Ijtihad Network Being Wise and Faithful Muslim in the Contemporary World
This book is a detailed discussion and analysis of Taqleed and Ijtihad and jurisprudence in the light of the Holy Qur’an and traditions. Also explains shortly about Risala and Marajay .
When a man does not know something he wants to enquire about it. Children ask their elders. The grown-ups seek assistance from others with more knowledge than themselves. This is the norm of the society; especially, in religious affairs people tend to be more sensitive and also majority is generally ignorant of true facts. Therefore, all of these people consult trustworthy people knowledgeable in religious affairs to solve their problems. It is the nature of humans. It is the ruling of the Islamic constitution. And this modus operandi is called Taqleed in the language of Sharia.
However, there are people who raise a variety of objections such as:
1. Some call it innovation in religion (bid’at).
2. Others call it saint-follower relationship.
3. Another segment of the society terms it oppression by the religious scholars.
4. There are others who label this action as mental slavery. They claim that Islam has actually condemned this way of life. They think that Quran is a very easy book and why should we not get the answers to our queries straight from the book.
The fact of the matter is that all these comments are indicative of lack of study and lack of desire for research. The response to each of the objections listed above is as follows:
1. In no way taqleed is an innovation. From all perspectives it comes from knowledge and constitution.
2. Similarly no saint is followed. It is a purely scholarly, full of vigor and dignified approach.
3. And there is no compulsion. If someone is interested in the wellbeing of his religion and integrity of his deeds, he should consult the most aware person about the affairs of sharia and should get his answers from him. This person of high faculties is a mujtahid or marjae taqleed. The marjae taqleed is trusted in the everyday problems of life because of his highest knowledge – he is above all the scholars of his time.
4. Our submission to those, who consider taqleed counter to the freedom of thought, is that nothing reaches its logical conclusion without some contemplation. So if we do not know something, finding out about it is a testimony of a civilized mind, freedom of thought and breadth of imagination.
Bibliographic Information
Title: Taqleed and Ijtihad
Author: Allama Sayyid Ibn Hassan Najafi
Publisher: Markaz Fikr-e-Islami, Islamabad
Language: English
Length: 85
Pub. Date: 2010/07/01
