Taqleed Prohibition from Quran,Sunnah and Sahaba
This Article is in response to those Muqalideen(Blind follower) who make take obligatory on every Individual.Contents
1. Definition of Taqleed and difference between itteba and taqleed
2. Prohibition of Taqleed from Qur'an
3. Prohibition of Taqleed from hadeeth
4. Prohibition of Taqleed from Sahaba
5. Prohibition of Taqleed from Scholars
6) Asking Scholar is Obligatory for a Lay person
1. Definition of Taqleed and difference between itteba and taqleed
a) Ibn Hammam Al Hanafi 861 h said:
التقليد العمل بقول من ليس قوله احدى الحجج بلا حجه منها
فليس الرجوع الى النبى صلى الله عليه وسلم والاجماع
"Taqleed is acting without proof upon the action of someone whose saying is not among evidence(Quran and Sunnah), following Prophet peace be upon him and Consensus is not taqleed [Tahreer Ibn Hammam fe ilm al asool vol 3 page 453]
b) Ibn Hajib al Nahwi (646 h) said
فالتقليد العمل بقول غيرك من غير حجة وليس الرجوع الى قوله صلى الله عليه وسلم والى الاجماع والعامى الى المفتى والقاضى الى العدول بتقليد لقيام الحجة
Taqleed is following other then (Prophet) without evidence, so Following Prophet peace be upon him and Ijma, laymen asking from Mufti, Qadhi making judgment based on testimony of witness is not Taqleed because there is evidence on that.
منتهى الوصول والأمل في علمي الأصول والجدل page 218
c) Ali bin Muhammad Al Amadi (631 h) said.
فالرجوع الى قول النبى عليه السلام والى ما اجمع عليه اهل العصر من المجتهدين ورجوع العامي الى قول المفتي، وكذلك عمل القاضي بقول العدول لا يكون تقليدا، لعدم عروه من الحجة الملزمة
Following Prophet peace be upon him, consensus of Jurists of the time' laymen asking from Mufti, Qadhi making judgment based on testimony of witness is not Taqleed.[Al AHKAM FE ASOOL AL AHKAM online source of the book vol 4 page 221] source: http://www.yasoob.com/books/htm1/m019/23/no2316.html
d) Ibn Qudamah Al Hanblee said
وهو فى عرف الفقهاء قبول قول الغير من غير حجة اخذا من هذاالمعنى فلا يسمى الاخذ بقول النبى صلى الله عليه وسلم والاجماع تقليدا
And this (taqleed) according to jurists is accepting sayings of others (then Prophet) without evidence. From this meaning accepting saying of Prophet peace be upon him and consensus is not taqleed [Rodha tul Nazir vol 2 page 450]
e)It is mentioned in "Muthalam uth Thubut" p 289 taba 1316 it is said that
Following Quran, Hadith, consensus', Qadhi making judgment based on testimony of witness, laymen coming to a scholar is not Taqleed.
f) Ibn Al Qayyam said
والتقليد ليس بعلم باتفاق اهل العلم
People of knowledge are agreed upon that taqeed is not knowledge[Ailam al moqieen vol 2 page 188]
Note 1: According to Some Scholars following Prophetic Hadeeth is Taqleed for example
a) Imam Abu Jafar Tahawi said
فذهب قوم إلى هذا الحديث فقلدوه
And some people went to this hadeeth, and they did Taqleed (of this hadeeth) [Sharah Ma`ani Al Athaar 4/3 Kitab al Buyu]
b) Imam Shafiee said
( قال الشافعي ) رحمه الله : فأما أن يقلده فلم يجعل الله ذلك لأحد بعد رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم
(urduTranslation by sh Rafeeq Tahir)
امام شافعی نے فرمایا : رہی اسکی تقلید کی بات تو اللہ تعالى نے اسے رسول اللہ صلى اللہ علیہ وسلم کے بعد کسی کے لیے روا نہیں رکھا
(rough english translation)Imam Shafiee said: Regarding taqleed (blind following someone without evidence), Allah(swt) hasn't made it(taqleed) permissible to anyone after Prophet(pbuh)[Mukhtasar al Muzni Kitab adab al-Qada]
source: http://www.islamweb.net/newlibrary/display_book.php?idfrom=5905&idto=5908&bk_no=31&ID=2360
Comment: Here they used word Taqleed for following the Prophet (saw), Imam Shafiee meant accepting the saying of Prophet peace be upon him without questions This is mentioned by Ar-Ruwiyani in Bahr ul Muhit" vol 6 page 271
Note 2: According to Some scholars asking question from a scholar is taqleed, for example
.
a) Khateeb Baghdadi said
أما من يسوغ له التقليد فهو العامي الذي لا يعرف طرق الأحكام الشرعية فيجوز له أن يقلد عالما ويعمل بقوله ، قال الله تعالى فَاسْأَلُوا أَهْلَ الذِّكْرِ إِنْ كُنْتُمْ لا تَعْلَمُونَ سورة النحل آية 43 أَخْبَرَنِي أَبُو الْقَاسِمِ الأَزْهَرِيُّ ، نا أَبُو الْعَبَّاسِ مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ مُكْرَمٍ ، إِمْلاءً ، نا أَبُو بَكْرِ بْنُ مُجَاهِدٍ الْمُقْرِئُ ، نا عَبْدُ اللَّهِ بْنُ أَيُّوبَ ، نا أَبُو بَدْرٍ ، قَالَ : سَمِعْتُ عَمْرَو بْنَ قَيْسٍ ، يَقُولُ فِي قَوْلِ اللَّهِ تَعَالَى : " فَاسْأَلُوا أَهْلَ الذِّكْرِ إِنْ كُنْتُمْ لا تَعْلَمُونَ سورة النحل آية 43 ، قَالَ : أَهْلُ الْعِلْمِ "
Taqleed is allowed for the lay person who does not know any ruling from Islamic Law. It is allowed for him to make taqleed of a scholar. Because Allah says "So ask the people of the message if you do not know."[An Nahal ayah 14].. Amr bin Qais said regarding the saying "So ask the people of the message if you do not know." Meaning People of knowledge.[Al Faqeeh wal Mutafiqqah 2/68]
Source: http://www.islamweb.net/hadith/display_hbook.php?bk_no=708&pid=152064
Comment: Here Khateeb Baghdadi ra was not talking about the taqleed of the people of subcontinent because asking scholar is obligation on lay person, everyone says that. Some call it taqleed others call it Itteba. Khateeb Baghdadi ra himself said
أنه لا ينبغي أن يُقَلَّدَ أحدٌ في ترك ما ثبتت به سنة رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم .ا.هـ. .
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]
Alas we can see the people of subcontinent use his one statement to prove their false taqleed but leave his other statement because it is against them. In fact they do not even follow his first statement because even after knowing the truth they do taqleed of respected Imam Rahimullah.
