Ijtihad, Taqleed, &
Marja'a
An
Individuals faith in
the principles of
religion, endeavors
to find accurate
instructions from
the text of the
Quran and also from
the statements and
practices of the
Prophet (Book &
Sunnah) and acts
accordingly in good
faith.
Anyone who
understands Quran in
depth, finds true
Hadith in his
searches and
understands his own
obligations which
religion imposes on
him and at the same
time realises the
collective or
individual
obligations as
religion has imposed
on him and then
makes a judgement,
he becomes a
Mujtahid.
Conditions of
Ijtihad.
From
the word Ijtihad and
Mujtahid we must
understand that
Mujtahid is the
person who
endeavours to
understand deep
meanings of the
Quran and Hadith
with the sole
purpose of finding
out the exact
instruction from
Allah and gives a
decision on that
sound basis. With
the sound knowledge
and good memory , he
should also have the
following qualities
in order to be
eligible for the
title.
1.
Knowledge of the
Arabic Language to
the extent that he
becomes well versed
in Arabic
literature, its
grammar and its
eloquence.
2.
Identifying the
narrators of Hadith
that he is satisfied
about their
qualities as
narrators.
Technically this is
"Ilmeu Rijal"
(Science of Men).
3.
Understanding
various stages of
Hadith and
identifying correct
Hadith from non
correct . This is "Ilmu
Rewayat" (Science of
Narration).
4.
Acquaintance with
the Rules and the
Principles of Fiqh
to the extent that
he is able to apply
each branch of
observances to its
base with full
authority. This is 'Ilm
Usool-eFiqh'
(Principles of
Jurisprudence).
5.
Having full
information on the
exegesis (Tafseer)
and meaning of the
Quran and ability to
absorb and apply
relevant verses of
the Quran. This is 'Ilm
Tafseer', Exegesis
of the Quran.
6.
Having sufficient
information on
general knowledge,
specially
mathematics,
history, geography,
astronomy, and the
social studies which
are required in his
dealings in day to
day matters. He
should also be
acquainted with
things like knowing
the direction of the
Qibla, divding the
inheritance and some
economic and medical
knowledge so that
when people ask him
about these he
should not remain
silent.
Apart from all these
he should be
understanding and
accommodative and
knows the ways of
argument. This way
the Mujtahid should
know his own
obligations and be
able to convey the
same to others.
Marja'ia:
The
person of religious
authority whom
people refer to in
religious matters.
If a Mujtahid
possesses all the
good qualities
mentioned above and
an ordinary person
accepts his
instructions on
observance of
religious duties in
addition to
fulfilling the
following
conditions:
1. Adalat: Means
being unsinful to
his best ability
2. A'alam: Means
his circle of
followers is higher
than others and
guides all Muslims
in the possible
manner. He also puts
them in a
satisfactory
position in all
religious matters.
When
such person due to
his qualities of
Adalat and knowledge
becomes a focal
point for persons to
follow, and
prominent religious
persons who endorse
that view, then that
Mujtahid becomes
"Marja-e-Taqleed",
and to follow him in
religious matters is
called 'Taqleed'.
Taqleed:
If a
Muslim who himself
is not a Mujtahid
because his vocation
was different and he
was not able to
acquire sufficient
knowledge, then he
follows a Mujtahid
upon whom he has
full confidence. In
other words, on all
religious matter he
follows the
judgement of that
Mujtahid. In this
kind of following
where this person
has asked the
Mujtahid and
followed his
instructions, would
in turn makes that
Mujtahid responsible
if any mistakes had
occurred. He has
transferred his
religious
obligations on the
shoulders of the
Mujtahid.
This
is only reasonable
that in every day
activity and in
every profession
there are
specialists, and
people approach them
to satisfy their
needs. For the
purpose of an
operation one would
not approach an
architect or a
businessman but a
doctor who has
specialized in such
operations.
Similarly in matters
of religion one
approaches an expert
opinion and a
correct treatment
for his spiritual
and religious
ailment.
In
everyday life we see
a child learning by
copying from his
parents, their
speech. their
manners and so
forth. A person
cannot be an expert
in all professions
and he asks experts
when he needs
advise. When this
advice is given by
an expert he follows
on that advice. This
is 'Taqleed'.
But
there is one kind of
Taqleed which is not
positive and
therefore
undesirable. This is
blind following.
Blind following does
not conform with the
Islamic spirit.
People in the world
do try to follow
blindly, like
following the
fashion trends in
dress and
decorations. This is
against
intelligence. With
this blind following
the danger is that
undesirable
activities and
traditions become
part and parcel of
life and in time
they become an
irreplaceable part
of a society. They
were followed
without giving
rational thought,
but after a while
when the same
unreasonable things
become part of life
it would become
impossible not to
follow them. Man
would then become a
prisoner of these
traditions and he
would lose the
ability to follow
reason and
intelligence. There
are societies that
were formed in the
same way to the
extent that if
rational persons
tried to detach
themselves it would
become impossible.
It is for this
reason that blind
following has been
regarded as
something
endesirable.
