The Different Levels Of Taqleed
Taqleed at each level has different rules. Not differentiating between the various
levels can lead to misconceptions. False ideas regarding Taqleed develop due to not
differentiating between these levels or totally ignoring them. This issue will be discussed
at length because there remains some misinformation regarding the different levels of
Taqleed.
The Taqleed of the lay person
In the context of Taqleed a “lay person” is defined as one who knows little
regarding the Arabic language, and about Islam in general – even though they may be
intelligent in other fields of knowledge. Proficiency to read Arabic titles concerning the
Qur’an and Sunnah but devoid of any formal Islamic studies with a qualified instructor
would also place a person within the ambit of laity. In addition, students who have taken
formal courses in Islamic sciences but have failed to develop acumen would also fall
within this classification. The above mentioned are under an obligation to practice
Taqleed. They must follow a specific Imam and Mujtahid because they simply do not
have the ability to refer to the Qur’an and Sunnah directly nor can they differentiate
between what is apparently contradictory and give scholarly preference to one opinion
over the other.
Shaykh Khatib of Baghdad wrote:
“As for those who should apply Taqleed it is the lay person who does not know
the methods of extracting Islamic rules. It is permissible for such a person to follow one
specific Imam and act upon his Fatwas. This is so because he does not possess the tools
for Ijtihad so his duty is to follow, just as a blind person must follow someone who is able
to see for determining the direction of the Qiblah.” [94]
The Muqallid (follower) on this level cannot get caught up in discussions of
proofs to see which Imam’s view is stronger. His duty is merely to appoint one Mujtahid
and follow his opinions in all matters. This is because he is not academically capable of
making judgments of that kind. So much so that even if this person finds a Hadith which
apparently contradicts the opinion of his appointed Imam, he should not resort to
following the Hadith, but rather adhere to his Imam’s opinion. He should assume that he
has not understood the meaning or context of the Hadith appropriately or he should have
no doubt that his Imam has a stronger proof than the Hadith in question, which he may
not be aware of.
This might seem to be a ludicrous proposition, explaining away the Hadith and act
upon the opinion of his Imam. The truth is that at this level of Taqleed no other
alternative exists. Freedom to practice upon any Hadith one sees, completely regardless of
the fact that Ahadith literature is spread over several hundred thousand Ahadith contained
in over more than three hundred compilations, would lead to a distortion of the Shari’ah
and result in chaos and confusion, because understanding how to extract rules from the
Qur’an and Sunnah is so vast an enterprise that even if one spent a lifetime endeavoring to
achieve this, it would not be possible to claim expertise. Many times, an apparent
meaning is understood from a certain Hadith but after careful examination of the
principles of the Qur’an and Sunnah, and other equally authentic Ahadith a totally
different meaning emerges. Acting upon the apparent meaning of a Hadith will give
rise to as many differing interpretations of a Hadith as there are intellects. I myself have
witnessed many people who have studied the Qur’an and Sunnah and (without the aid of a
scholar or a school) have made outrageous conclusions which are far removed from the
truth. A friend very keen to study books on Hadith believed adamantly that although he
was a follower of Imam Abu Hanifa, he would not hesitate to leave his school of thought
if he found any Hadith, which contradicted it. Based on this belief, he informed someone,
in my presence, that a person’s wudu or ablution is not broken unless one actually hears
wind passing or smells it. I understood immediately from where this misconception arose.
It is true that such a Hadith exists in Tirmidhi. The full Hadith narrated by Imam Tirmidhi
reads:
“Abu Hurairah RA narrated that the Prophet sallalahu alaihi wa sallam said: “Wudu does
not break unless there is a sound or smell.”
Imam Tirmidhi then narrated another Hadith, which is very similar to the one above:
“If anyone of you is sitting in the mosque and feels air between his buttocks, he should not
leave unless he hears a sound or smells something.”[95]
My friend assumed that wudu did not break, according to this narration, unless
there was evidence of a sound or a smell. The truth is quite far from it. All the scholars
unanimously agree that this Hadith concerns only those people who are habitually
suspicious of their wudu breaking ‘without a valid reason. The Prophet sallalahu alaihi wa
sallam informed that they would need more than their suspicions to confirm the invalidity
of their wudu.