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b) Ibne Abdul Barr said Obaidullah bin al-Motaz said
لا فرف بين بهيمة تقاد وإنسان يقلد
There is no difference between an animal who is pulled and a man who is a Muqallid [Jam'e byan al ilam vol 2 page 114]
Ibn Abdul Barr said
وهذا كله لغير العامة فإن العامة لا بد لها من تقليد علمائها عند النازلة تنزل بها لأنها لا تتبين موقع الحجة ولا تصل بعدم الفهم إلى علم ذلك
And all that is other than folks. As for folks so they must follow their scholars when they have to ask something. Because they do not know the evidence and without knowledge they did not know the understandings.[Jam'e Byan al Ilm 2/114]
Comment: So according to Imam Ibn Abdul Barr if Scholars do taqleed then they are like animals but as for lay people then they should ask scholars and follow them
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c) Suyuti mentioned (Shaykh Zubair Ali Zai said it is from Ibn Hazam)
ولم أجد أحد ممن يوصف بالعلم قديما و حديثا يستجيز التقليد
I have not seen any scholar of the past and present who allowed or ordered to make taqleed[Ar Radd min al Akhlad min al Ardh by Suyuti]
Suyuti said
قوله تعالى فاسئلو أهل الذكر إن كنتم لاتعلمون استدل به على جواز التقليد في الفروع العامي
Allah says Ask the followers of the Remembrance if ye know not! [16:43] this verse is used as proof on the permissibility of Taqleed for an Ordinary person in secondary issues[Ikleel' fe Istanbaat al Tanzeel page 163 Surah An-Nahl ayah 43, tehqeeq of Saif ud din Abdul Qadir, Dar ul Kutub Ilmiyah, Beruit-Lebnon]
Comment:This is already proven above under "Definition of Taqleed and difference between itteba and taqleed" that if an Ordinary person ask question from a Mufti is not Taqleed according to the most correct opinion, but Ibn Abdul Barr, Khateeb Baghda etc are on the opinion that If a lay person have some problem he must ask question from scholar and this is taqleed. This is only the difference of word some call it itteba some call it taqleed. Both agreed for a lay person he must ask question from the scholar if he does not know anything because Allah says "Ask the people of knowledge". But here in subcontinent some of the great scholas of Muqallideen even after they knew the authentic stance said we have to follow Imam Abu Hanifa and leave the hadith. For example
.
Mahmud ul Hasan hanafi hiyati Deobandi said . In the "Taqrir Ut Tirmidhi", it is said in chapter oftransactions (Buyu') on the subject on Khyar ul Majlis
"فالحاصل: أن مسألة الخيار من مهمات المسائل، وخالف أبو حنيفة فيه الجمهور وكثيراً من الناس المتقدمين والمتأخرين، وصنفوا رسائل في ترديد مذهبه في هذه المسألة، ورجّح مولانا الشاه ولي الله المحدث الدهلوي قدس سره في رسالته مذهب الشافعي من جهة الأحاديث والنصوص، وكذلك قال شيخنا مدّ ظله بترجيح مذهبه، وقال: الحق والإنصاف أن الترجيح للشافعي في هذه المسألة. ونحن مقلدون يجب علينا تقليد إمامنا أبي حنيفة".
"What is obtained is that the topic of khyar is amongimportant topics and Abu Hanifah contradicted in it the majority and a lot of people from the first and later generations, they wrote rasail in refutation of his (Abu Hanifah) Madhab on this topic and Maulana Shah Waliyullah Muhadith gave preference (Tarjih) in his Rasail to the Madhab of Ash-Shafi'i taking evidence from the Ahadith and Nusus, and the same our Shaykh gave preference(Tarjih) to his Madhab and said the truth and justice in this topic is to give preference to Ash-Shafi'i and we are Muqalid and the Taqlid of our Imam AbuHanifah is obligatory (Wajib) upon us.Allah knows best"
Scan of front cover: http://images.orkut.com/orkut/photos/PQAAADzgy-FKUwTVY_2GU6vWBHbyXXXqlr5BF1YbPYlKDPS0RFeoLDeHNYaGiQ-zb1G77KCTlN4Rrij4FO1ixu2tguEAm1T1UCKDb1p7ExSgjIfBObNnyNAg-6hu.jpg
Scan of the refrence: http://images.orkut.com/orkut/photos/PQAAADe1Enrn_iZXChtqWgvC7Clod76rmG1BLMRMjzMO3sgggQNWG8iF6ryIDOlMYWFQmi1rOXkdhDhCfaWnDVxyGUkAm1T1UAM8dXZqUd1xb_SXukBbkbsFK0pI.jpg
Comment: So here Shaykh ul Hind of deobandis Mahmoud ul Hasan knew that the hadith is with the stance of Imam Shafiee but still he rejected the hadith just because it is obligatory on him to follow Imam Abu Haneefa, this kind of taqleed is totally Prohibited.
Allamah Ahmad yaar Khan Naeemi Brelvi said
Now we will mention an ultimate reply that is our evidences are not these narrations. Our main evidences are the sayings of Imam al Azam Abu Hanifa RadhiAllahanhu. We quote these verses and ahadith in support of the issues. These verses and ahadith are evidences of Abu Hanifa RadhiAllahanhu [Ja Al Haq Vol 2 page 91]
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Comment: These two statements from brelvi and deobandi great scholars is enough to show the reality, This kind of taqleed is prohibited from Qur`an, Sunnah, Companions and Salaf.
2. Prohibition of Taqleed from Qur`an
a) Allamah Jalal ud din Suyuti said
عن ابن مسعود اثر اصرح فى ذم التقليد من الاثر المذكور وهو ما اخرجه البيهقى فى السنه عنه قال لا تقلدوا دينكم الرجال وقال ابن حزم فى كتابه النبذ الكافية فى علم الاصول التقليد حرام ولا يحل لاحد ان ياخذ قول احد غير رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم بلا برهان لقوله تعالى اتبعوا ما أنزل إليكم من ربكم ولا تتبعوا من دونه أولياء وقوله تعالى وإذا قيل لهم اتبعوا ما أنزل الله قالوا بل نتبع ما ألفينا عليه آباءنا وقال فى حق من لم يقلد فبشر عبادى الذين يستمعون القول فيتبعون احسنه اولائك الذين هد اهم الله و اولئك هم اولوا الاباب وقال تعالىفإن تنازعتم في شيء فردوه إلى الله والرسول إن كنتم تؤمنون بالله واليوم الآخر
Athar of Ibne Masood has a connection in condemnation of Taqleed, This Athar is mentioned by Behaqi in Sunan (Ibne Masood) said Do not make taqleed of people in deen", Ibne Hazam(died in 456 h) said in the book Al Nabad al Kafiyah min Ilm al Asool that Taqleed is Haram it is not permissible for anyone to take words other than Prophet of Allah peace be upon him without proof, Allah says Follow (O men!) the revelation given unto you from your Lord, and follow not, as friends or protectors, other than Him." [007:003] and Allah says "When it is said to them: "Follow what God hath revealed:" They say: "Nay!"[002:170] and he(Allah) says.. " So give good tidings to My servants Who listen to speech and follow the best of it. Those are the ones Allah has guided, and those are people of understanding."[39:18] and Allah says "if you differ in anything amongst yourselves, refer it to Allâh and His Messenger, if you believe in Allâh and in the Last Day.[Al Radd min al Akhlad min al Ardh by Suyuti page 52,53]
Tafsir Jalalyan says
O you who believe, obey God, and obey the Messenger and those in authority among you, that is, rulers, when they command you to obey God and His Messenger. If you should quarrel, disagree, about anything, refer it to God, that is, to His Book, and the Messenger, while he lives, and thereafter [refer] to his Sunna: in other words examine these [disputes] with reference to these two [sources], if you believe in God and the Last Day; that, reference to the two [sources], is better, for you than quarrelling or [adhering to] personal opinions, and more excellent in interpretation, in the end.[In his tafsir under 4:59]
Allah says in Surah Al e Imran
(81. And (remember) when Allah took the covenant of the Prophets, saying: "Take whatever I gave you from the 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.'' Allah said: "Do you agree (to it) and will you take up Isri'' They said: "We agree.'' He said: "Then bear witness; and I am with you among the witnesses.'') (82. Then whoever turns away after this, they are the rebellious.)
