In Hujjatullah-al Baligha, Hadrat Shah Waliullah (May ALLAH bless him) has stated as follows: The Messenger of ALLAH chose to recite a particular sürah in a particular Salaah on certain conditions and expediencies but neither fixed them positively nor enjoined on others to do so. As such if any one follows his sunnah (and recite the same surah in the Salaah) it is in order, and if one does not do so, it does not matter. [Ma’rif -ul- Hadis]
Hazrat Ibn Abbaas R.A. reports that Rasulullah Sal’am said: “whoever desires to perform Hajj, should hasten towards performing i.” (this Hadith encourages the performing of Hajj as soon as is possible after having made sincere intentions towards it, as was said by Rasulullah (Salallaho Alaihi Wassallam)).
In another Hadith it has been stated: “Hasten to perform your obligatory Hajj, for one knows not what shall happen (to prevent it).” (Targheeb)
In one Hadith it is stated: “Make haste to perform Hajj, because one knows not what lies ahead. Perchance illness may overtake you or some other necessity (may demand your attention). (kanz)
Intention is an alchemic prescription that can turn base dirt into noble gold. The hadith says “All actions depends upon intentions.” It is sometimes interpreted to mean that good intentions justify bad deeds too and turn sins meritorious. This is entirely wrong. Sin is always a sin no matter how noble the intention may be. For instance if someone breaks into a house to steal with the intention of giving away as alms whatever he would steal would be a thief deserving the prescribed punishment. His good intentions would not earn him any merit nor would his sin be pardoned.
This includes overbearing the weak, the male slave, the female slave, the wife and the beast. Allah, the Almighty ordered us to deal in kindness towards these varieties. He said,
{Serve Allah and join not any partners with Him, and do good to parents, kinsfolk, orphans, those in need, neighbors who are of kin, neighbors who are strangers, the companion by your side, the way-fairer( ye meet) and what your right hands possess: for Allah loveth not the arrogant, the vainglorious} (An-Nisa’: 36)
Concerning Allah’s saying,
{Serve Allah, and join not any partners with Him}
While I have done my best to write on the subject, my aim has never been to debate and argue. I have endeavoured merely to explain the viewpoint of the majority of the Muslim ummah who have been following one or the other mujtahid. If I have hurt anyone unwillingly then I apologise for that. I hope to remove misgivings about this majority section which is termed unlawful and polytheistic. If anyone continues to differ even after reading this book, then let him retain his views, but accusing the mujtahids and imams of law making and being polytheistic is a very dangerous trend. We must seek refuge in Allah from that.
Finally, just as personal opinion in opposing taqleed and legal issues is blame worthy so too is inactivity and exaggeration in taqleed. This is visible in such cases:
1. Regarding the mujtahids as givers of law and innocent, and like Prophets free of mistakes.
2. Refusing to act on an authentic Hadith because to command is fortcoming from the imam concerning it. Thus, many people do not raise their index figure while reciting:
and neglect this sunnah because the Imam does not say anything about it. Some people pass a very rude comment about it. Theirs is perhaps the dormant taqleed which the Qur’an and Hadith renounce.
Taqleed of Individual & Base Desires
(8) We have seen earlier that both kinds of taqleed are lawful, but as standards of sincerity lowered, the door to base desires opened up in taqleed of the absolute nature. The ulama so ruled that only taqleed of an individual must be practiced, henceforth.
Some people raised strange objections to that.
“Most of the people in Pakistan are Hanafis…. the management of clubs of enjoyment are in the hands of the Hanafis. If taqleed of an individual is cure for base desires then why is this tool of base desires found everywhere?” (Tahreek Azadi Fikr p146)
Hadith of Sayyidina Adi ibn Hatim
(3) Frequently the following Hadith is presented to denounce taqleed:
“Sayyidina Adi ibn Hatim said that he went to the Prophet SAWS while he had a golden cross round his neck. He said, “Adi! Throw away this idol,” And Adi heard him recite the verse of surah al-Bara’ah (at-Tawbah) (They have taken their rabbis… 9:31) He then said (in explanation of the verse), “These people never worshipped their rabbis and monks but when their monks and rabbis made something lawful for them, they took it as that and when the monks and rabbis made it unlawful they took it as that.” (Tirmizi)
Taqleed of Ahbar & Ruhban
2. Some people cite the following verse to renounce taqleed of imams and mujtahids:
“They have taken their rabbis and their monks as their Lords besides Allah.” (9:31)
However, we have made it clear in the previous pages that taqleed of a mujtahid, or obedience to him, is not as a maker of laws. Rather, he is an exponent of law. He is not bound to be followed. Rather, his explanations are believed and the Qur’an and sunnah are followed.
Mawlana Muhammad Isma’il Salfi commented on my article. He said:
Taqleed of Forefathers in The Qur’an
1. The first objection is that the Qur’an has condemned taqleed:
“And when it is said to them, “follow that which Allah has revealed”, they say, “Nay, we follow that (way whereon we found our fathers.” What! Even though their fathers understood not anything, nor were they rightly guided.” (2:170)
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