This Article is refutation of Taqleed e shakhsi (Blind following of only one particular Imam) as people of subcontinent do. This is not a refutation of following a school of thought which is accepted by the people of hadeeth like Ibn Rajab Hanbalee, Imam ad-Dahabee, Ibn Tamiyah and Al alBani, Shaykh Zubair Ali Zai, Shaykh Saalih al Fawzan and others. For example
a) Shaykh Ibn Baz was asked
س: هل صحيح أن الحنابلة هم السلفيون فقط؟ وما حقيقة السلفية، هل هي قرينة التشدد والتزمت كما يروج البعض؟
Are the Hanbalis only Salafis ?
Answer :
ج: ليس هذا القول بصحيح. وإنما السلف الصالح هم الصحابة رضي الله عنهم ومن سلك سبيلهم من التابعين وأتباع التابعين من الحنفية والمالكية والشافعية والحنابلة وغيرهم ممن سار على الحق وتمسك بالكتاب العزيز والسنة المطهرة، في باب التوحيد، وباب الأسماء والصفات، وفي جميع أمور الدين، نسأل الله أن يجعلنا منهم، وأن يوفق جميع المسلمين حكومات وشعوبا في كل مكان للتمسك بكتابه العزيز وسنة رسوله الأمين وتحكيمهما، والتحاكم إليهما، والحذر من كل ما يخالفهما إنه ولي ذلك والقادر عليه. والله ولي التوفيق.
This is not Correct, and The Salaf us Saleh are Companions of the Prophet and those who adhere to their path amongst the Tabaen and Itteba Tabaen and amongst the HANAFIS, MALIKIS, SHAFAES AND HANBALIS etc those who follow the truth and cling to Kitab and Sunnah in the matter of Tawheed, Asma wa Siffat, and the rest of the matters of Deen and we ask Allah to include us amongst them. [Majmoa al [Fatawa Ibn Baz 9/238 translation provided by brother Muhammad Kashif Khan Salafi]
b) Shaykh al Muhaddith Zubair Ali Zai said “If there is some Hanafi who is following hanafi school of thought and follows 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) see from 00:01 up to 4 minutes http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3zM8cl40x6U&feature=autoplay&list=PL4E29012C9EECA4CF&index=4&playnext=2
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
7) The claim that we must follow only one of the four Imams otherwise you are ignorant
8. The Claim that all the Ahnaf are ignorants according to Ahlul hadeeth of Pakistan.
9) Conclusion
10) Related links
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
الظاهر أن رجوع العامي لقول المفتي تقليد ، والظاهر جوازه لمن عجز عن الدليل
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… Apparently Ami practicing on the saying of Mufti is Taqleed, Apparently it is permissible for those who are unable to find the evidence..
[Al AHKAM FE ASOOL AL AHKAM online source of the book vol 4 page 221]
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:
i) 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]
ii) 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]
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:
(Chapter ” Corruption caused by Taqleed , its negation and the difference between Taqleed and Ittibaa’)
and He said in this chapter
قد ذم الله تبارك وتعالى التقليد في غير موضع من كتابه
Verily Allah has dispraised the Taqleed. It does not stand in his book [Jam’e byan al ilam vol 2]
لا فرق بين بهيمة تقاد وإنسان يقلد
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 do taqleed of 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]
But he also said If the matter is clear than he must not do taqleed of him, rather it is Haram. see his following quote
Note 3: But here in subcontinent some of the great scholars of Muqallideen even after knowing authentic stance, they said we have to follow Imam Abu Hanifa and leave the hadith. For example
“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. Note that Mufti Taqi Uthmani is totally against this kind of stance as he said in his book on Taqlid that scholars experts can leave their Madhab when they find an authentic Hadith, and he quoted Shah Waliullah, Ibn Salah and Nawawi for this. And in his Takmilah Fath Al-Mulhim, he said on the Hadith of Khyar Majlis that he was not convinced with the Taweelat of Ahnaf and quoted view of Luknawi opting for view of ash-Shafi Alhumdulillah there are good people in deobandis.
