['Aalim Network QR] Taqleed Questions

[sukaina panju <sukaina.panju@utoronto.ca>]

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|       In the Name of Allah, the Compassionate, the All-Merciful       |\
|  Greeting of Allah be upon Muhammad and the pure members of his House |\
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Dear Brothers and Sisters in Islam,

The following answer was kindly provided by Dr.Takim

Salaams,

Zahir Panju
Moderator ABDG-A 


QUESTION:

 Salaam alikum.
 I would like to know, which Taqlid I can follow.?
 Why is that I need to follow a specific Taqlid.?
 Do I have a choice to be in a specific Taqlid.?


 ANSWER:

 Salaamun 'Alaykum,
 
 You perform the taqlid of a marja'  who is most learned (a'lam). This can be
 known from the ahl al-khibra ( the experts in the field), or if one is
 learned enough to identify the most learned by himself or you may even
 follow the advise of one reliable person if he tells you of a mujtahid being
 a'lam provided this statement is not contradicted by somebody else.
 
 Taqlid literally means to imitate. You follow a specific taqlid so that you
 are able to perform the duties required by Allah, the Almighty. Just as you
 follow the advise of a doctor when sick or refer to an accountant for your
 accounting problems, you need to do the taqlid of the most learned in the
 field of performing your religious obligations. By doing the taqlid of an
 a'lam, the responsibility of researching the divine ruling on a particular
 issue is removed from you. Instead, you merely follow the ruling of a marja
 on that issue.
 
 As for the third question, the same criterion mentioned above (a'lam) applies.
 
 Allah knows best
 
 Liyakatali