[Q 241] Is there Taqleed in beliefs?

Question

Is Taqleed applicable in Aqeedah?

بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم

الجواب بعون الملك الوهاب اللهم هداية الحق والصواب

Answer

No, in the fundamental beliefs of Islam, Taqleed is not permissible. Beliefs are established from explicit texts (Quran and clear, evident Hadiths) and these texts are clear, whereas in subsidiary(فروعی) matters where derivation and analogy are needed (as they are somewhat unclear) and not everyone is qualified for this, thus following a particular Imam is obligatory and necessary in these matters.

Additionally, belief is defined as a firm conviction that aligns exactly with reality and is not subject to doubt even if someone tries to create uncertainty, whereas in taqleed, the approach is that we act upon the statement of our Imam  because it is correct, but still there exists the possibility that another Imam’s statement might be correct i.e., the possibility of incorrectness exists; hence, the firm conviction required for beliefs cannot be attained through taqleed, so taqleed in beliefs is also incorrect for this reason.

It should be noted that some issues related to beliefs are such that there are no explicit statements in the Quran and Hadith or there are conflicting evidences. The interpretations of these matters differ among the Imams. These issues are not the fundamental matters of belief but are similar to subsidiary(فروعی) matters. Therefore, scholars on both sides of such differences are considered Ahl ul-Sunnah. Groups like Maturidi and Ash’ari are distinguished because of differences in these issues.

Those who adopt the interpretations of Imam Abu Mansur Maturidi in such issues are called Maturidis and those who take the interpretations of Imam Ash’ari are known as Ash’aris.

In this respect, there is an aspect of taqleed in some of these belief-related issues.

Answered by: Mubashir Attari (AskMufti Scholar)

Verified by: Mufti Sajid Attari