Imam Ibne Katheer Commented
فالرسول محمد خاتم الأنبياء صلوات الله وسلامه عليه ، دائما إلى يوم الدين ، وهو الإمام الأعظم الذي لو وجد في أي عصر وجد لكان هو الواجب الطاعة المقدم على الأنبياء كلهم
Therefore, Muhammad (Peace be upon him) is the Final Prophet until the Day of Resurrection. He is the greatest Imam(Imam al Azam), who if he existed in any time period, deserves to be obeyed, rather than all other Prophets(end quote)
Comment: It is proven from Qur`an that No one is Imam al Adham other then Prophet peace be upon him, each and every saying can be rejected (whether the saying is from Imam Abu haneefah or Imam Shafiee or any other Imam) but the saying of Imam Al Azam Prophet Muhammad peace be upon him can not be rejected. Hence, Proved If hadith comes in front of Imam and his saying then the syaing should be rejected. Note that Imam ad-Dahabee said Abu Hanifa is Imam Al azam, Ibn e Hajar Asqalani said Shafiee is Imam al-Azam, Some other have given this title to Imam Malik. All of these great scholars were Imams but even their sayings are rejected in front of Prophet peace be upon him as said by Dahabee himself.
3. Prohibition of Taqleed from hadeeth
a) Prophet Peace be upon him said
والذي نفس محمد بيده، لو بدا لكم موسى فاتبعتموه وتركتموني لضللتم عن سواء السبيل، ولو كان حيا وأدرك نبوتي لاتبعني.
By the one who has the soul of Muhammad, If Musa comes in front of you and if you follow him and leave me, you will go astray from the Right path. If he (Musa AS) comes back to life and sees (witnesses) the period of my prophet hood, he will certainly follow me.[Mishqat al Masabih Volume 001 hadeeth no: 194]
Comment: When Musa Alehsalam have no authority than why to follow a fatwa or Ijtehaad of a particular Imam against Qur`an and Sunnah?
4. Prohibition of Taqleed from Sahaba
a). Abdullah bin masood ra said to his students
عن عبدالله يعني ابنَ مسعود أنه قالَ: لا تقلدوا دينكم الرجال، فإنْ أبَيْتُمْ فبالأمواتِ لا بالأحياءِ.
Do not Make taqleed of people in your deen, If you reject (my words) then follow those who passed away(Companions of Prophet peace be upon him), not those who are alive. [Al Moajam al Kabeer Vol 9 page 116 hadeeth no: 8764, Sunan al Kubra 2/10]
Takhreej:
1) Narrated by Lilkai in Sharah asool al aiteqaas Ahlus sunnah:130, Tabrani in Al Kabeer 9/152, Abu Nayeem in Hilya tul Auliyah 1/136 with the rout of Amash-Salma bin Khel from Abi al hawdh from Abdullah bin Masood
Haythamee said Narrators are the narrators of saheeh "Majma az Zawaid 1/188"
Note: Amash is Mudallis and narrating from (AN) but there is 2nd rout of this saying
2) Narrated by Lilkai in Sharah asool al aitekaad 131 with the rout of Obaidullh bin Moosa from Israiel from Abu Husayn from yahya bin Wasib from Masrooq from Abdullah
3) Third rout mentioned by Imam Behaqi in Sunan al Kubra 2/10 Narrated to us Abu Abdullah Al Hafidh, he heard from Abul Husayn Muhammad bin Ahmad Al Qantaree, he heard from Abu al Hawdh al Qadhi, he heard from Muhammad bin Katheer al Maseesi, he heard from Ozaai, hadeeth narrated to him Abda bin abi Ababah
4) Fourth rout mentioned by Khateeb Baghdadi in "الفقيه والمتفقه"(757 with the rout Abu Jafar Muhammad bin Jareer Tabree, hadeeth narrated to him Ahmad bin Waleed, he heard from Abdullah bin Dawud he said Amash mentioned from Abu Abdul Rahman he said that Abdullah bin Masood ra said
There is 5th rout of this saying narrated by Imam Ibne Hazam in Al Ahkam 6/97 with the rout of
5) Ibne Wahab heard from Al awzaai he said narrated to me by Abdah bin abi Ababah that Ibne Masood
Comment: When it is obligatory for tabiyeen (one of the best era) to follow sahaba not particular Imam then who are we? how can we say it is obligatory to follow one particular imam from the four imams? These people say (i have read in a forum) that Tabiyeen should follow Sahaba but we should follow Imam Abu Haneefah who is passed away, May Allah guide these people who are making worst taweel from their own. Ameen
b) Abdullah bin Masood ra said
اغد عالما او متعلما ولا تغد إمعة بين ذالك
Be a Scholar or knowledge seeker, do not be a Muqallid in deen who is in between them[Ibne Abdul Barr narrated in Jame Byan al Ilm vol 1 page 71]
It is mentioned in Al Moajam al Waseet
الامع: الذى يقول أحد: ((أنا معك)), ولا يثبت على شىء, لضعف رأيه. و- المقلد فى الدين. و- المتردد الذى لا يثبت على صنعة. و- الطفيلى. وتزاد التاء فيه للمبالغة
one of the Meaning of امع is Muqallid in Deen [see Al Moajam al Waseet page 26,Taj al Arus vol 11 page 4, Al Qamus al Waheed page 134]
Scan of Al Moajam al Waseet: http://lh3.ggpht.com/_Y3h6JhqU8O4/TTlv0NUd1_I/AAAAAAAAAYg/VlX38KgBetE/s400/untitled.JPG
Takhreej
1.Asim from Zarr he said that Ibne Masood said...Ibne Abdul Barr narrated in Jame Byan al Ilm vol 1 page 71 and 72 hadeeth no:108, Ibne Hazam in Al Ahkam 6/234,Behaqi in al Mudakkhal 378
2. Amash From Tameem bin Salma from Abu Obaidah from Ibne Mas`ood Ibne Abi Shaiba in Al Musannif 5/284, Faswi in Ibne Abdul Barr in Jame Byan al Ilm 1/140
3. Jareer from Abi Sanan from Sahal al Qararee he said that Abdullah bin Masood said.. Bukhari in Tareekh al Kabeer 4/99, Abu Khaythama in Kitab al Ilm 116
4. From Muhammad bin al Nazar Al-azdi (thana) Moawiyah bin Amr (Thana) Zaidah (AN) Abdul Malik bin Zubair from Abdullah
And there are other supportive routs of this athar.
c). Muadh bin Jabal ra said
فأما زلة العالم فإن اهتدى فلا تقلدوه دينكم
Regarding the mistake of a Scholar, even if he is on guidance don't make taqleed of him in deen[Hilya tul auliywah of Abu Naeem Asbahani vol 5 page 97, Kitab az Zuhud of Wakee bin Jarrah vol 1 page 299,300 hadeeth no: 71,Kitab az Zuhud of Imam Abu Dawud page no: 177 hadeeth no: 193, Ibne Abdul Barr in Jame Byan al Ilm 2/982 hadeeth no: 1872 and 1873 Dar Ibne Jozi, Sharah Asool al Aiteqaad Ahlus sunnah Lilkaai hadeeth no: 198, Al Ilal by Darqutni 6/81 992]
Those who authenticated above narration
1) Abu Naeem Asbahani said after narrating this
كذا رواه شعبة موقوفا وهو الصحيح ، وروي بعض هذه الألفاظ مرفوعا عن معاذ .
