(Part 11)
The Continuation;
The Second Topic: History of Taqlid (Imitation)
The Second Speech: Imitation in Islam
Beliefs of Muslims Regarding Divine Rulings
Muslims believe that Almighty God has conveyed His complete and eternal rulings in the Holy Qur’an and the purified Sunnah of His Prophet. The Prophet of Islam gradually communicated these rulings, according to various circumstances, through divine revelation to the general Muslim community, especially the prominent Companions who were always in his blessed presence. Many general or absolute commandments had specific limitations or exceptions that, due to certain wisdom, were not disclosed during the Prophet’s lifetime, and later clarified by jurists. During the blessed life of the Messenger of Allah, rulings were revealed, and the Prophet would implement them. The Companions, without necessarily knowing whether an act was obligatory or recommended, would follow his actions. After the Prophet’s passing, each Companion preserved the Prophet’s rulings and teachings to the extent made possible for them by Almighty God. They would contemplate on them and deduce implications based on observed signs and evidences. Thus, some would interpret acts as permissible, others as recommended, and some, based on their evidence, concluded abrogation of certain rulings. The general approach of the Companions in this realm was based on relying on deductive methods and evaluating matters with peace and confidence. (Dehlawi 1437, p. 31)
The Context of Ijtihad and Taqleed During the Meccan Period:
During the Meccan period of the Prophet, there was no room for ijtihad or taqleed, because the essential legal principles of Islamic Sharia were revealed in Medina. During this period, everyone followed the Prophet’s instructions and divine revelation. The noble Messenger sent Mus‘ab ibn ‘Umair to Yathrib to teach Islam, so people could learn religious rulings through his example. There is some difference of opinion about whether the Prophet himself practiced ijtihad. The majority of jurists believe it was permissible. (al-Shuhūr, n.d., p. 18)
During this period, the Companions also engaged in certain acts of ijtihad. In a hadith, when the Prophet intended to send Mu‘adh d to Yemen, he asked:
ان رسو ل الله صلي الله عليه وسلم لما اراد أن يبعث معاذا إليمن قال: كيف تقضي اءا عرض لك قضاء؟ قال اقضي بكتاب الله. قال فان لم تجد فى كتاب الله؟ قال فبسنة رسول الله صلي الله عليه وسلم. قال فان لم تجد في سنة رسول الله، و لا في كتاب الله؟ قال اجتهد رأيي، و لا آلو فضرب رسول صلى الله عليه وسلم صدره وقال الحمد لله، الذى وفق رسول، رسول الله لما يرضى رسول الله.
“How will you judge if a matter is presented to you?”
Mu‘adh replied, “I will judge according to the Book of Allah.”
The Prophet asked, “If you could not find it in the Book of Allah?”
Mu‘adh answered, “Then by the Sunnah of the Messenger of Allah.”
The Prophet asked again, “If you could not find it in the Sunnah or the Book of Allah?”
He replied, “Then I will strive to form my own judgment.”
Upon hearing this, the Prophet struck his chest and said, “Praise be to Allah who has guided the messenger of the Messenger of Allah to that which pleases the Messenger of Allah.” (al-Azdi al-Sijistani, n.d., 3/303)