Taqlid & the falsification of Islamic History Taqlid & the falsification of Islamic History

Taqlid means following the legal opinions of a scholar without gaining knowledge of the detailed evidences for those opinions. A person is compelled to do this as he is not able to encompass the evidences to assert his own view on any particular detailed issue related to the Deen. This relying upon a group of highly trained individuals is seen in every aspect of human life from when we wish to build an extension to our homes to when we wish to cure ourselves; we unquestioningly defer to the experts. The sick person never tries to diagnose himself, let alone be bold enough to prescribe using his own knowledge, the course of medicine he needs to take. Rather he sits humbly and accepts everything his doctor tells him and prescribes him. It would seem, Islam alone has been singled out as being that one thing that any person not only may exercise his mental abilities (however deficient they are) to determine its detailed teachings, but moreover it is said to be his duty.


It is an undisputed fact that Taqlid existed from the very beginning of Islam, as that is the normative procedure for learning. The Companions and Successors (Tabieen) of other Companions were compelled to do Taqlid of their seniors, those of the Companions and Successors who were not scholars, simply took the Deen from those who were scholars. Their basis for their doing Taqlid, apart from the obvious reason mentioned above, was the evidences that made it an obligation for them. Allah (SWT) said in the Holy Quran:


Ask the people of Remembrance if you know not (Sura al-Anbiya:7)


Elsewhere in the Holy Quran Allah (SWT) commanded the believers thus:


Obey Allah, the Messenger and those authorities amongst you.

Ibn Abbas (R.A.), Mujahid, and many authorities in Tafsir (Exegesis of the Holy Quran) stated Those authorities amongst you are the Islamic Jurists, see Tafsir Tabari and Al-Tafsir al-Kabir of Imam Fakhr al-Din al-Razi.

Amongst the many hadith that prove Taqlid is a hadith recorded in Sunnan Abu Daud, in which the Prophet (peace be upon him) said: Verily the cure to not knowing is asking.

Taqlid in the age of the Sahabah
There are many examples in the hadith books where we find the Companions of the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings upon him) doing Taqlid of other more learned Companions.

[1] Abu Ayub al-Ansari (R.A.) was once on his way to Hajj and lost his camels he brought to be sacrificed (and by which a person comes out of Ihram). On the day of sacrifice he came to Umar and asked him what to do? Umar (R.A.) told him to do as those who perform Umrah do (that is to shave or cut their hair), and you will be out of Ihram. Then in the next year do Hajj and make the sacrifice. Note, here neither did Abu Ayub (R.A.) ask for proof nor was it given, a clear example of Taqlid (Muwatta Imam Malik).

[2] Once Umar (R.A.) saw Talha (R.A.) wearing a coloured piece of cloth while he was in the state of Ihram (So long as the cloth is not scented such coloured sheets would be permitted for Ihram). Umar (R.A.) asked him the reason for wearing such sheets. Talha (R.A.) replied that the cloth was from a material which had not been scented. Umar (R.A.) said: You are people who are followed by others. If an unknowing person saw this cloth, he would think Talha wore this cloth in Ihram (thus he would assume scented cloth is permitted). Refrain from using coloured sheets. (Muwatta)

This shows, that there is nothing essentially wrong with following scholars without evidence, rather it was always one of the ways the masses learnt their Deen as is shown by Umars (R.A.) statement.

[3] One of the most obvious examples of Taqlid was that of when the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings upon him) sent Muadh Ibn Jabal (R.A.) to Yemen as a teacher. Whilst in Yemen the people, took exclusively what he taught them as Deen, in old and new issues, which is but Taqlid. For example, he was asked concerning a man who had been survived by daughter and a sister only, how would his inheritance be distributed amongst them. He ruled that they should receive half each and he did this as a Mufti and without mentioning the proof for his view to the people for his opinion. (Sahih al-Bukhari).

[4] We also find a clear example of Sahabah doing Taqlid Shakhsi (specific Taqlid). It is narrated in Sahih al-Bukhari from Ikrimah (R.A.) that the people of Medina asked Ibn Abbas (

link to website as-suffa.org

Thursday, 04 September 2008


Many people today confuse and misunderstand the topic of taqleed (imitating). Some, knowingly or unknowingly, have even gone as far as denying and condemning all forms of taqleed.



It ought to be understood that we, as Muslims, follow the haq (truth), not men. And the haq is not restricted to one particular individual. But we are able to identify who is on the haq when people carry it and implement it.

The scholars are those who desire to teach and explain the hukm sharie(divine rules), and the Messenger Muhammad (SAW) ordered us to follow them, not the juhalaa (ignoramuses).