Narrated By Shoa'bah Moquf and it is authentic and some narrated these words Marfu from Muadh
Source: http://www.islamweb.net/newlibrary/display_book.php?flag=1&bk_no=131&ID=1136
2) Ibn al Qayyam said
This is authentic from Muadh [Ailam al Moqieen 2/239]
3) Muhaqqieen of Kitab az Zuhad Abu dawud (Abu Tameem Yasir bin Ibraheem and Abu Bilal Ganeem bin Abbas) declared the chain Hasan, [Kitab Az Zuhad page no: 177 hadeeth no: 193,]
Note that there is also marfu hadith in this chapter narrated by Tabrani where Prophet peace be upon him said
فاما زلة عالم فان اهتدى فلا تقلدوه دينكم
and regarding Mistake of a Scholar Do not Make taqleed of him in your deen even if he is on hidayah[Moajam al Awsat vol 9 page 326,327 hadeeth no: 8709,8701 and Sharah asool al aiteqaad ahlus sunnah hadith no: 182]
Haythamee said: Narrated by Tabrani in al Awsat and Amr bin Marrah did not heard from Muaadh
source: http://www.islamweb.net/hadith/display_hbook.php?indexstartno=0&hflag=1&pid=441906&bk_no=195&startno=1
Comment: even if scholar is on guidance don't make taqleed of him in deen) Meaning Follow because it is said by Allah or Prophet peace be upon him, not because the Imam said.
4.Prohibition of Taqleed from Scholars
1) Imam Ash Shafiee
Imam Muzni said
اختصرت هذا الكتاب من علم محمد بن إدريس الشافعي رحمه الله ومن معنى قوله لأقربه على من أراده مع إعلامه نهيه عن تقليده وتقليد غيره لينظر فيه لدينه ويحتاط فيه لنفسه ، وبالله التوفيق .
I have shortened this book from the knowledge of Muhammad bin Idrees Shafiee May Allah be pleased with him, So that if some one wants to understand it understand it easily, and I declare that he (Shafiee ra) Prohibits his taqleed and taqleed of others so that (every person) sees his religion(deen) and be precocious for himself[Al Umm, Mukhtasar al Muzni]
Source: http://www.islamweb.net/newlibrary/display_book.php?idfrom=4936&idto=6045&bk_no=31&ID=1937
Imam Shafiee said
أجمع العلماء على أن من استبانت له سنة النبي صلى الله عليه وسلم لم يحل له أن يدعها لقول أحد ا"
The Muslims are unanimously agreed that if a sunnah of the Messenger of Allaah (sallallaahu 'alaihi wa sallam) is made clear to someone, it is not permitted(Halaal) for him to leave it for the saying of anyone else."[Ibn al-Qayyim Ailaam al Moqiyeen (2/361) & Fulaani (p. 68)
2)Ameer ul Mimineen Khaleefa Abu Yusaf Yaqoob (died 595 h)
Ibne Khilkaan praised him and said
و امر برفض فروع الفقه وان العلماء لا يفتون الا بالكتاب العزيز والسنة النبوية و لا يقلدون احدا من المجتهدين المتقدمين, بل تكون احكامهم بما يودى اليه اجتهاد هم من استنبلطهم القضايا من الكتاب والحديث و الاجماع والقياس
He ordered to leave faroo al Fiqh and said Scholars should issue fatwa from Quran al Aziz and Sunnah of Prophet peace be upon him and do not make taqleed of Mujtahideen and Mutaqaddimeen, but make the judgments from Quran ,Hadith,Ijma and Qiyas [Ibne Khilkaan in "وفيات الأعيان" (7|11)]
3)Imam Dahabee(died 748 h) said
وكل إمام يُؤخذ من قوله ويُترك إلاّ إمام المتقين الصادق المصدوق الأمين المعصوم صلوات الله وسلامه عليه . فيا لله العجب ! من عَالِم يُقَلِّد دِينه إماما بَعَيْنِه في كل ما قال ، مع عِلمه بما يَرِد على مذهب إمامه من النصوص النبوية . فلا قوة إلا بالله .
We take and reject the saying of every Imam accept Imam of the righteous Sadiq al Masdooq Al Ameen who is Infallible Prayers and blessings of Allah be upon him, By Allah I am astonished on that scholar who makes taqleed of a particular Imam in his deen on his all sayings, knowing that explicit ahadeeth are rejecting the madhab of his Imam. There is no Strength but in Allah[Tazkara tul Huffaz vol 1 page 16 under the biography of Abdullah bin Masood ra]
Scan: http://images.orkut.com/orkut/photos/PQAAAAUEDIdPLL7kMBXBq10qSkhmFwNNHyZzbzMMD3I_bGT0-uswii1ciQrb5xEMn4xUh-dpcyMOUChyoWQEVVQ9Mb4Am1T1UAcIrb062GOhj8vGkR0s3Gr22pgP.jpg
He also said
ما يتقيد بمذهب واحد إلا من هو قاصر فى التمكن من العلم كأكثر علماء اهل زماننا أو من هو متعصب
Adhering to one madhab is choosed by the one who is not able to seek knowledge like many of the scholars of our time or those who are fanatics. [Seyar Ailam al Nubala Vol 14 page 491]
Scan: http://images.orkut.com/orkut/photos/OwAAAOKm7LH0ax18lE9Rs226I0AVVHErDSXSBlyWqJdhfS02cXwOM89ezL5wuJPnnFEpJ1nnFhOdhPnS0eF46ex1MaMAm1T1UIINeikqhcNB-eSdI6yxvpobBSuQ.jpg
He also said
وقال فيها : أنا أتبع الحق وأجتهد ولا أتقيد بمذهب .
قلت : نعم ، من بلغ رتبة الاجتهاد ، وشهد له بذلك عدة من الأئمة ، لم يسغ له أن يقلد ، كما أن الفقيه المبتدئ والعامي الذي يحفظ القرآن أو كثيرا منه لا يسوغ له الاجتهاد أبدا ، فكيف يجتهد ، وما الذي يقول ؟ وعلام يبني ؟ وكيف يطير ولما يريش ؟
He said in it: “I follow the truth and perform ijtihād, and I do not adhere to any madh’hab”, “I(ad-Dahabi) say: yes. The one who is on the level of ijtihād and a number of imāms have attested to this regarding him, it is not allowed for him to do taqlīd, just as it is not seeming at all for the beginner jurist and the layman who has committed the Qur’ān to memory or a great deal of it to perform ijtihād. How is he going to perform ijtihād? What will he say? On what will he base his opinions? How can he fly when his wings have not yet grown?”[Seyar Ailam anNubala under the biography of Ibn Hazam]
He again said
"ولقد كان في هذا العصر وما قاربه من أئمة الحديث النبوي خلق كثير ، وما ذكرنا عشرهم هنا ، وأكثرهم مذكورون في تاريخى ، وكذلك كان في هذا الوقت خلق من أئمة أهل الرأي والفروع وعدد من أساطين المعتزلة والشيعة وأصحاب الكلام الذين مشوا وراء المعقول واعرضوا عما عليه السلف من التمسك بالآثار النبوية ، وظهر في الفقهاء التقليد وتناقص الاجتهاد ، فسبحان من له الخلق والأمر.