This is elucidated in other narrations such as the one in Abu Dawood:
“If anyone of you are in the mosque and feels some movement in his buttocks and then
starts to doubt whether he has broken his wudu or not, should not leave unless he smells
an odour or hears a sound.” [96]
Abu Dawood himself has further narrated from Abdullah ibn Zubair RA that the
Prophet sallalahu alaihi wa sallam explained this to person who was continuously suspicious
of his wudu. Only a person who is qualified and an expert in Hadith can reach this
conclusion. Acting upon reading one Hadith from one book would only lead to
misconceptions and errors such as the one committed by the person in question. What is
alarming is that he had been acting upon the apparent meaning of the Hadith for a long
time. He did not know how many prayers he had offered without wudu.
Likewise, if the concession to leave an Imam’s opinion for the sake of a Hadith is
granted, the following Hadith narrated in Tirmidhi would appear to go against the
collective (Jumhoor) Fatawa of the Imams.
Ibn Abbas RA narrated that the Prophet sallalahu alaihi wa sallam “combined the
afternoon prayer (Zuhr) with the late afternoon prayer (Asr) and the evening prayer
(Maghrib) with the night prayer (‘lsha) in Madinah even though there was no rain or fear
present.” Ibn Abbas RA was asked to explain this action and said that the Prophet sallalahu
alaihi wa sallam “did not wish any burden to fall on his community.” [97]
The initial impressions one gains from this Hadith is the permissibility to combine
Zuhr with Asr and Maghrib with Isha even without being a traveler, in fear or excessive
rain. All the scholars, including the people who claim to follow Hadith literally, see the
Hadith as meaning an apparent combining of the prayers in question. The Prophet sallalahu
alaihi wa sallam offered Zuhr when it was almost time for Asr and then Maghrib when it
was almost time for ‘Isha. This interpretation would be in line with all other principles and
proofs from the Qur’an and Sunnah, whereas the first and apparent meaning would not.
These are two examples from many, where a person who is not qualified can very easily
mislead himself and others into interpreting texts incorrectly. For this reason Scholars
have declared that a non-scholar who is not capable of understanding Hadith should learn
from a person who has expertise in the field. The Taqleed of an Imam or Mujtahid is
made when there is an apparent contradiction in the Qur’an and Sunnah. If there is a
difference of opinion between Imam Abu Hanifa and Imam Shaf’iee, proofs exist for both
sides. In instances where there exist discordant proofs for two sides, the person who
cannot judge which one of the two scholars, argument is stronger should follow a specific
Imam and Mujtahid.
If one adopts Imam Abu Hanifa to be as one’s Imam and finds a Hadith which
apparently supports Imam Shaf’iee opinion, he should not leave Imam Abu Hanifa’s
opinion because there must be a stronger reason (according to the Hanafi view) for Imam
Abu Hanifa (or Mujtahids within the Hanafi school) to leave the Hadith. None can
conclude that the Hanafi view is against the Hadith. This is all the more apparent in a
scenario where the follower does not have the academic qualifications to judge which
proof is stronger, even if this follower finds a Hadith which contradicts his Imam, he
should not forsake his Imam’s opinion but rather assume that he has not understood the
meaning of the Hadith in its appropriate context. The principle of this approach is very
simple. A person who is in need of legal advice goes to a reputable lawyer and attorney.