However,there are some jaahil (ignorant) individuals today who claim all forms of taqleed are haraam, even though the ulamaa of the Salaf have said that whoever denies taqleed is: jaahil (ignorant), zindeeq (a heretic) or a person of bidah (innovation).

Some of these ignorant individuals have a lot of zeal for jihaad, but this over enthusiasm has made them ignorant of the ahkaam (divine rules) and the importance of seeking knowledge. Furthermore, they wrongly assume that the only people who have knowledge are the mujaahideen. This is a very dangerous idea, and it implies the mujaahideen are infallible.

We do not refer to a mujaahid unless he is an aalim. If an ignorant person goes to the battlefield he does not consequentially become an aalim. If we refer to a mujaahid (for the Deen) it is because he is an aalim, not because he is a mujaahid.

There are some who say the people of thughoor (jihaad) know better; but this is not the case for all of those who are fighting. It is only for the ulamaa among them.

Nowadays people want to marginalize, restrict and put down the real ulamaa and those who expose the tawaagheet, deviant sects and who support the mujaahideen.

The harsh reality is that most ulamaa today are behind bars. Ulamaa such as Abu Muhammad al-Maqdisi, Sheikh Omar Abdur-Rahmaan, Sheikh Ali bin Khudayr, Sheikh Naasir al-Fahd, Sheikh Humood al-Khaalidi, as well as the likes of Sheikh Abu Hamzah, Sheikh Faisal and Sheikh Abu Qataadah. Some have been deported and others are under house arrest. This is what the Kuffaar and the enemies of Islam are doing to the ulamaa, but unfortunately nowadays we find young people who are new to the Deen attacking the ulamaa under the guise of defending the Deen. Where is the teaching of Rasoolullah (SAW)?

Al-Imaam al-Khateeb al-Baghdaadi reported from Ishaaq bin Abdillaah that the closest people to the level of prophethood are the people of knowledge and jihaad. The people of ilm will guide the people to what the Messengers came with, and the people of jihaad will struggle and fight for what they brought.

So who is going to tell the people what the Prophets brought? It is the ulamaa. And the mujaahideen are going to fight for it. There is a world of difference between the two, and one should bear in mind that not everyone in jihaad is aalim or faqeeh some may be jaahil or even faajir (sinners).

Despite these facts, there are some ignorant youths who learn a few slogans and terms, such as taqleed, Ahl us-Sunnah wal-Jamaaah, Salaf and so forth, and claim all forms of taqleed are forbidden, even to the ulamaa. They are displeased with certain issues and think they are right when they are completely wrong. And they accuse those who follow someone they dislike of blind following.

The status of ulamaa

The ulamaa have a great position in Islam, and Allah testifies they are people who possess ilm and fear Him. Allah (SWT) says:

Allah bears witness that Laa ilaaha illaa Huwa (none has the right to be worshipped but He), and the angels, and those having knowledge (also give this witness) (EMQ Aal Imraan, 3:18)

It is only the ulamaa among His slaves that fear Allah. (EMQ al-Faatir, 35:28)

Allah will exalt in degree those of you who believe, and those who have beengranted knowledge. And Allah is Well-Acquainted with what you do. (EMQ al-Mujaadalah, 58:11)

The ulamaa are those who safeguard the Deen and the Shareeah, and they are like the Anbiyaa (Prophets). They are the ones who convey the Deen after them, and they carry a great amaanah (trust).

Taqleed

Sheikh al-Albaani (d. 1420 AH) said and I quote him for those who claim to follow him:

As for me, I do not reject taqleed, rather I affirm it and make it obligatory. And if anybody disagrees with me that is up to him. We may benefit from disagreement in this matter. I believe that taqleed cannot be avoided by anyone, whether by the Kibaar al-Aimmah (prominent Imaams), as well as the ulamaa, let alone the Taalib ul-Ilm (seeker of knowledge), or for greater reason the general masses.

What Sheikh al-Albaani said was based on the sayings of the classical scholars. And the underlining fact is that not all forms of imitation (taqleed) are haraam. In fact, it is impossible to go without it, and nobody can avoid it, including the ulamaa, not to mention the Taalibul-Ilm. There is a difference between imitating a Kaafir, jaahil or belly dancer, and imitating an aalim.

When some ulamaa spoke about imitation (taqleed) being haraam, they were speaking in regards to individuals who clearly contradict the Quraanand Sunnah, yet people still (blindly) follow them.

Al-Imaam ash-Shaatibi (d. 790 AH) said:

There is no doubt that if the aammi (