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 Bayhaqi 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
In another Narration
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 have passed away, not those who are alive. [Sunan al Kubra 2/10, Lilkai in Sharah asool al aiteqad Ahlus sunnah no. 131]
Scan from Sharah Asool al-Aiteqad
Takhreej
1) Narrated by Lilkai in Sharah asool al aiteqad 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: Ibn Masood ra clearly rejected taqleed and he is asking his students to do Iqtada (not taqleed) of the dead. Now who are the dead? they are the Sahaba as Ibn Masood ra himself said
من كان مستنا ; فليستن بمن قد مات فإن الحي لا تؤمن عليه الفتنة ، أولئك أصحاب محمد – صلى الله عليه وسلم – كانوا أفضل هذه الأمة ، أبرها قلوبا وأعمقها علما ، وأقلها تكلفا اختارهم الله لصحبة نبيه ، ولإقامة دينه ، فاعرفوا لهم فضلهم ، واتبعوهم على آثارهم ، وتمسكوا بما استطعتم من أخلاقهم وسيرهم ، فإنهم كانوا على الهدي المستقيم
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 Aiteqad 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
.
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
Haythamee said: Narrated by Tabrani in al Awsat and Amr bin Marrah did not heard from Muaadh
.
5. 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]
.
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 except 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]
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]
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]
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 ]
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 .
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
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)]
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].
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.
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 أهله
Satan 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 Taqleed, it is Obligatory for him to get away from it. Because in the Quran Allah has condemned those who does Taqleed.
.
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
17: Hafiz Ibn al 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]
.
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
20) Imam al Izz bin Abdus Salam said:
Aami should not specify an Imam to make taqleed in all of the issues. As the people used to ask question from the one (of those scholars) who was (present) there without any objection from the time of Saahaba upto the madaahib came into being [Fatawa Al Izz bin Abdus Salam no. 46, Sharah Tehreer of Ibn Hammam, Shah Wali ullah in Aqad al Jayyad page 36, Shaykh Nazeer Husayn Muhaddith Dehalwi mentioned in Miyaar al Haq page 99-100]
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Than he made chapters of فصل في كلام العلماء في الرأي والقياس “Saying of scholars on Raaye and Qiyaas”
فصل في الرجوع إلى كتب السنة وتمييز الطيب من الخبيث من الأحاديث “Returning to the books of sunnah and distinction of good ahadeeth from false ahadeeth.
في نصوص الأئمة في الرجوع إلى الكتاب والسنة والنهى عن تقليدهم “Nusoos that scholars referred to Quran and Sunnah and prohibited their taqleed” in which He said
والتقليد في دين اللّه لا يجوز عندنا، لا تقليد حيّ ولا ميّت
“Taqleed in the religion of Allah is not allowed according to me, neither the taqleed of alive nor the dead”[Al Futuhaat al Makyyata 3/248]

23. Imam al Haakim said:
ذكر النوع العشرين من علم الحديث النوع العشرون من هذا العلم بعد معرفة ما قدمنا ذكره من صحة الحديث إتقانا ومعرفة لا تقليدا وظنا معرفة فقه الحديث إذ هو ثمرة هذه العلوم وبه قوام الشريعة فأما فقهاء الاسلام أصحاب القياس والرأي والاستنباط والجدل والنظر فمعرون في كل عصر وأهل كل بلد ونحن ذاكرون بمشية الله في هذا الموضع فقه الحديث عن أهله ليستدل بذلك على أن أهل هذه الصنعة من تبحر فيها لا يجهل فقه الحديث إذ هو نوع من أنواع هذا العلم
