Today, the Muslim Ummah is divided into various groups and sects, each calling the other a falsehood. The real cause of coming up of these sects is that, Muslims have left their real centre i.e. the Qur'an and Hadith of Rasool (صلى الله عليه وسلم) , and have raised up Imams, Peers, 'Awliyas etc. among themselves. In such situations, it was the responsibilty of the Ulema to impart the knowledge and teachings of Qur'an and Hadith of Rasool (صلى الله عليه وسلم) and put an end to the malice of sects. But on the contrary, they invite people to such things which is no-where to be found in the Qur'an or Hadith,which is 'Taqleed'.
Taqleed is being proved from Qur'an and Hadith. It is very sad to say that to prove Taqleed, big meetngs and confrences are being orqanised, but no meetngs are organised on topics like 'Iteba-e-Sunnat' i.e. Following the Sunnah etc.
- Definition of Taqleed:
1. "The proof of Muqaleed (one who does Taqleed) is the Qaul or order of Mushtahid (one whose Taqleed is being done) or Imam. Neither can he verify or search himself nor can he ponder over the research of his Imam."
[Musallam As-Saboot Mujtabaayi, pg. 624]
2. "Taqleed is accepting the orders (Qaul) of any person other than the Prophet like Imam etc. without any reference."
[Allaam Seebqi, Sharah Jamah Al-Jawmey, Vol. 2, pg. 251]
3. Mulla Ali Qari Hanafi says in his book 'Sharah Qaseeda Amali' (Published: Matbooa Yusufi, Delhi) on pg. 34:
"To accept the Qaul (orders) of other than Prophet without reference is Taqleed."
4. "The reference or arguement of a Muqaleed is only the Qaul of his Imam, Muqaleed says that this is the solution or answer to the problem, because my Imam says so, and whatever my Imam says is right or correct."
[Tauzee Talwee]
5. "The Qaul of Imam is the arguement or reference of the Muqaleed."
[Tauzeehi]
6. "Neither should a Fatwa be issude on nor should any other thing be followed except, the Qaul of the Imam."
[Durray Mukhtaar, Vol. 1]
Taqleed means, that a Muqaleed follows only him whose Taqleed is being done. To search or ask for proofs is breaking the Taqleed. In other words, Taqleed is Ibaadat as things from other than the Prophet, without any authentic reference (i.e. Qur'an and Hadith) is accepted and followed.
Let us analyse Qur'anic verses and Ahadith of the Rasool (صلى الله عليه وسلم), on deniance of Taqleed and the decision is yours. Remember the deniance of Qur'an and Hadith is Kufr. Our job is only to convey the Truth to you in the light of Qur'an and Hadith.
- Deniance of Taqleed in the Light of the Qur'an -
الْيَوْمَ أَكْمَلْتُ لَكُمْ دِينَكُمْ وَأَتْمَمْتُ عَلَيْكُم نِعْمَتِي وَرَضِيتُ لَكُمُ الإِسْلاَمَ دِينًا
This day have I perfected your religion for you, completed My favour upon you, and have chosen for you Islam as your religion.
[Al Qur'an 5:3]
This verse was revealed on the occasion of 'Hajjat-ul-Wida'. On that day, i.e. 9th Dhill Hajj, Yawm-e-Arafah, Allaah and His Rasool (صلى الله عليه وسلم) declared that the Religion is completed. On that occasion the Messenger (صلى الله عليه وسلم) said, "I am leaving only two things among you, till you hold to them you will never be misled, One is the Book of Allaah and the other is my Sunnah." ref
When the religion is complete, the Muqaleeds need to ask this to themselves: "Which missing part will be completed by Taqleed?"
Is the Religion of Islam incomplete? Or, is there anything missing in the Shariah of Prophet Muhammad (صلى الله عليه وسلم)?
وَيَوْمَ يَعَضُّ الظَّالِمُ عَلَى يَدَيْهِ يَقُولُ يَا لَيْتَنِي اتَّخَذْتُ مَعَ الرَّسُولِ سَبِيلًا
The Day that the wrong-doer will bite at his hands, he will say, "Oh! would that I had taken a (straight) path with the Messenger.
