time for his understanding.

Some scholars like Khateeb Bhagdadi differ in their opinion according to him asking question from a scholar is taqleed. He commented on above verse that asking from scholars is obligation on lay man. He mention that some call it taqleed and other say it ‘itteba’(obedience). In his book Al fakih wal mutafiqqah 1/145 he mention that “ it is not allowed to do taqleed of anyone except the approved sunnah of prophet (peace be upon him ).”

It has been observed that many people used his first statement as basis of taqleed but leave the other statement to justify their false taqleed. As it is against them.They do taqleed of their respected Imam even after knowing the truth.

Imam Ibn Abdul Barr said

As for lay person they must do taqlid of their scholars when they are in doubt. Because they do not know the evidence and without knowledge they do not have ability to deduce from quran and sunnah. But if matter is clear then he must not do taqlid of him, rather it is haram. (jame bayan al ilm volume 2/114).

PROHIBITION OF TAQLID FROM QURAN

Allah mention in surah Al-e-Imran-Verse 81

“And ( remember ) when Allah took the covenant of Prophets saying take whatever I gave from book and hikmah and afterwards there will come to you a messenger confirming what is with you, you must then believe in him and help him……..”

Imam Ibn Katheer commented that it is proven from Quran that no one is the Greatest Imam other then Prophet peace be upon him. Each and every saying can be rejected whether it is from Imam Abu Haneefah or Imam Shafee or any other Imam. Proven if hadeeth comes in front of Imam and his saying than their saying should be rejected.

PROHIBITION OF TAQLID FROM HADITH

Prophet saw said by the one who has the soul of Muhammad(saw). If Musa (as) comes to you and if you follow him and leave me, you will go astray. If he comes back to life and sees the period of my Prophet hood, he will certainly follow me.
( Mishqat al Masabih vol 1 hadeeth 194 )

This hadith confirmed that one should follow only prophet ( saw) and no other Imam in religion.

PROHIBITION OF TAQLID FROM SAHABA (COMPANIONS )

Ibn Masood (RA) clearly rejected taqleed and he asked his student to do Iqtada ( not taqleed ) of the dead. He replied that it means Sahaba.They were the best of this nation, the purest in heart, the deepest in knowledge. They were chosen by Allah to be the companion of his Prophet ( saw ) and to convey his religion. So follow their ways and behavior, for they were on the right Path.
 [ Mishqat Al Masabih Vol 1, Page no 68-69, Hadeeth Number 193 ]

There were other Sahaba like Abdullah Ibn Umar, Muadh bin Jabal etc. has same opinion about taqleed.

PROHIBITION OF TAQLID FROM SCHOLARS

Imam Shafiee said “ the Muslim are Constantine that if a saying of Messenger of Allah (saw ) is made clear to someone, it is not permitted ( Halal ) for him to leave it for the saying of anyone else. [ Ibn Qayyim Ailaam Al Moqiyeen ( 21361 ) and Fulaami ( p 68 )]

Imam Dahabee also had same opinion he said “ Stick to one madhab is chosen by the one who is not able to seek knowledge, like many of the scholars of our time who are fanatic. [ Seyar Ailam Al Nubala Vol. 14 page 491 ]

He also stated that “ I follow the truth and perform Ijtihad, and I do not attach to any Madhab. ( Seyar Ailam Al Nubala under the biography of Ibn Hazam )

Imam Ahmad Ibn Hanbal said “ The opinion of scholars like Awzaai, of Maalik and of Abu Haneefah, all their opinion, are equal in my eyes. However the proof is in the narration ( from prophet saw ) and his companion )” [ Ibn Abdul Barr in Jaami Bayaan Al Ilm 2/149 ]

In fact the only Madhabs which can be followed without asking any question is that of Prophet (saw). Only his interpretation is divinely guided, rest all other Madhabs are result of human effort. The Madhab of Prophet saw is the only Madhabs for all Imams, Sahabas, and one who comes after them.
 [Evolution of fiqh page no-18 Islamic law and Madhabs by Bilal Philips]

CONCLUSION ABOUT TAQLID

There is nothing wrong in asking from people of knowledge or following school of thought but making taqleed even after watching authentic ruling from Quran and Sunnah is Haram or an act of kufr.

A Lay person should make (dua) supplication for the correct understanding of Islam and strive to find out the right path.

It is not obligatory to follow only one single Madhab and Imam. One should not make rulings from his own opinion, rather he should see the opinion of Imams and take best which is close to hadeeth and Quran.

Authored by 
Naved khan

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Bibliography

Article Taqlid from wikipedia Without DOI Reference, Retrieved from

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Taqlid

Article Taqleed Prohibition from Quran Sunnah Sahaba & Muhadditheen without DOI Reference, Retrieved from http://www.systemoflife.com

Philips, Abu.Ameenah Bilal The evolution of fiqh : Islamic law and Mad-habs I Abu Ameenah Bilal Philips  (15th ed.)Riyadh , 2006 p. 18, ISBN 9960-9813-0-4