استدل به على إبطال التقليد فى العقائد واستدل به الظاهرية على إبطال مطللقا وابطال القياس
This verse is used for evidence of invalidation of Taqleed in Aqaaid, and Dad-Daahiriyah used this for invalidation (of taqleed) Mutlaqan and invalidation of Qiyas [Ikeel Surah an-Najam verse 23 page 250]
Now see his own sayings as Jalal ud din as-Suyuti said:
فيه دلالة على الأمر باستعمال حجج العقول وإبطال التقليد
In it there is an evidence of using arguments with mind and Invalidation of Taqleed [Ikeel fe Istanbaat al Tanzeel page 27 under Surah al Baqrah verse 22 tehqeeq of Saif ud din Abdul Qadir, Dar ul Kutub Ilmiyah, Beruit-Lebnon]
Imam Abul Rehman bin Abi Bakar as-Suyuti said in his book (Ar-Radd al min Akhlad Ilal Ardh wa Jahal Inn al Ijtihaad fe Kull Asr Fardh) page 42 (chapter no. 3) in which Ijtihaad is promoted and condemnation and prohibition of taqleed: (Suyuti said) Know that Salaf and Khalaf ordered to do Ijtihaad,, and they forbade and disliked taqleed. A group of them wrote against taqleed. al-Muzani who was student of ash-Shafiee wrote a book (Fasaad at-Taqleed) Ibn Abdul Barr quoted from him in Kitab al Ilm. Zarkashi in alBhr and I (was unable) to find (this book). Ibn Hazam wrote three books against Taqleed and I have found them, Abu Shama wrote the Book Khutbah al Kitaab (alMomal fe ar-Radd Ilal-amr aL-awwal) and i found it. Ibn Daqeeq al Eed wrote a book (al-Tasdeed fe Dham at-Taqleed) and I (was unable) to find this book. Ibn al Qayyim al Jawziyah wrote book against Taqleed and i found in booklets, al Majd Fayrozabadi author of al Qamoos wrote Kitab al-Saad ila Rutba tul Ijtihaad and I (was unable) to find it. These are the nusoos of scholars against taqleed [Majallah al Manaar 28/776]
.
29. Qaadi Obaidullah Abu Zaid ad-Dabusi al Hanafi (d 430 h) said:
Muqallid makes himself in the list of animals because of taqleed like kids of animals walk behind their mother , muqallid has a mental problem, He should not debate, if he has sound mind even than he is doing taqleed than his cure is sword [Taqweem al Adillah fe Usool al Fiqh page 390]

30. Muhammad bin Ismaeel as-San-ani said:
هلا جعل هَذَا الْمُقَلّد الْمُجْتَهد أَمَامه كتاب الله وَسنة نبيه صلى الله عَلَيْهِ وَسلم عوضا عَن كَلَام إِمَامه وتتبع نُصُوص الْكتاب وَالسّنة عوضا عَن تتبع نُصُوص إِمَامه والعبارات كلهَا أَلْفَاظ دَالَّة على مَعَانِيهَا فَهَلا استبدل بِأَلْفَاظ إِمَامه ومعانيها أَلْفَاظ الشَّارِع ومعانيها وَنزل الْأَحْكَام عَلَيْهَا إِذا لم يجده نصا شَرْعِيًّا عوضا عَن تنزيلها على مَذْهَب إِمَامه فِيمَا لم يجده مَنْصُوصا تالله لقد استبدل الَّذِي هُوَ أدنى بِالَّذِي هُوَ خير من معرفَة السّنة وَالْكتاب إِلَى معرفَة كَلَام الشُّيُوخ وَالْأَصْحَاب وتفهم مرامهم والتفتيش عَن كَلَامهم وَمن الْمَعْلُوم يَقِينا أَن كَلَام الله وَكَلَام رَسُوله أقرب إِلَى الأفهام وَأدنى إِلَى إِصَابَة بُلُوغ المرام فَإِنَّهُ أبلغ الْكَلَام بِالْإِجْمَاع وأعذبه فِي الأفواه والأسماع وأقربه إِلَى الْفَهم وَالِانْتِفَاع وَلَا يُنكر هَذَا إِلَّا جلمود الطباع وَمن لَا حَظّ لَهُ فِي النَّفْع وَالِانْتِفَاع والأفهام الَّتِي فهم بهَا الصَّحَابَة الْكَلَام الإلهي وَالْخطاب النَّبَوِيّ هِيَ كأفهامنا وأحلامهم كأحلامنا إِذْ لَو كَانَت الأفهام مُتَفَاوِتَة تَفَاوتا يسْقط مَعَه فهم الْعبارَات الإلهية وَالْأَحَادِيث النَّبَوِيَّة لما كُنَّا مكلفين وَلَا مأمورين وَلَا منهيين لَا اجْتِهَادًا وَلَا تقليدا أما الأول فلاستحالته وَأما الثَّانِي فلأنا لَا نقلد حَتَّى نفهم جَوَازه وأدلته وَلَا يفهم ذَلِك إِلَّا من أَدِلَّة الْكتاب وَالسّنة وَقد تعذر ذَلِك كَمَا قُلْتُمْ .