يَا وَيْلَتَى لَيْتَنِي لَمْ أَتَّخِذْ فُلَانًا خَلِيلًا
Ah! woe is me! Would that I had never taken such a one for a friend!
لَقَدْ أَضَلَّنِي عَنِ الذِّكْرِ بَعْدَ إِذْ جَاءنِي وَكَانَ الشَّيْطَانُ لِلْإِنسَانِ خَذُولًا
He did lead me astray from the Message (of Allaah. after it had come to me! Ah! the Evil One is but a traitor to man!"
وَقَالَ الرَّسُولُ يَا رَبِّ إِنَّ قَوْمِي اتَّخَذُوا هَذَا الْقُرْآنَ مَهْجُورًا
Then the Messenger will say: "O my Lord! Truly my people took this Qur'an for just foolish nonsense."
[Al Qur'an 25:27-30]
Inspite of having the Sunnah of Rasool (صلى الله عليه وسلم), those who choose the ways of other than Rasool (صلى الله عليه وسلم) will repent on the Day of Judgment. For this reason they will bite their hands, because inspite of having the teachings of Qur'an and Sunnah they followed the way of Imams which they themselves raised up and followed the way of their father and forefathers. For such Ummati's the Messenger (صلى الله عليه وسلم) will say, ""O my Lord! Truly my people took this Qur'an for just foolish nonsense."
Muqaleeds need to ask this to themselves: "After the Qur'an and Sunnah, which way is it that is better than the Way of Allaah and His Messenger (صلى الله عليه وسلم)?"
اتَّبِعُواْ مَا أُنزِلَ إِلَيْكُم مِّن رَّبِّكُمْ وَلاَ تَتَّبِعُواْ مِن دُونِهِ أَوْلِيَاء قَلِيلاً مَّا تَذَكَّرُونَ
Follow (O men!) the revelation given unto you from your Lord, and follow not, as friends or protectors, other than Him. Little it is ye remember of admonition.
[Al Qur'an 7:3]
فَلاَ وَرَبِّكَ لاَ يُؤْمِنُونَ حَتَّىَ يُحَكِّمُوكَ فِيمَا شَجَرَ بَيْنَهُمْ ثُمَّ لاَ يَجِدُواْ فِي أَنفُسِهِمْ حَرَجًا مِّمَّا قَضَيْتَ وَيُسَلِّمُواْ تَسْلِيمًا
But no, by the Lord, they can have no (real) Faith, until they make thee judge in all disputes between them, and find in their souls no resistance against Thy decisions, but accept them with the fullest conviction.
[Al Qur'an 4:65]
Allaah has revealed the above verse with an oath, that he cannot be a Momin who instead of solving his problems from Ahadith of Rasool (صلى الله عليه وسلم), searches it ini the sayings/preachings of self-raised Imams or others.
Muqaleeds need to ask this to themselves: "Whose justice will be fair, the one who is made Hakim by Allaah or self-erected Imams or others?"
يَوْمَ تُقَلَّبُ وُجُوهُهُمْ فِي النَّارِ يَقُولُونَ يَا لَيْتَنَا أَطَعْنَا اللَّهَ وَأَطَعْنَا الرَّسُولَا
The Day that their faces will be turned upside down in the Fire, they will say: "Woe to us! Would that we had obeyed Allah and obeyed the Messenger." [Al Qur'an 33:66]
That is, "We followed the false Imams and others instead of the invitation to the Deen by Rasool (صلى الله عليه وسلم). But, today we realised that those whom we followed they kept us away from Rasool (صلى الله عليه وسلم) and misled us".
Following the religion of fathers and forefathers and Taqleed of Imams or others is a reason for ignorance even today. If only the Muslims adopt the Straight Path of Qur'an and Hadith only! Salvation is only in following Allaah and His Rasool (صلى الله عليه وسلم)!
- Deniance of Taqleed in the Light of the Hadith -