He does not resort to researching the books of law independently. If he approaches a legal
expert whose reputation is flawless and about whom he knows that he would not mislead
him – and finds that there is an apparent contradiction in the law and what he is advising,
he should still listen to the attorney and act upon his advice. He should still give his
attorney the benefit of the doubt and assume that the law may be interpreted in a way,
which is different to his own understanding. This approach is necessary (and accepted) because everyone
knows that understanding the law requires tremendous expertise and
acumen. This expertise is all the more necessary where the law is deduced from the
Qur’an and the Sunnah and extrapolated to the full corpus of the Shari’ah, which covers
the whole ambit of human existence. Scholars have indicated that the lay person should
not resort to understanding the Quran and Sunnah directly, but rather consult scholars and
jurists. This has been promoted to the extent that if a lay person is given a Fatwa which
turns out to be wrong, the liability will be with the one who gave the Fatwa and not on the
one who sought and applied it, but if a lay person decides to consult the texts himself and
assumes an incorrect interpretation and acts upon it, he will not be freed from blame for
his mistake since it was not his responsibility to search for an answer independently.
For example, cupping while fasting does not invalidate a person’s fast. If a lay
person asks a Mufti if cupping breaks his fast and the Mufti, for whatever reason, replies
in the affirmative, then the burden of the lay person eating and drinking for the remainder
of the day will fall on the Mufti and not on the lay person. The author of Al-Hidayah, a
renowned book on Hanafi law, said that the lay person would have to make up the fast but
there will be no additional penalty on him. The author of Hidayah explained this by
saying that the Fatwa is a legal proof for the lay person, but if this same lay person read in
Abu Dawood and Tirmidhi that the Prophet sallalahu alaihi wa sallam passed by a person
who was cupping his blood while fasting and said:
“Both the one cupping the one cupped have invalidated their fast.” [98]
He decided that his fast had broken and started to eat and drink, then according to Imam
Abu Yusuf, he would have to make up the fast and be responsible for the penalty of
fasting sixty days consecutively. Abu Yusuf explained: “The lay person must follow the
scholar and the jurist since he is not able to reach a correct conclusion by reading the
Hadith.” [99]
To summarise, the first level of Taqleed is for the lay person who should follow
the opinion of his Imam.
The Taqleed of an expert scholar
An expert scholar although not a Mujtahid, has nonetheless developed mastery
and command over Islamic sciences such as Tafseer, Hadith and Fiqh. Scholarship of this
level demands the development of the capability to extract rules from the Quran and
Sunnah. Shah Waliyyullah explained the term “Expert Scholar” in the following words
from his “Chapter on the Expert Scholar on a school of Thought”:
“This scholar memorizes the works of his particular school. Prerequisites are that
he should be of sound judgment and understanding; well-versed in Arabic and rhetoric;
he should be aware of the different levels of preferences (in arguments) and he should understand the
context of the scholars of his school of thought; he should be aware of the
statements limited and restricted even though they may appear to be absolute.” [100]
This person is capable of being a Mufti within a school of thought. This
classification of Taqleed differs from the Taqleed of a lay person in the following:
“This person is not only aware of the school of thought, but also of the reasoning
behind the Fatwas of that school. As a Mufti, he is able to sift through the different
opinions within his school and is qualified to issue Fatwas based on the needs of his age
or to elucidate them accordingly. Hence, those issues, which are discussed in the books of
the school of thought, which he adheres to, may be evaluated according lo the premises of
the school. In exceptional circumstances, he may leave his Imam and follow the opinion
of another Imam. The rules and conditions for this practice are explained in the principles
of jurisprudence and in the books of giving Fatwas.” [101]
A situation may arise where the Expert Scholar discovers a Hadith which totally
contradicts the opinion of his Imam or an argument which is stronger than that of his
Imam. In such a scenario, wrote Shah Waliyyullah: “Should this scholar practice the
Hadith and forsake his school? There is a difference of opinion in this issue. The author
of Khazanatur Riwayaat has discussed this at length and quoted from the book entitled:
“Dastoor ul Salikeen”. We shall narrate his words verbatim….” [102] Shah Waliyyullah
continues to quote the text. The summary is that some scholars believe that this scholar
does not have the prerogative to leave the opinion of his Imam and act on the Hadith
because it might be that his Imam had a perspective, which he does not.