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].
Hadith says
“We set out on a journey. One of our people was hurt by a stone that injured his head. He then had a sexual dream. He asked his fellow travelers: Do you find a concession for me to perform tayammum? They said: We do not find any concession for you while you can use water. He took a bath and died. When we came to the Prophet (saws), the incident was reported to him. He said: They killed him, may Allah kill them! Could they not ask when they did not know? The fire of ignorance is inquiry. It was enough for him to perform tayammum and to pour some drops of water or bind a bandage over the wound (the narrator Musa was doubtful); then he should have wiped over it and washed the rest of his body.”[Sunan Abi Dawud, Book of Purification, Chapter: The Wounded Person Performing Tayammum, no. 336. Albani declared this narration acceptable in his checking of Abu Dawud’s Sunan, see no. 325.]
a) Shaykh Muhammad ibn Saalih al-‘Uthaymeen (may Allaah have mercy on him) said:
The one who has no knowledge and no ability to engage in ijtihaad must ask the scholars, because Allaah says: “So ask the people of the Reminder if you do not know” [al-Anbiya’ 21:7].Allaah does not enjoin us to ask them except for the purpose of following their opinions. This is taqleed (following). But with regard to taqleed what is forbidden is adhering to a specific madhhab by following it in all cases and believing that this is the way to Allaah, so one follows it even if it goes against the evidence.
7) The claim that we must follow only one of the four Imams otherwise you are ignorant
He is Abu al Fath al Harwi. He is in the companions of Imam. he said in alUsool: The madhab of generality of our companions is that layman has no madhab.
“وليس له التمذهب بمجرد التشهي، ولا بما وجد عليه أباه. هذا كلام الأصحاب. والذي يقتضيه الدليل أنه -أي العامي- لا يلزمه التمذهب بمذهب، بل يستفتي من يشاء، أو من اتفق، لكن من غير تلقط للرخص”، والله أعلم.
وإن كان عاميا ليس له مذهب معين فمذهبه فتوى مفتيه
Lay person has no specific madhab (i.e. hanafi, shafie, malaki, hanbalee), his madhab is on the fatwa of Mufti.
No where the fatawaa states that if he asked one fatwa from a hanafi imam than he must ask all the questions from hanafi imam. Rather he can ask any good scholar who is easily avalaible. These people also quote Imam al Haramayn who said lay people should not follow the Sahaba they must only follow one Imam.
