Taqlid

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Taqlid or taklid (Arabic تَقْليد taqlīd) is an Arabic term in Islamic legal terminology connoting "imitation", that is; following the decisions of a religious authority without necessarily examining the scriptural basis or reasoning of that decision, such as accepting and following the verdict of scholars of jurisprudence (fiqh) without demanding an explanation of the processes by which they arrive at it, hence adherence to one of the classical schools (madhhab) of jurisprudence.

In Islamic theology taqlid of someone regarded as a higher religious authority (such as a qualified scholar or 'ālim) is acceptable in the details of the laws of the religion (shariah), such as matters of worship and personal affairs, but not in the fundamentals of "metaphysical" belief, such as about the existence of God (Allah).^[1] Taqlid may be contrasted with independent interpretation of legal sources by intellectual effort (ijtihad). This is a common concept among the Shi'a while the Sunni generally regard it impermissible for a person who has not mastered fiqh to derive their own rulings on matters of law.^[2]

Overview

Taqlīd is an Arabic verbal noun based on the verb qallada, literally "to place a collar (qilādah) around the neck".^[3] The term is believed to have originated from the idea of allowing oneself to be led "by the collar". One who performs taqlid is called a muqallid.^[4] Sheikh Shaamee Hanafi said it is "to take the statement of someone without knowing the evidence."^[5]

There are several verses (ayat) in the Quran that forbid taqlid in matters of religion (5:104-5, 17:36, 21:52-54 43:22-24) though this is interpreted as referring only to fundamentals (usul ad-din) and not to subsidiary elements (furu `ad-din) such as details of law and ritual practices that can only be learned through extensive study.

Following the Greater Occultation (al-ghaybatu 'l-kubra) in 329/941AD, the Shia are obliged to observe taqlid in their religious affairs by following the teachings of a thinker (mujtahid) or jurist (faqih).^[6] As of the 19th century the Shia ulama taught believers to turn to "a source of taqlid" (marja' at-taqlid) "for advice and guidance and as a model to be imitated."^[7]

See also

• Marja' (Islamic law)

References

External links

• The Legal Status of Following a Madhab by Mufti Taqi Usmani
• Understanding Taqlid by Mufti Muhammad Sajaad
• Taqlid (Shaykh Imam Tahir Mahmood al-Kiani)