However, the
majority of scholars believe that if this expert scholar has evaluated all arguments from all
angles, then he does have the prerogative to act upon the Hadith if he meets the following
requirements:
1. He is actually an expert scholar of the caliber mentioned above.
2. He has adequately established that the Hadith in question is indeed a sound
Hadith. Occasionally, the Mujtahid will relinquish acting upon a certain Hadith
because it was not deemed sound, if that is the case, then the non-Mujtahid does
not have the prerogative to leave his school.
3. No verse of the Quran or Hadith apparently contradicts the Hadith in question.
4. The meaning of the Hadith is clear and does not carry the possibility of another
interpretation. A certain Mujtahid may assume a meaning of a text, which is
against its apparent meaning. If that is the case, then the non-Mujtahid may not
assume otherwise, since his Imam has fixed its meaning according to his
intellectual prowess which the follower does not have. Taqleed requires that a
non-Mujtahid follow a Mujtahid in areas where there is several possible
interpretation of a text. [103]
5. It is also necessary that the opinion of the expert scholar does not go against the
consensus of the four Imams, the dangers and harms of going against the
consensus of the four Imams have been outlined earlier. [104]
With these conditions fulfilled, an expert scholar may leave his Imam’s opinion.
The following excerpts from prominent scholars verify this.
Imam Nawawi writes:
“Sheikh Abu Amr (Ibn Salaah) said that any scholar of the Shaf’iee school of thought who
finds a Hadith which contradicts his school, then if he has perfected the tools of Ijtihad
within himself, or if he has acquired command over the chapter of jurisprudence under
discussion, or if he has acquired command over the issue under discussion he may follow
that particular Hadith independently. If he has not reached perfection, or if he has not
acquired command but still feels very uncomfortable in opposing the Hadith and does not
find a reasonable explanation for his Imam’s opinion, then again he may follow the
Hadith if a Mujtahid other than Imam Shaf’iee has practiced the Hadith in question [Imam
Nawawi was a Shaf’iee in Fiqh]. This [that another Mujtahid has applied the Hadith] is
reason enough for him to go against his Imam. This is what Sheikh Abu Amr has said and
is good and a standard.” [105]
Shah Waliyyullah concurs with Nawawi:
“The preferred opinion is the third which is what Ibn Salaah has said and with which
Nawawi agreed and deemed correct…” [106]
There has always been a debate in the principles of jurisprudence whether Ijtihad
can be partialized or not. Can a scholar who is not an absolute Mujtahid in the whole legal
corpus of Islam be a Mujtahid in a particular field of Islam or in a particular issue in
Islam? Some scholars reject the possibility because Ijtihad and its acumen is only
developed when a scholar has reached a stage where he has prowess in the whole legal
corpus of Islam and Islamic law. This is only a privilege of the absolute Mujtahid.
However, a very large group of scholars maintain that a scholar may indeed be a Mujtahid
in a certain chapter or issue of Islamic law even if he has not reached the level of an
absolute Mujtahid. Shaykh Tajuddin Subki and Shaykh Mahalli both hold this view:
“The correct opinion is that Ijtihad can be partialized such that certain scholars
develop acumen in certain chapters like inheritance for instance. This would be acquired
by gathering all the proofs and arguments in that chapter themselves or by studying the
school of a certain Mujtahid and then being able to analyse the positions with judicial
expertise.”