Response is that Imam al Haramayn also said its obligation on all the people to follow the madhab of Imam Shafiee and no one else, see his following quote
نحن ندَّعي أنه يجب على كافَّة العاقلين وعامَّة المسلمين -شرقًا وغربًا، بُعدًا وقربًا- انتحالُ مذهب الشافعي، ويجب على العوامِّ الطَّغَام، والجُهَّال الأنذال أيضًا انتحالُ مذهبه؛ بحيث لا يَبْغُون عنه حِوَلاً، ولا يريدون به بدلاً
Why don`t these people of subcontinent follow this statement of Imam al Haramayn? they will surely say he was wrong as this statement made al-Kawthari (the Jahmi of this era) furious and he said its against Usool and Ijma and Kawthari also said its a foolish statement regarding the saying of Imam al Haramayn that the Usool of sahaba are not enough, see his book Ehqaaq al Haq be Abtaal al Baatil fe Mugheeth al Haqq page 21. The thing is that they follow his one statement on taqleed but they reject his other quote, and they also do not see their book of asool which refutes the claim of Imam al Haramayn. see the following quotes
i) It is mentioned in Fawateh ar-Rahmoot be sharah Muthalam uth Thubut
قال الإمام أجمع المحققون على منع العوام من تقليد) أعيان (الصحابة) رضوان الله تعالى عليهم فان أقوالهم قد يحتاج في استخراج الكم منها إلى تنقير كما في السنة ولا يقدر العوام عليه (بل) يجب (عليهم اتباع الذين سبروا) أي تعمقوا (وبوبوا) أي أوردوا أبوابا لكل مسئلة على حدة (فهذا بوا) مسئلة) كل باب (ونقحوا) كل مسئلة عن غيرها (وجمعوا) بينهما بجامع (وفرقوا) بفارق (وعللوا) أي أوردوا لكل مسئلة مسئلة علة (فصلوا) تفصيلا يعني يجب على العوام تقليد من تصدى لعلم الفقه لا لأعيا الصحابة المجملين القول (وعليه اتتى ابن الصلاح منع تقليد غير) الأئمة (الأربعة) الإمام
الهمام إمام الأئمة امامنا أبى حنيفة الكوفي والإمام مالك والإمام الشافعي والإمام أحمد رحمهم الله تعالى وجزاهم عنا أحسن الجزاء (لان ذلك) المذكور (لم يدر في غيرهم وفيه ما فيه) في الحاشية قال العراقي انعقد الاجماع على أن من أسلم فله أن يقلد من شاء من العلماء من غير حجر وأجمع الصحابة على أن من استفتى أبا بكر وعمر أمير المؤمنين فله أن يستفتي أبا هريرة ومعاذ بن جبل وغيرهما ويعمل بقولهم من غير نكير فمن ادعي رفع هذين الاجماعين فعليه البيان انتهى فقد بطل بهذين الاجماعين قول الإمام وقوله أجمع المحققون لا يفهم منه الاجماع الذي هو الحجة حتى يقال يلزم تعارض الاجماعين بل الذي يكون مختارا عند أحد ويكون الجماعة متفقين عليه يقال أجمع المحققون على كذا ثم في كلامه خلل آخر وهو أن التبويب لا دخل له في التقليد وكذا التفصيل فان المقلدان فهم مراد الصحابي عمل وإلا سال عن مجتهد آخر فافهم وبطل بهذا قول ابن الصلاح أيضاً ثم في قوله خلل آخر إذا المجتهدون الآخرون أيضاً بذلوا جهدهم مثل بذلك الأئمة الأربعة وإنكار هذا مكابرة وسوء أدب بل الحق أنه انما منع من تقليد غيرهم لأنه لم تبق رواية مذهبهم محفوظة حتى لو وجد رواية صحيحة من مجتهد آخر يجوز العمل بها ألا ترى أن المتأخرين أفتوا بتحليف الشهود اقامة له موقع التزكية على مذهب ابن أبى ليلى فافهم
Imam (ul Harmain) said that Muhaqiqeen have agreed that the lay person should not follow the companion(May Allah be pleased with them) because deduction from their saying is similar that of Hadeeth and the laymen does not have that ability(to deduce) so, The conclusion is to follow Fuqahaa and not companions and Ibn Salah has put the base on it and said that taqleed should only be of Aimma Arba i.e Our Imam Abu Hanifa Kufi, Imam Malik, Imam Shafiee and Imam Ahmed because other Madhaahib are not like these four Madhhab. There is objection in it and he said in the Hashiya that Iraaqi said there is Ijma(consequences) that a Muslim can follow of any scholar he wishes and the companions agreed that whoever asks Fatwaa from Ameer ul Momineen Abu bakr r.a then he can also ask Fatwaa from Abu Hurairah and Mu’az bin Jabal and can easily act upon thier Fatwaa. Whoever claims that these two consequences are lifted then he should provide the evidence then fromt these two consequences the saying of Imam ul