“The Scholars of hadeeth of this era and period close, and from them a great number and we have not even mentioned 1/10 (One tenth) of them. Likewise in the same time a group of people of Ahlur-Rayy (The people of opinion) Wal-Furoo (The hanafee’s), and how many of their heads were mu’tazilees and Shee’ah and the people of Kalaam were present. Who chased people statements (Fatwaas) and left the way of the Salaf which was to hold onto the hadeeth of the Prophet. And from this same time taqleed became apparent amongst the people and the fuqaha performed ijtihaad to a lesser extent.”[Tazkara tul-Huffaz Vol 2 page 627 under the biography of Abu Muhammad Fzal bin Muhammad]
Comment: It is clear from these statements of Imam adDahabi that the scholars must not do taqleed, he is against those deviants who even after knowing the truth do not leave the fatwa of Imam, and for lay people they must ask questions from scholars.
4) Imam Muhammad al Qasim Qurtubee
Imam Dahabee said
قلت : وصنف كتاب " الإيضاح " في الرد على المقلدين
I say he wrote the book "Al Ezah" the refutation of Muqallideen[Seyar al Ailam al Nubala vol 13 page 329]
Scan: http://images.orkut.com/orkut/photos/OwAAAMcs-GwtUjTuzr2ES2RqcO8uOoP7A-RCIGr9pPcxgOKj3Ylj6QyVYFwdTyki3d1A86KnIHrHgRfos-Yfpu3iovIAm1T1UMIUbD3QG7D8PAGBr11CQVuoVcYW.jpg
5) Abu Abdullah bin khaweez Al Basree Al Malaki
Ibn e Abdul Barr (died 463 h) mentioned that Abu Abdullah bin khaweez Al Basree Al Malaki said that
التقليد معناه في الشرع الرجوع إلى قول لا حجة لقائله عليه ، وذلك ممنوع منه في الشريعة والاتباع ما ثبت عليه حجة
In Islamic Law meaning of taqleed is acting on the action of someone who have no evidence for that and this is not allowed in Islamic Law, any thing which is proven from evidence it is called Itteba[Jamie byan al ilam of ibn e abdul barr vol 2 page 118 under the chapter of Fasaad at taqleed and the difference between taqleed and itteba]
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6) Ibraheem Nakha`ee (he was in sughaar tabiyeen) said
What will you do with the saying of Saeed bin Jubayr (Tabiyee) against Hadith of Prophet peace be upon him [Al Ahkam Ibn Hazam 6/293 authenticated by Shaykh Zubair Ali Zai]
7) Imam Ahmad bin Humble said
"The opinion of Awzaa'i, the opinion of Maalik, the opinion of Abu Haneefah: all of it is opinion, and it is all equal in my eyes. However, the proof is in the narrations (from the Prophet (sallallaahu 'alaihi wa sallam) and his Companions)."[Ibn 'Abdul Barr in Jaami' Bayaan al-'Ilm (2/149)]
8) Ibn Hazam (456 h) said
لأن التقليد على الحقيقة إنما هو قبول ما قاله قائل دون النبي بغير برهان. فهذا هو الذي أجمعت الأمة على تسميته تقليداً، وقام البرهان على بطلانه
In reality accepting the sayings of other then Prophet peace be upon him without evidence, this is the definition of taqleed where ummat e Muslimah have consensus and there is evidence that it is invalid[Al Ahkam fe asool al ahkam fe abtaal at taqleed vol 6 page 269]
source http://ar.wikisource.org/wiki/ابن_حزم_-_الإحكام_في_أصول_الأحكام/المجلد_الثاني/الجزء_الثاني/الباب_السادس_والثلاثون_(5)
Jalal ud din Suyuti said that He said
هل أباح مالك وأبو حنيفة والشافعي رضي الله عنهم قط لأحد تقليدهم حاشا لله من هذا ، بل والله قد نهوا عن ذلك ، ومنعوا منه ولم يفسحوا لأحد فيه
Did Maalik, Abu Hanifa and Shaafi May Allah be please with them all permitted their taqleed for anyone? HashAllah never. In fact by Allah they stopped from this, and they did not left any space for anyone.[ar-Rad bin akhlad ilal ardh by Suyuti Page 53]
9) Fakhar ud din al razi
He commented on the ayah“They (Jews and Christians) took their rabbis and their monks to be their lords besides Allaah (by obeying them in things which they made lawful or unlawful according to their own desires without being ordered by Allaah), and (they also took as their Lord) Messiah, son of Maryam (Mary), while they (Jews and Christians) were commanded [in the Tawraat (Torah) and the Injeel (Gospel)] to worship none but One Ilaah (God — Allaah) Laa ilaaha illa Huwa (none has the right to be worshipped but He). Praise and glory be to Him (far above is He) from having the partners they associate (with Him)”[al-Tawbah 9:31]
Commentary
قال شيخنا ومولانا خاتمة المحققين والمجتهدين رضي الله عنه: قد شاهدت جماعة من مقلدة الفقهاء، قرأت عليهم آيات كثيرة من كتاب الله تعالى في بعض المسائل، وكانت مذاهبهم بخلاف تلك الآيات، فلم يقبلوا تلك الآيات ولم يلتفتوا إليها وبقوا ينظرون إلي كالمتعجب،
Our Teacher and Mawlana who is end of Investigators(Muhaqqiqeen) and Jurists(Mujtahideen) may Allah be please withhim said, i have seen Jam'at from Jurists of blind followers (Muqallideen), i read in front of them many verses of Quran on some issues which were against their (taqleedi) madhab, not only they left to accept the verses they didn't even pay attention to it..[in the commentary of Quran under Sura Tauba verse31]
Source: http://altafsir.com/Tafasir.asp?tMadhNo=0&tTafsirNo=4&tSoraNo=9&tAyahNo=31&tDisplay=yes&UserProfile=0&LanguageId=1
10) Ibne Aqeel Hanbalee (died in 513 h) said
ما دخلت البدع على الاديان الا من طريق سلكه عوام الاديان فهلكو. والواجب على من خبره ان يعدل عن سلوكه, ليسلم مما وقع فيه من اغتر به فسلكه. وذالك الطريق هو تعظيم الرجال وترك الادلة, وهو التقليد. فاول من سلكه الشيطان
Innovation in religion came from that way, to which the followers of religion followed. Then they died, whoever knows it, it is Obligatory on him that he should go out from this path, so that he will be saved from blunder... This is the way in which there is veneration of people and they leave the evidence and this is Taqleed, the first one who followed this way was satan.[Kitab al funoon, Al Qisam Thani page 602 Fasal 560]
11) Allamah Sarkhisi quoted from Muhammad bin Hasan Shaibani
If Taqleed was allowed then they are more better for taqleed who were before Abu Haneefa ra like Hasan Basree and Ibraheem an Nakha'ee[Al Mabsoot sarkhisi Volume 16 page 28]
12) Imam at-Tahawi
Imam Tahawi had an argument with Qadhi Abu Obaid, Tahawi said
أو كل ما قاله أبو حنيفة أقول فقال ماظنتك إلا مقلد, فقلت له وهل يقلد إلاعصبى فقال لى او غبى
What (do you think that) each and every saying of Abu Haneefa is my saying? He (Qadhi abu Obaid) said: I consider you muqallid (Tahawi replied) The one who makes taqleed is stubborn or he has a memory problem[Lisan al Meezan vol 1 page 280 taken from Maqalaat Irshad ul haq atharee page 93]
13) Shaykh al-Islam Ibn Taymiyah said:
وليس على أحدٍ من الناس أن يقلِّد رجلاً بعينه في كل ما يأمر به وينهى عنه ويستحبه إلا رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم ، وما زال المسلمون يستفتون علماء المسلمين فيقلدون تارة هذا وتارة هذا ، فإذا كان المقلِّد يقلد في مسألة يراها أصلح في دينه أو القول بها أرجح أو نحو ذلك : جاز هذا باتفاق جماهير علماء المسلمين لم يحرم ذلك لا أبو حنيفة ولا مالك ولا الشافعي ولا أحمد .