Shaykh Banani wrote in his commentary on Jam’ul Jawami’:
“Ijtihad of a school of thought can be partial. This stage may be acquired by a person
who is not an absolute Mujtahid.” [107]
Shaykh Abdul Aziz Bukhari wrote in the commentary of the Principles
of Fakhrul Islam Bazdawi: ‘In general, scholars hold that Ijtihad can be partial. It is quite
possible for a scholar to become a Mujtahid in some rules and law instead of others.” [108]
Imam Ghazali wrote:
“I do not believe that Ijtihad cannot be partialized. It is possible for a scholar to be
a Mujtahid in one area and not in others.” [109]
Shaykh Taftazani wrote:
“Also, you must remember that these conditions are for an absolute Mujtahid who gives Fatwas in all
areas and issues, for a Mujtahid in one area and not in others, he must
know everything related to his area and its rules.” [110]
Maulana Amir Ali wrote a footnote to what Shaykh Taftazani said:
“The statement: ‘As for the Mujtahid of a certain topic..’. he should know the principles of
his Imam since every extraction and extrapolation will be according to those principles. A
new rule is known as Ijtihad in the rule; and a new proof for an existing narrated rule is
known as extraction (Takhreej).” [111]
Shaykh ibn Hamam has also agreed that Ijtihad may be partial. He has added
further that a scholar who is not an absolute Mujtahid need only follow his Imam in issues
where he has not reached the level of Ijtihad himself. [112]
Shaykh Zainuddin Ibn Nujaim has also quoted the exact text. [113]
However, Shaykh Ibn Amir al-Hajj has quoted Shaykh Zumulkani’s decisive
statement: “The Ijtihad acumen is of an indivisible nature in that a scholar must be able to
extract and extrapolate rules; understand the context of text and proofs of premises and
what contradicts them. His knowledge must be comprehensive in this sense and hence,
this acumen is not divisible and is required even for partial Ijtihad. However, if a scholar
possess comprehensive knowledge of a certain chapter or a certain issue, then he must use
this acumen for that particular chapter or issue.” [114]
In summary, if an expert scholar finds that his Imam’s opinion in a certain issue
contradicts a Hadith which has proven to be sound and conclusive, then based on the
above mentioned opinions of scholars, he may leave his Imam’s opinion and practice the
Hadith – even though the expert scholar may not have reached the level of absolute Ijtihad
himself. Maulana Rasheed Ahmed Ghanghohi, the jurist of our times – wrote: ‘After due
diligence, if this opinion of his Imam is against the Qur’an and Sunnah, then every
believer must leave the Imam’s opinion. Nobody will deny this if the case is proven. The
question is, how can a lay person determine this?” [115]
The final word in this issue has been carved by Maulana Ashraf Ali Thanvi whose
long quotation we will narrate here without any apprehension :
“If a well-versed, intelligent and unbiased scholar finds – through his
investigation – or if a lay person sincerely discovers through a God-fearing scholar that
the preference in a certain issue is for the opposing judgment, then it should be observed
whether the less preferred opinion has any legal leeway or outlet for implementation,
there are legal grounds [under Islamic law) for the implementation of the less
preferred opinion and if forsaking that less preferred opinion would lead to
commotion, disunity or turmoil within the Muslim community, then that less preferred (or
weaker) opinion should still be followed. The following Hadith is adequate proof for this
approach:
Ayesha RA said that the Prophet sallalahu alaihi wa sallam addressed her and said:
“Did you know that your people – the Quraish – had reduced the foundations of the Ka’bah
from the foundations laid by Ibrahim AS.” Ayesha RA asked the Prophet sallalahu alaihi
wa sallam: “If this is the case, then you should have the Ka’bah rebuilt according to the
original foundations.” The Prophet sallalahu alaihi wa sallam said: “If the Quraish had not
been so new in Islam, [and so close to the days of Kufr] I would have done exactly that.”
There was a fear that people would disagree about the Ka’bah being uprooted which
might have resulted in consternation. Though the preferred opinion was to rebuild the
Ka’bah according to its original foundations, the Prophet sallalahu alaihi wa sallam did not
sanction rebuilding the Ka’bah because the less preferred opinion of leaving the Ka’bah
incomplete was also legally permissible, the less preferred opinion was given preference.