Harmain became baatil(false) and the saying of Imam ul Harmain that Muhaqiqeen have agreed then from this Ijma is not considered as hujjah until it is said that there is always contradiction between two consequences., Instead when a ruling is liked and a specific group agrees with it then it is usually said that muhaqiqeen have agreed on this. And there is one more eror in his(Imam ul harmain) speech because other mujtahideen have strived like Aimma Arba and the rejection of this is obstinacy and arrogance rather the truth is whoever has prevented the taqleed of other mujtahideen(except Aimma Arba) gave reason that their narrations are not preserved and if you get a Sahih narration from any mujtaid then you can act upon it. Didn’t you see that Mutakhireen(later scholars) have replaced the fatwaa and gave accordance with the Madhhab of Ibn Abi laila about the witnesses taking oath then try to understand this point. [quote translated by Abdul Raheem Salafi, see Fawateh ar-Rahmoot be Sharah Muthalum ath-Thabut 4/305,306]
ii) Allamah Taj Uddin Subki(d.771 h) says
وأما تعصبكم في فروع الدين وحملكم الناس على مذهب واحد فهو الذي لا يقبله الله منكم ولا يحملكم عليه إلا محض التعصب والتحاسد ولو أن الشافعي وأبا حنيفة ومالكا وأحمد أحياء يرزقون لشددوا النكير عليكم وتبرءوا منكم فيما تفعلون
iii) Ibne Rajab said
“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.
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)]
“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, otherwise we should see the Madhabid of Imams without specifying one. The Imam who made the mistake will get one thawab and if he is on right than he will get two thawab Insha`Allah. 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.
v) The easiest way to understand this concept is This FatwaIt 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)
vi) Shaykh ul Kul Nazeer Husayn Muhaddith Dehalwi mentioned four types of taqleed
1. Wajib (Asking question from scholar without specifying)
2. Mubah (Following a Madhab but he should not consider that Shariyah has bound him to practice on only one madhab and he should not censure others)
3. Prohibited and Innovation (To think that he must follow one madhab otherwise he is a gumrah)
4. Shirk (He practice on the fatwa of his Imam but even after knowing that the truth is with ahadeeth and his Imam`s fatwa is wrong he rejects the ahadith which are ghayr mansookh and it goes with other authentic madhab.)[Miyar al Haq pages 80-81 Maktabah al Rahmaniya Lahore]
f) Amr bin Abdul Aziz
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]
8. The Claim that all the Ahnaf are ignorants according to Ahlul hadeeth of Pakistan.
Above claim is false as I have provided the video QA Session of Shaykh Zubair Ali Zai Rahimullah where he said Ahnaf are our brothers, he again said regarding Sultan Nur al-Din Zanki rahimullah that:
Ibn al Atheer said: He was scholar of fiqh on the Madhab of Abu Hanifa, and he was not biased on this [alKamil 9/125]
(Shaykh Zubair commented) These type of Hanafi scholars are not blind followers and worshipers of taqleed rather even after affiliation with school of thought and fiqh they remain followers of Quran and sunnah. Against them deobandi and brailwi people are stuck in the swamp of blind following and are biased in blind following [al Hadith no. 62 page 10]
Shaykh Zubair Ali Zai Rahimullah also used to praise Arab Ahnaf in his life, once an Arab Hanafi Mujahid was following a sunnah of Prophet peace be upon him in Salah. Shaykh Zubair Rahimullah asked you are a Hanafi still doing this? He replied its sunnah of Prophet peace be upon him, Shaykh Zubair said that shaykh Salah ud din Yusaf Hafidhaullah said we all are Ahnaf like this. [see QA session of shaykh Zubair rahimullah]
.