No one has to blindly follow any particular man in all that he enjoins or forbids or recommends, apart from the Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him). The Muslims should always refer their questions to the Muslim scholars, following this one sometimes and that one sometimes. If the follower decides to follow the view of an imam with regard to a particular matter which he thinks is better for his religious commitment or is more correct etc, that is permissible according to the majority of Muslim scholars, and neither Abu Haneefah, Maalik, al-Shaafa'i or Ahmad said that this was forbidden.[Majmoo' al-Fataawa, 23/382.]
He said after mentioning great Imams
ليس اتباع احدهم واجبا على جميع الامة كاتباع الرسوا صلى الله عليه وسلم ولا يحرم تقليد احدهم كما يحرم اتباع من يتكلم بغير علم
It is not obligatory to follow anyone but(it is obligatory) to follow Prophet of Allah peace be upon him, and It is not Prohibited to follow one of them(great imams) but it is prohibited to follow the one who speaks without knowledge.[Al Furqaan Page No: 143]
He also said
" الله سبحانه وتعالى فرض على الخلق طاعته وطاعة رسوله صلى الله عليه وسلم ، ولم يوجب على هذه الأمة طاعة أحد بعينه في كل ما يأمر به وينهى عنه إلا رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم ، حتى كان صِدِّيق الأمة وأفضلها بعد نبيها يقول : أطيعوني ما أطعت الله ، فإذا عصيت الله فلا طاعة لي عليكم . واتفقوا كلهم على أنه ليس أحد معصوما في كل ما يأمر به وينهى عنه إلا رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم ، ولهذا قال غير واحد من الأئمة : كل أحدٍ مِن الناس يؤخذ من قوله ويترك إلا رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم
Allaah has enjoined upon mankind to obey Him and obey His Messenger (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him), but He has not enjoined upon this ummah to obey anyone in particular in all that he enjoins or forbids, apart from the Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him). Even the Siddeeq of this ummah and the best of them after its Prophet (i.e., Abu Bakr) said: “Obey me so long as I obey Allaah, but if I disobey Allaah, then you are not obliged to obey me.” They are all unanimously agreed that there is no one who is infallible in all that he enjoins or forbids except the Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him). Hence more than one of the imams said: The words of any person may be adopted or abandoned except the Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him).[Majmoo’ al-Fataawa (20/211)]
He again Said:If someone says it is Obligatory on awam to follow so and so, then this saying is not the saying of Muslim.[Majmoo` al-Fatawaa (22/249)]
14) Imam Ibne Shaheen (d. 385 h)
Qadhi Abu Bakar Muhammad bin Ismaeel said regarding him
ابن شاهين ثقة يشبه الشيوخ إلا أنه كان لحانا ، وكان أيضا لا يعرف من الفقه لا قليلا ولا كثيرا ، وإذا ذكر له مذاهب الفقهاء كالشافعي وغيره ، يقول : أنا محمدي المذهب
Ibn Shaheen was trustworthy...He did not know Fiqh, not a little not a lot, If it is said something regarding fiqh of scholars like Shaafi in front of him, he used to say My Madhab is Muhammadi.[Tareekh Baghdad Vol 11 page 267 no:2068 Quoted by Imam Dahabee in Seyar Ailam an-Nubala under his Tarjuma]
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15) It is mentioned about Shaafi Scholars like Abu Bakr, Abu Ali and Qazi Hussain they used to say
لسنا مقلدين للشافعي بل وافق رأينا رأيه
We are not Muqallideen(Blind followers) of Shafai, but our opinion has become same as of him.[(Tabqat Al Fuqaha of Lucknowi Pg7)]
Comment: Muhadditheen are saying we are not muqallideen of Imam but people say no no they were muqallideen and all the scholars were muqallideen.
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16) Ibn Jawzi said
ذكر تلبيس إبليس عَلَى أمتنا فِي العقائد والديانات
قال المصنف: دخل إبليس عَلَى هذه الأمة فِي عقائدها من طريقين أحدهما التقليد للآباء والأسلاف والثاني الخوض فيما لا يدرك غوره ويعجز الخائض عَن الوصول إِلَى عمقه فأوقع أصحاب هَذَا القسم فِي فنون من التخليط فأما الطريق الأَوَّل فَإِن إبليس زين للمقلدين أن الأدلة قد تشتبه والصواب قد يخفى والتقليد سليم وَقَدْ ضل فِي هَذَا الطريق خلق كثير وبه هلاك عامة الناس فإن اليهود والنصارى قلدوا آباءهم وعلماءهم فضلوا وكذلك أهل الجاهلية واعلم أن العلة التي بِهَا مدحوا التقليد بِهَا يذم لأنه إذا كانت الأدلة تشتبه والصواب يخفى وجب هجر التقليد لئلا يوقع فِي ضلال وقد ذم اللَّه سبحانه وتعالى الواقفين مَعَ تقليد آبائهم وأسلافهم فَقَالَ عز وجل: {إِنَّا وَجَدْنَا آبَاءَنَا عَلَى أُمَّةٍ وَإِنَّا عَلَى آثَارِهِمْ مُقْتَدُونَ قَالَ أَوَلَوْ جِئْتُكُمْ بِأَهْدَى مِمَّا وَجَدْتُمْ عَلَيْهِ آبَاءَكُمْ} المعنى أتتبعونهم وَقَدْ قَالَ عز وجل: {إِنَّهُمْ أَلْفَوْا آبَاءَهُمْ ضَالِّينَ فَهُمْ عَلَى آثَارِهِمْ يُهْرَعُونَ} .