If the less preferred opinion offers no legitimate leeway and instead actually leads to an
illegal act or if it leads to forsaking a mandatory act – and does not have any evidence
besides analogy and if the preferred opinion has a sound Hadith in its favour, then the
Hadith must be practiced without any hesitation. No Taqleed would be permissible in this
case. This is because the real issue is to follow the Qur’an and Hadith and that is what is
intended by practicing Taqleed (that following the Quran and Hadith is facilitated). So
when following the Qur’an and Hadith does not agree with Taqleed, the former must be
adopted. Sticking to Taqleed under these circumstances is what has been condemned by
the Qur’an, Sunnah and scholars.
If these circumstances do arise, condemning or keeping enmity against any of the
scholars and Mujtahids is not permissible. This is because there is a possibility that the
scholar in question did not know of this Hadith, or if he did, he found it to be weak or
explained by another principal of Islamic law. The scholar and Mujtahid would be
excused for this oversight. Similarly, the issue that the Hadith in question did not reach
this particular scholar does not undermine his academic acumen. There are several
instances where the great scholars from among the Companions did not hear of a certain
Hadith until very late in their lives, but their academic acumen or expertise was never
questioned or in doubt. Likewise, a person who practices Taqleed does not have the
prerogative to denounce or criticize one who has not made Taqleed in an issue if the
criterion of the mentioned above are fulfilled (where following the Hadith should be
adopted). This kind of difference has been in vogue since the time of our predecessors.
Scholars have generally acted upon the maxim (Qawa’id) my school is assumed to be
correct with the possibility of error and the other schools are assumed to be incorrect
with the possibility of being correct. This dictum enables following a particular school
while also accepting other schools as equally valid. However, differing in the basic
theological precepts and concepts of the predecessors, or condemning the predecessors,
place the perpetrator outside the Ahle Sunnah wal Jama’ah. This is because the Ahle
Sunnah wal Jama’ah is the main body of the Muslim community whose opinions were
believed and followed by the Companions of the Prophet sallalahu alaihi wa sallam. This
action of condemnation is totally against the actions of the Companions and therefore
such a person would be outside the parameters of the Ahle Sunnah. Similarly, a person
who adopts an extreme position with regards to Taqleed such that he rejects the Qur’an
and Sunnah should also be avoided, in fact, one should try and avoid arguing or
exchanging views with such people.” [116]
The moderate prescription offered in this statement by Maulana Thanvi would
save the Muslim community from many internal disputes. With the above conditions fulfilled, an expert
scholar may leave the opinion of his Imam and follow a Hadith
instead, but despite this very partial difference with his Imam, he would still be
considered a follower (Muqallid) of his Imam. Hence, many Hanafi scholars have
diverged from Imam Abu Hanifa’s opinion on certain issues. For example, drinking a
very small amount of intoxicating drink – from a non-wine substance – in order to gain
some strength was allowed by Imam Abu Hanifa but not any other scholar. The Hanafi
scholars left the opinion of their Imam and followed the opinion of the majority. Also,
Imam Abu Hanifa did not allow the practice of temporary share cropping contract. Again,
the Hanafi scholars did allow this practice under very strict conditions and with defined
shares. These are two examples where the later scholars agreed to disagree with Imam
Abu Hanifa. Otherwise, there are several examples where specific individual Hanafi
scholars have diverged from the Imam’s position on account of a Hadith. The issue is
indeed very sensitive and to assume that the scholarly credentials which are indispensable
for this kind of academic activity is achieved without great exertion, would be atrocious
to say the least. Disregarding the layman, not even capable scholars have ventured out of
the agreed position within the Madhab to which they adhere.
The Taqleed of a scholar who is a Mujtahid in his school
A scholar who is a Mujtahid in his school follows and adopts an absolute
Mujtahid’s principles of extracting and deriving rules [usool] but possesses the ability to
extract laws directly from the Quran and Sunnah. Such a Mujtahid may differ with his
Imam on certain details and rules but follows the majority of the rulings with in the
school. Imam Abu Yusuf and Imam Muhammed from the Hanafi school; Imam Muzni
and Imam Abu Thaur from the Shaf’iee school; Imam Sahnoon and Imam Ibn Qasim from
the Maliki school and Imam Ibrahim al-Harbi and Imam Abu Bakr al-Athram from the
Hanbali school are all examples of Mujtahids with in their respective schools who
differed with the founders of their schools, Shaykh Ibn Abi Deen introducing these
scholars writes:
“The second level [of Mujtahids] are those who are Mujtahids in their school of
thought like Abu Yusuf and Muhammed and all other Hanafi scholars who are capable of
deriving rules from the above mentioned proofs based on the principles of their teacher
(Imam). These scholars, although differing with their teacher in certain details, follow
him in the bases of his principles.”
