Muslims preferably should claim to be muslims only and not use any tag to indicate the school of thought he or she follows. Though Taqleed is normally is denounced and Muqalids are condemned for being so, yet the difference of opinion on a particular point of shariah between Ulema is neither uncommon nor deplorable but inevitable. Such a difference of opinion happens even in the matter of application of common law to the extent that one has to refer the matter to courts who in turn differ as the case passes through the judicial hierarchy. However, in this case the controversy is put to rest as the apex court takes a side of interpretation which facility, of course, is not available to muslim Ummah in the matter of shariah as we can not communicate with the greatest law maker of the world, the Prophet Mohammad (saw) and seek the needed guidance with the result the differences have to stay as such. In such a scenario, one has to ponder upon a pertinent question and that is if we cease to be Muqalids what are we supposed to be then? What is the antonym of Muqalid? It is nothing but Mujtahid. Again is it possible for all of us to be Mujtahids given the situation some of us are totally illiterate, some are read upto primary standard and some secondary, higher secondary, graduation, post graduation so on and so forth and given the fact that even our intelligentsia is ignorant of the basics of Asuli Fiqh and the knowledge of Quran and Sunnah? The answer is big no. Then why Muqalids are being ridiculed for being so? Even if muslims are following as latest an Alim as Sheikh Nasir ud Din Albani RA; they are doing nothing but Taqleed. Even if a handful of muslims follow the futwa of an Imam of local mosque, they are doing nothing but taqleed. In short, differences are permanent and so is Taqleed. However, so long as there is reverence and respect for other schools of thought, following a particular school of thought is not deplorable. One thing which must be an exception to the rule of taqleed is that you can not continue with a practice under the guise of following a particular school of though, if the practice has been proved to be a biddah by Ijtihad. while the difference of opinion can be allowed to stay, wrong can not be allowed to settle down as right.
Posted on: Wed, 26 Mar 2014 10:43:46 +0000
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