قال المصنف: أعلم أن المقلد عَلَى غير ثقة فيما قلد فيه وفي التقليد إبطال منفعة العقل لأنه إنما خلق للتأمل والتدبر وقبيح بمن أعطي شمعة يستضيء بِهَا أن يطفئها ويمشي فِي الظلمة واعلم أن عموم أصحاب المذاهب يعظم فِي قلوبهم الشخص فيتبعون قوله من غير تدبر بما قَالَ وهذا عين الضلال لأن النظر ينبغي أن يكون إِلَى القول لا إِلَى القائل كَمَا قَالَ علي رَضِيَ اللَّهُ عنه للحرث بْن حوط وَقَدْ قَالَ لَهُ أتظن أنا نظن أن طلحة والزبير كانا عَلَى باطل فَقَالَ لَهُ يا حارث إِنَّهُ ملبوس عليك إن الحق لا يعرف بالرجال أعرف الحق تعرف أهلهSatan has mislead this Ummah by two ways :The first is that the Satan has open the way of Taqleed for Muqallideens of their Aslaaf and has put whispers that their is doubt in the Proofs of Quran and Sunnah of specific and abrogation which can be known sometime and sometime not there (therefore one should rely on taqleed). The reality is that Taqleed has lead to misguidance many of the nations. The Best example of this is of Christians and Jews and Arab Polytheists to which Satan has put into the lowest degree of misguidance.
The main purpose of doing Taqleed is not that which is to be praised but it is to be condemned because when there is doubt in the Quran and Sunnah of Abrogtation and of Specification then there is more doubt in Taqleed of being wrong. So before someone gets involved into the Misguidance of Taqlid, it is Obligatory for him to get away from it. Because in the Quran Allah has condemned those who does Taqleed.
A Muqallid is also skeptical about his Taqleed. Taqleed destroys the thinking of a person because the purpose of a man is to think and ponder. Where as a Muqallid excludes himself from pondering. The example of Taqleed is like this that a traveler lost his way in a night and someone tells him a way and he is like the one who without having knowledge about that way gives preference to do traveling in the night. Muqallidin has also given brain to think but in spite using it they are wasting their brains. Because the poor Muqallidins are the enemy of (guidance of) light. [Talbis Iblis 1/74]
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Hafiz Ibn Jawzi also said
فِيهِ دَلِيل على تَحْرِيم التَّقْلِيد فِي أصُول الدّين، وَأَنه يَنْبَغِي للعاقل أَن يكون عَارِفًا بِمَا يَعْتَقِدهُ، على يَقِين من ذَلِك لَا يُقَلّد فِيهِ أحدا؛ فَإِن الْمُقَلّد كالأعمى يتبع الْقَائِد
There is proof in this(Hadeeth) that doing Taqleed in Usool of Deen is prohibited and it is needed for the person that whatever creed he keeps he must keep its knowledge with surety and he should not do taqleed of anyone because a Muqqalid is like a blind man who walk behind his guide..[كشف المشكل من حديث الصحيحين 3/243]
Scan: http://images.orkut.com/orkut/photos/PQAAAG7g9GmVwSGTbhkCty5-akVCUtsI6Gpwx4rW5BUb-QZdqrNfX4RiSzMRCHiZlBxVvEywSiHzIq4V51WoUyCYboMAm1T1UHhajRTXJs6bYWf_a-2V5VvmODq2.jpg
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17: Hafiz Ibn Qayyim rah said
أعجب من هذا كله من شأنكم معاشر المقلدين أنكم إذا وجدتم آية من كتاب الله توافق رأي صاحبكم أظهرتم أنكم تأخذون بها ، والعمدة في نفس الأمر على ما قاله ، لا على الآية ، وإذا وجدتم آية نظيرها تخالف قوله لم تأخذوا بها ، وتطلبتم لها وجوه التأويل وإخراجها عن ظاهرها حيث لم توافق رأيه ، وهكذا تفعلون في نصوص السنة سواء ، وإذا وجدتم حديثا صحيحا يوافق قوله أخذتم به ، وقلتم : " لنا قوله صلى الله عليه وسلم كيت وكيت " ، وإذا وجدتم مائة حديث صحيح بل وأكثر تخالف قوله لم تلتفتوا إلى حديث منها ، ولم يكن لكم منها حديث واحد فتقولون : لنا قوله صلى الله عليه وسلم كذا وكذا ، وإذا وجدتم مرسلا قد وافق رأيه أخذتم به وجعلتموه حجة هناك ، وإذا وجدتم مائة مرسل تخالف رأيه أطرحتموها كلها من أولها إلى آخرها ، وقلتم : لا نأخذ بالمرسل .
ويقال تاسع عشر : أعجب من هذا كله أنكم إذا أخذتم بالحديث مرسلا كان أو مسندا موافقته رأي صاحبكم ثم وجدتم فيه حكما يخالف رأيه لم تأخذوا به في ذلك الحكم ، وهو حديث واحد ، وكأن الحديث حجة فيما وافق رأي من قلدتموه ، وليس بحجة فيما خالف رأيه .
Your behaviorism is strange when you get any verse which is in accordance with qawl of your Imam then you outwardly show that you follow (the ayah) but your concentration is on the qawl of your Imam and not on the ayah. and likewise when you get any Ayah which is against the qawl of your Imam instead of following it you do Taweel of(that Ayah) and put all your force to make its outward meaning here and there and (say) that it was not in accordance with your Madhhab. Same is your case in following of Hadeeth ; when you get any Hadeeth which is in accordance with your Madhhab you take it and say this and that(Falan aur Falan) Hadeeth is our evidence. and when a minute portion of Hadeeth goes against your Imam then you don't even look at that Hadeeth..And when you get a Mursal narration in acordance with your Madhhab then you say Mursal is Hujjah for us..when its shown to you a minute Mursal(narration) which is against the Madhhab of your Imam then you say we don't follow Mursal (narrations)
And your(Muqqalids) more strange opinion is that sometimes you follow a Hadeeth either Mursal or Musnad because it is in accordance with the Madhhab of your Imam then if there is another Hukm in the hadeeth which is
against the opinion of your Imam then you don't follow that part ; which is of that same Hadeeth.. You follow that part of it(Hadeeth) which is in accordance with the opinion of your Imam of whom you do Taqleed and not that part which against the opinon of your Imam...[Ailaam al Moqieen 2/149-150]
Online Sorce : http://www.islamweb.net/newlibrary/display_book.php?bk_no=34&ID=193&idfrom=221&idto=251&bookid=34&startno=4
see also Hanafi and Shafi scholars condeming taqleed e shakhsi but deobandi and brelvis accepting it.
http://www.umm-ul-qura.org/info/user_pages/page.asp?art_id=104
18. Imam Mohammad Abdul Azeem Roomi Ibn Mulla Farookh Makki al-Hanafee said
إعلم أنه لم يكلف الله تعالى أحدا من عباده بأن يكون حنفيا أو مالكيا أو شافعيا أو حنبليا بل أوجب عليهم الإيمان بما
بعث به محمدا صلى الله عليه وسلم والعمل بشريعته
Know that Allah never obliged any of his slave to become a Hanafee or Shaafi or Maalaki or Hanbalee. But enjoined them to believe on what was sent through Prophrt Muhammad peace be upon him and practicing on Shariyah.[القول السديد في بعض مسائل الاجتهاد والتقليد page 2]
6) Asking Scholar is Obligatory for a Lay person
Allah says,''{then ask those who possess the Message (Ahl adh-Dhikr) if you do not know}[Soorah 21, Aayah 7 and Soorah 6, Aayah 43].