This is the reason why Imam Abu Yusuf and Imam Muhammed are considered to
be Hanafi scholars even though they differed with Imam Abu Hanifa in many details.
The Taqleed of an absolute Mujtahid
An absolute Mujtahid is a scholar who fulfills all the necessary requirements of Ijtihad.
He is able lo formulate principles of derivation and extraction from the Quran and
Sunnah, and deduce and formulate Islamic laws from the primary sources. Imam Abu
Hanifa, Imam Malik, Imam Shaf’iee and Imam Ahmed ibn Hanbal are examples of such
scholars. However, as much as these scholars are absolute in their Ijtihad, they too are not
immune to following [making a degree of Taqleed). These scholars would resort to
following a Companion or a follower of a Companion in issues where the Qur’an and Sunnah were silent.
They would give preference to their opinions over their own
analogies and Ijtihad. The following are some examples from the first generation of
Muslim scholars.
Omar RA sent a letter to Qadi (judge) Shuraih which formed the basis of this
practice. Imam Sha’bi said:
“Shuraih reported that Omar wrote to him and said: “If you are in a dispute or in a
case where a rule from the Quran is evident, then judge accordingly. If there is nothing in
the Qur’an, then look into the Sunnah of the Messenger of Allah and judge accordingly.
If there is nothing in the Sunnah, then see what people (scholars) have agreed upon and
judge accordingly. And if there is nothing in the above-mentioned sources, then you have
a choice. You may either exert or exercise your own opinion and enforce it, or you may
reserve judgement. I believe that reserving your opinion can be nothing except good for
you.” [118]
We should observe that Shuraih was an absolute Mujtahid. Omar RA advised him
to exercise Ijtihad only if he did not find another’s opinion. Abdullah ibn Mas’ood RA also
made a similar statement as mentioned earlier under the discussion concerning absolute
Taqleed. Darami has narrated in his Sunnan that Ibn Abbas RA would answer from the
Qur’an when he was asked about an issue. If he did not find it in the Qur’an, he would
answer from the Prophet sallalahu alaihi wa sallam . If he did not find an answer there either,
he would answer from Abu Bakr and Omar. If there were no answer there, he would then
resort to his own opinion. [119] Here again we see that Ibn Abbas RA who was a competent
Mujtahid himself only resorted to his own opinion if he did not find a solution from Abu
Bakr and Omar. Sha’bi said that a person came to him and asked him a question. He
(Sha’bi) said that Ibn Mas’ood RA made the following comment on the same issue. The
person insisted that Sha’bi gives him his opinion. Sha’bi exclaimed:
“Look at this man! I informed him of what Ibn Mas’ood said and he is asking me for my
own opinion. My faith is much dearer to me than that [I should honour his request].” [120]
Here, Imam Sha’bi (who was one of Imam Abu Hanifa’s teachers) preferred to rely
on the opinion of Ibn Mas’ood RA. Imam Bukhari has narrated (with a suspended chain)
Mujahid’s statement regarding the commentary of the verse:
“And make us leaders for those who are God-conscious, make us Imams
(leaders) who follow those who came before us and allow those who come after us to
follow us”.
