- After the Holy Prophet (sallal laahu alaihi
wasallam), the Sahaba-e-Kiraam and the Taabi'in, the most excellent are the
four Imams of the Ahle Sunnat Wa Jamaat. They are such great Imaams that they
are known as "Mujtahideen Fi Shara". They are Imam-e-Azam Abu Hanifa,
Imam Maalik, Imam Shafi'i and Imam Ahmed bin Hambal (radi Allahu anhum).
- Taqleed means to follow one of the four Imaams of religion
concerning the commandments of Islamic Law (Shariah).
- Today, Muslims throughout the world follow the Taqleed of
these four Imaams. In the Masa'ile Furoo'iya, there is no other fourth Madhab.
The difference of opinion of the four Imaams is only in the laws of Furoo'
(actions) and not in beliefs (Aqaa'id).
- The followers of the four Madhabs are commonly known as
Hanafi, Maaliki, Shafi'i and Hambali.
- It is necessary (Waajib) to follow one of them, eg. to
perform Salaah, or perform Saum, Zakaah, etc. as per what they have prescribed.
This is known as Taqleed Shakhshi.
- These Imams have not made a rule on their own accord but
have explained the meaning of the Holy Quran and Hadith, which a normal person
or even an Alim could not understand. Therefore, to follow these Imaams is
really following the Holy Quran and Hadith.
- Whoever follows one Imaam cannot follow another Imaam, for
example, to follow some rules of one Imaam and other rules of another Imaam is
not allowed. It is necessary to firmly follow only one Imaam.
- A person is not allowed to change from one Imaam to
another, e.g. to become a Hanafi after following the Shafii way. You have to
follow your Imaam and continue following him.
- It is also a joint agreement by all Ulema that you cannot
follow another Imaam or a Mujtahid (religious director) except for one of these
four Imaams.
- The following verses are proofs from the Holy Quran on Taqleed:
- The Holy Quran says: "Guide us on the Right Path, the
Path of those on whom you have showered blessing". (Surah Fateha: 5) The
verse may be taken as the argument in favour of Absolute (Mutlaq) Taqleed as
well as the Taqleed of Mujtahids. Those on the Right Path are the Mufassirin
(Commentators of Quran), Muhaddiseen (Scholars of the Ahadith), Jurists, Awliya
Allah, Ghaus, Qutub, Abdal, etc. They were all Muqallids proving there by that
Taqleed is the Right Path.
- The Holy Quran says: "Allah does not put burden on a
person which he cannot bear." (Surah Baqarah: 286) This verse shows that
Allah does not cause hardships to a man which he cannot endure. It means that
the man who is incapable of Ijtihad, is unable to extract problems (masail) from
the Qur'an as it amounts to over-burdening him if he is restrained from Taqleed
and to expect him to derive problems from the Qur'an is not justifiable.
- The Holy Quran says: "And the first and foremost
among the Muhajireen and Ansar and those who followed them with good intentions
these are those with whom Allah was pleased and they were pleased with Allah."
(Surah Tauba: 100) It means that Almighty Allah is pleased with those who
followed the footstepe of the Muhajirs and the Ansar. This is nothing but
Taqleed.
- The Holy Quran says: "Obey Allah the Almighty and
obey the Holy Prophet and those who wield authority in the land." (Surah Nisa:
59) In thise verse there is the command to obey Almighty Allah (Holy Quran)
the Holy Prophet (Hadith), the person holding authority to command the Ulama
versed in Fiqah (Jurisprudence) and Istimbat (Knowledge of deriving problem from
the Quran and Hadith).
- The Holy Quran says: "Ask (enquire) from the persons
of learning if you do not know." (Surah Nahal: 43) The verse points to
seeking advice and knowledge from the persons of learning if the common men do
not know the real meaning or nature of any command. The men of learning
explicitly refer to the Mujtahids.
- The Holy Quran says: "And follow the man who leads
(people) unto Me." (Surah Luqman: 15) The verse indicates that the following
(Taqleed) should be done of those persons who have devoted themselves to
Almighty Allah. Here there is no restriction on the nature of matters in which
guidance is needed.
- The Holy Quran says: "And those who say: O our Lord!
Provide us the coolness of our eyes from our wives and children and make us the
leader of the right ous people." (Surah al-Furqan: 25) The verse also
demands that the Taqleed or following the men of Almighty Allah is on
obligation.
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