a) Al-Haafiz ibn Rajab refuted these type of scholars he said
"Therefore it is obligatory on anyone who hears of a command of the Messenger of Allaah (sallallaahu 'alaihi wa sallam) or knows it, to explain it to the Ummah, advise them sincerely, and order them to follow his command, even if it contradicts the opinion of someone great. This is because the authority of the Messenger of Allaah (sallallaahu 'alaihi wa sallam) has the most right to be respected and followed, over and above the opinion of anyone great who has unknowingly contradicted the Messenger's command in any matter. This is why the Companions and those after would refute anyone who contradicted the authentic Sunnah, sometimes being very stern in their refutation"[Quoted in the notes on Eeqaaz al-Himam (p. 93), mentioned by Shaykh Al Albani in Siffat Salat an Nabyy]
Comment: So we have to reject the saying of Imam when the matter is clear, The Imam who unknowingly made the mistake will get one thawab and if he is on right than he will get two thawab Insha`Allah. Above saying is also refutation of likes of Mahmoud ul Hasan and Ahmad Yaar Khan brelvi (I have quoted thier statements above regarding following Imam even if they know that the opinion opposing to their Imam is more stronger and with the hadith). Also, Note that we should see the opinions of salaf and Madahib to make the rulings, we should not make the stance from our own, Imam Ibne Rajab did refutation of those who make rulings from their own and do not see the madahib.
b) Ibne Rajab said regarding these type of Scholars
"The wisdom of Allaah dictated that this religion and its guidelines should be protected by means of appointing leaders of the people concerning whom the ummah is unanimously on their knowledge and understanding, and that they reached the highest level of knowledge of rulings and fatwas among ahl al-ra'y wa'l-hadeeth. So the people became dependent on them for fatwas, and referred to them to understand rulings. So Allaah guided them to set guidelines for their madhhabs and explain foundations and principles, so that the madhhab of each imam has its own guidelines, principles and categories, in the light of which rulings and issues of halaal and haraam are to be understood.
This is by the mercy of Allaah towards His slaves, and it is one of the ways in which He preserves this religion.
Were it not for that, people would have seen strange things, whereby every fool who was filled with self-admiration could have tried to mislead the people; so you would have seen such fools claiming to be great imams, saying that they were the guide of this ummah and the only ones to whom people should refer and rely on, to the exclusion of all others.
But by the mercy and grace of Allaah, this door, which could have lead to grave danger, has been blocked and these great evils have been kept away. That is a sign of His great mercy and kindness towards His slaves.
Despite this, there are still those who claim to have reached the level of ijtihaad and talk about issues of knowledge without following any of these four imams.
The claims of some of them may be accepted because of evidence which proves their claims, and others may be rejected. As for those who did not reach this level, they have no choice but to follow those imams and join in what all the ummah joined in.[al-Radd 'ala man attaba'a ghayra al-Madhaahib al-Arba'ah (2/624)]
Comment: Here Hafiz Ibne Rajab is refuting those who make rulings from their own, the ruling is only accepted only if The claim is supported with authentic evidence.
The easiest way to understand this concept is This Fatwa It says in Fataawa al-Lajnah al-Daa’imah (5/28):
Question:
What is the ruling on restricting oneself to the four madhhabs and following their opinions in all circumstances and at all times?
Answer:
- The one who is able to derive rulings directly from the Qur’aan and Sunnah should derive them as those who came before him did. There is no justification for him to follow a view when he believes that the correct view is something opposite. Rather he should follow what he believes is true. It is permissible for him to follow (another scholar) with regard to that which he is not able to work out himself and he needs an answer concerning it.
-It is permissible for one who is not able to derive rulings to follow one whom he feels comfortable following. But if he feels any sense of unease he should ask until he feels comfortable.
-From the above it is clear that their views should not be followed in all situations and at all times, because they may be wrong; rather the truth of what they say, for which there is evidence, should be followed. End quote.(taken from IslamQA fatwa no: 103339)
Lastly see the beautiful saying
حنظلة ، عن عون بن عبدالله ، قال : قلت لعمر بن عبدالعزيز : يُقال :
" أن استطعت أن تكون عالماً فكن عالماً ، وإن لم تكن عالماً فكن متعلماً ، وإن لم تكن متعلماً فأحبهم ، فإن لم تحبهم فلا تبغضهم " .
فقال عمر : سبحان الله ! لقد جعل الله له مخرجاً .
Awn bin Abdullah said: I said to (Ameer ul Momineen) Umar bin Abdul Aziz:It is said: 'Indeed if you are able to become a scholar, then become a scholar, and if you are unable, then become a student, and if you are unable to become a student, then love them, if you are unable to love them, then do not have hatred towards them' so 'Umar bin 'Abdul Azeez replied, 'Subhaan Allaah! Allaah the Mighty and Majestic has even given this one an exit[Narrated by Abu Khaythama, Faswi in Muarifat al Tareekh 3/398,399, Ibne Abdul Bar in Jame Byan al Ilm 1.142-143]
Conclusion:
1. There is nothing wrong in following School of Thought but making taqleed even after watching authentic rulings from Qur`an and Sunnah against the Imam is Haram
2. Asking questions from Scholars is Obligatory for a lay person.
3. It is Prohibited to say that, It is Obligatory to follow one single Imam from four Imams.
4. One Should not make rulings from his own opinion, Rather he should see the opinions of Imams and then take the best ruling which is close to hadeeth.
Related links:
a) "Ask the People of Knowledge If you do not know." With the Shaykh, the Faqîh Muhammad ibn Sâlih al-'Uthaymîn http://www.sunnahonline.com/ilm/ibaanah/vol1_h.htm
b) Shaykh Al AlBani
http://abulhaarith.wordpress.com/2008/09/18/ask-the-people-of-knowledge-if-you-do-not-know-by-shaykh-albaanee/
c) Video lecture by Shaykh al Muhaddith Zubair Ali Zai see from 00:01 up to 4 minutes
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3zM8cl40x6U&feature=autoplay&list=PL4E29012C9EECA4CF&index=4&playnext=2
He clearly said after three minutes "If there is some Hanafi who is following hanafi school of thought who follow Qur'an and Hadeeth and Asool of Imam Abu Haneefa and Imam Tahawi, then if he makes mistake then it is other case and he is our Muslim brother" (END QUOTE)
d) Mathabistic Taqleed Versus The Hanafiyyah, This is one of the best topic http://www.ahlalhdeeth.com/vbe/showpost.php?p=75022&postcount=41
e) ḤANAFĪ AUTHORITIES BY CENTURY (A.H.) WHO DID NOT OBLIGE THE CONTEMPORARY VERSIONS OF SINGLE-MADHHAB TAQLĪD UPON THE LAYMAN http://www.ahlalhdeeth.com/vbe/showpost.php?p=81274&postcount=44
f) SOME ḤANAFĪ AUTHORITIES* BY MAJOR CONTEMPORARY GEOGRAPHICAL** ASSOCIATION*** WHO DID NOT OBLIGE THE PRESENT SUNNIFORUM.COM VERSION OF TAQLĪD UPON THE LAYMAN http://www.ahlalhdeeth.com/vbe/showpost.php?p=83024&postcount=45
