(Part 8)
The Continuation;
The Second Topic: History of Taqlid (Imitation)
The First Speech: Imitation Before Islam
Before Islam, from East to West, one can observe imitation in the governance and societal systems of empires such as the Romans, Persians, Indians, Chinese, and others who followed distorted or man-made religions. At that time, the intellectual and cultural development of the entire world was, to some extent, similarly underdeveloped. Therefore, for an indisputable example, we can refer to the behavior of the pre-Islamic Arabs, as extensively and clearly documented in the Holy Qur’an and supported by numerous Hadiths and narrations. These examples were provided for Muslims as lessons.
One of the characteristics that the Arabs of the Age of Ignorance clung to was tribal prejudice and blind zealotry. Allah Almighty says:
[48:26] Al-Fatḥ-الْفَتْح
“اِذۡ جَعَلَ الَّذِیۡنَ کَفَرُوۡا فِیۡ قُلُوۡبِہِمُ الۡحَمِیَّۃَ حَمِیَّۃَ الۡجَاہِلِیَّۃِ فَاَنۡزَلَ اللّٰہُ سَکِیۡنَتَہٗ عَلٰی رَسُوۡلِہٖ وَ عَلَی الۡمُؤۡمِنِیۡنَ وَ اَلۡزَمَہُمۡ کَلِمَۃَ التَّقۡوٰی وَ کَانُوۡۤا اَحَقَّ بِہَا وَ اَہۡلَہَا ؕ وَ کَانَ اللّٰہُ بِکُلِّ شَیۡءٍ عَلِیۡمًا ﴿۲۶﴾
“{When those who disbelieved had put in their hearts pride, the pride of ignorance}” [Al-Fath: 26]
This verse clearly highlights their imitation and following of ignorant customs in opposition to the noble Prophet of Islam, who was the guarantor of their success in this world and the Hereafter. When Allah revealed His book of guidance to them, they rejected it. Regarding their pride in the Arabic language, Allah says in the Qur’an:
“وَ لَوۡ نَزَّلۡنٰہُ عَلٰی بَعۡضِ الۡاَعۡجَمِیۡنَ ﴿۱۹۸﴾ۙ [26:199] Al-Shu‘arā-الشُّعَرَآء
“فَقَرَاَہٗ عَلَیۡہِمۡ مَّا کَانُوۡا بِہٖ مُؤۡمِنِیۡنَ ﴿۱۹۹﴾ؕ[26:198] Al-Shu‘arā-الشُّعَرَآء
“{And if We had sent it down to one of the non-Arabs, and he had recited it to them, they would not have believed in it}” [Ash-Shu‘ara: 198–199]
This verse openly reveals their irrational bias toward the Arabic language, although the Qur’an is a book of guidance and healing for those who believe, regardless of language, race, or social class.
Allah says:
[41:44] Fuṣṣilat/Ha-Mim Sajdah-فُصِّلَت/حٰم السَّجْدَة
“وَ لَوۡ جَعَلۡنٰہُ قُرۡاٰنًا اَعۡجَمِیًّا لَّقَالُوۡا لَوۡ لَا فُصِّلَتۡ اٰیٰتُہٗ ؕ ءَؔاَعۡجَمِیٌّ وَّ عَرَبِیٌّ ؕ قُلۡ ہُوَ لِلَّذِیۡنَ اٰمَنُوۡا ہُدًی وَّ شِفَآءٌ ؕ وَ الَّذِیۡنَ لَا یُؤۡمِنُوۡنَ فِیۡۤ اٰذَانِہِمۡ وَقۡرٌ وَّ ہُوَ عَلَیۡہِمۡ عَمًی ؕ اُولٰٓئِکَ یُنَادَوۡنَ مِنۡ مَّکَانٍۭ بَعِیۡدٍ ﴿۴۴﴾
“{And if We had made it a non-Arabic Qur’an, they would have said, ‘Why are its verses not explained in detail? Is it a foreign [speech] and an Arab [messenger]?’ Say, ‘It is, for those who believe, a guidance and cure. But those who do not believe—in their ears is deafness, and it is upon them blindness. They are being called from a distant place}'” [Fussilat: 44]