Hafiz Ibn Hajar said that Mujahid’s statement has been narrated with a sound
chain by Ibn Jarir and Faryabi. Ibn Hajar went on to collaborate this statement with
similar quotations from several other commentaries. He concluded with Suddi’s quote
from Ibn Abu Hatim:
“The purpose is not to become Imam (in salaat). These scholars are supplicating:
O Allah! Make us leaders in matters which are halal and haram so others can follow
accordingly.” [121]
Ibn Abu Hatim has also narrated from Ja’far ibn Muhammed:
“The meaning is: O Allah! Give me acceptance among people such that if I say
something, they approve of it and accept it from me.” [122]
Mujahid, who was an absolute Mujtahid, realised the importance of following his
predecessors, a principle which unfortunately seems to be much maligned in the present
era.
Notes:
94 Al-Faqih wal Mutaffaqih, by Khatib of Baghdad, page 68 – printed by darul Iftaa, Riyadh, 1389.
95 Jami’ Tirmidhi: vol. 3, page 31
96 Sunan Abu Dawood : vol. 1, page 24
97 Tirmidhi: vol. 1 page 46
98 This Hadith is sound as far as its chain of narrators go. Imam Bukhari has narrated that the Prophet
sallahu alaihi wasallam himself cupped blood while fasting and Nisaai has narrated from Abu Sa’eed
Khudri RA that the Prophet sallahu alaihi wasallam gave him permission to have his blood cupped while
fasting. Based on these two narrations, all four schools of thought and all other scholars unanimously
agree that the Hadith mentioned in the text (from Abu Dawood and Tirmidhi) is either abrogated or has
another context. There are various other interpretations of this Hadith. Refer to Tahfaul Ahwadhi: vol. 2,
page 64 and 65
99 Hidayah: vol. 1, page 226
100 ‘Iqdul Jeed: page 51
101 There are detailed accounts of these conditions in the book of Ibn Abi Deen like ‘Uqood rasmul Mufti
102 ‘Iqdul Jeed…..
103 These four conditions were stipulated in Maulana Ashraf Thanfi’s book: al-Iqtisad fil wal Taqleed
Ijtihaad: page 34 – 36
104 This condition is found in ‘Iqdul Jeed: 58
105 Al-Majmoo’ the commentary of Al-Muhaddhab: vol: 1, page 105
106 ‘Iqdul Jeed
107 Both of the above quotation can be found in Shaykh Banani’s commentary on Jam’ul Jawami’ (in the
footnotes): vol. 2, page 403-4, printed by Tijariyah al-Kubar of Egypt
108 Kashful Asraar by Abdul Aziz Bukhari: vol. 3 page 137
109 Al-Mustaf, by Ghazali: vol. 2, page 103
110 Al-Talweeh ma’a Al-Tawdeeh: vol. 2, page 118 (printed in Egypt)
111 Al-Tawshee ala al-Talweeh: page 604
112 Translator’s note: I have left out the verbatim translation of the intricate Arabic text quoted by the
author so as not to confuse the English render. The quote is from Amir Ali Shah Bukhari in his work
“Tayseerul Tahreer”: vol. 4. page 246 (Printed by Mustafa al-Babi)
113 Fathul Ghaffar. The commentary of Al-Manar by Ibn Nujaim: vol. 3, page 37 (Printed by Mustafa al-
Babi. Egypt 1355)
114 Al-Taqreer wal Tajeer, by Ibn Amir al-Hajj; vol. 3, page 294
115 Sabeelur Rashad: by Maulana Gangohi: page 30-31 (printed by Matbou’a of Delhi 1352)
116 Al-Iqtisaad fil Taqleed wal Ijtihad, by Moulana Thanvi: page 42-45
117 Sharhu ‘Uqood Rusmul Mufti, by Ibn Abi Deen: page 4, printed by Darul Isha’aat, Karachi 1378
118 Suanan of Darami: vol 1, page 55, printed by Madinah Matbu’ah, 1386
119 Ibid
120 Ibid vol. 1 page 45
121 Translator’s note: In other words: O Allah! Make us so God-fearing: that we enjoy what is halal and
abstain from what is haram and then allow others to follow us.
122 Fathul Bari: vol. 13 page 210
Seifeddine-M