Distinctive
Qualities of a
Marja'
A
Mujtahid who has
become a Marja'
because a large
number of Muslims
follow him and he
solves their
religious problems
in accordance with
the Book of Allah
and Hadith, should
also have the
following four
distinctive
qualities:
1. Seyanat e Nafs:
This is self
protection from
sins. He should be
able to protect
himself from
activities which are
regarded as mistakes
or sins of minor
nature.
2. Hifz e Deen:
This means he should
not have ant
attraction for money
or position and his
whole life should be
surrounded by 'Deen'
and all his
activities should be
under the light of
Islamic Ideology and
his should always be
protection and
preservence of
Islam. His sole
purpose in life
should be obedience
to Allah (SWT),
nothing less. In
other words he
should never have
any ideas on
obedience to anyone
but Allah. He should
not be a tool in the
hands of anyone in
the world.
Imam
Ja'afar Sadiqe(as)
in connection with
the Ulemas who have
their own following
on religious matters
and they take all
responsibilities on
their shoulders, has
given a clear
directive on this
matter:
"From among the
Jurists (Fuqaha')
who protect
themselves from sin,
safeguard Deen, act
against their own
desires and are
solely obedient to
Allah are those whom
Muslims should
follow in Taqleed"
Similar directives
has been received
from our 12th Imam
on the distinctive
qualities of the
Fuqaha' who become
centre of religious
authority (Marja').
It
is possible that
each day a new
problem emerges
which has no
parallel before or
was not discussed
previously, Muslims
require the
assistance of a
Mujtahid, in every
age and time who
should be able to
fulfill their
religious needs and
solve their problems
in a proper manner.
Duty or Obligation ?
Every individual
Muslim, in every
aspect of his life,
is under obligation
and duty bound, as
far as religious
problems are
concerned, to
identify the
problem, find the
solution and act
upon it. This duty
or obligation
imposed on every
Muslim on
identifying
religious problems
and finding its
solution is called
(Takleef Shari'I).
Limitation of his
Obligation.
There is an age
limit when this duty
becomes obligatory.
1.
This is a
specialist's
assignment for all
other Muslims. If
one individual
Muslim has not been
able to acquire such
knowledge and
qualities then he
has to consult the
Marj'a.
2.
Like the question of
Life Insurance,
Banking, permissible
or non permissible,
opening of the
Caracas at the time
of Sacrifice at
Mina, economic and
other problems of
the society or even
announcement of the
sighting of the new
moon for Eid Al-fitr
in order have a
united Eid.etc.
3.
For a male person,
the age limit is
about 15 years, less
or more.(Signs are
attaining puberty
and hair growing on
private parts). For
girls it is the
beginning of
menstruation or hair
growing and it is
commonly 9 years of
age. When these
signs appear, the
male or female
person should
realise his or her
obligations and
duties in order to
observe or perform
religious duties.
Allah has given each
individual strength
and powers according
to his abilities.
Therefore , duties
are also obligatory
on such.
Religious
Commandments as
Obligatory.
These are Ahkam
Takleef, But there
are Ahkam Waze'e:
1.
Ahkam Takleef are
those studies in
which the person has
the chance and the
intention of his own
whether to perform
them or not.
2.
Ahkam Waze'e are
those in which a
person has no chance
to prevent, or had
no intention of
doing them but they
happened
inadvertently. For
instance during
sleep one stretches
his legs and damages
someone's valuable
property without
intending to damage
it. In other words
any act which was
wrong in its
substance but
occurred
unintentionally.
This is called in
Fiqh 'Ahkam Wazi'i.
Types of "Ahkam
Takleef "
All
human actions have a
definite order and
they are classified
in the following
five divisions:
1.
Wajib (Obligatory):
The Commandments
that must be
performed by an
adult and their non
performance is
considered a sin for
instance. Daily
Salat on an adult
its neglect is sin.
Identification of
Religious Problems
and participation in
the problems of
Muslims generally
and helping them in
their needs.
To
spend life searching
for a dignified and
correct religious
stature. To spend
life and time for
Muslims and to help
them in their need
even when he himself
does not require any
help or assistance.
2.
Mustahab(Recommended):
This is the type of
observance if
performed becomes an
act of goodness and
desirable for all
concerned. For
example; to welcome
guests in your home,
to remain in a state
of Wudhu all the
time, to offer Salat
in Jamaa'
(Congregation), to
use fragrance on
your body to dispel
bodily smells, to
brush your teeth
with Miswak, to
attend to a sick
Muslim or
brotheretc. All this
is Mustahab and
there is thawab
reward in it.
3.
Haram: Things that
must not be
committed at all,
for they are totally
forbidden. To act on
these forbidden
items is equal to
sin and its
rejection is Wajib (
A Must). Examples
are; telling a lie,
hurting someone,
hoarding goods when
other Muslims are in
need, oppressing
others or helping
the oppressors, even
making friends with
the oppressors,
bribe taking,
gambling, stealing
etc.
4.
Makruh (Disliked):
Items whose
renunciation is
better, Like
urination while
standing, reciting
Salat at a filthy
place, actions that
can be harmful to
others like hoarding
goods to be sold
when prices would go
upetc.
5.
Mubah (Allowed):
Items that have
equal significance
whether performed or
not performed, like
eating halal food,
going for
sightseeing,
enjoying a stroll in
the parketc.
