Is Blind Following of Imams (Taqlid) Justified in Islam?

Hafizur Rahman Qadri Sahib states: Is Taqlid Shirk? In the rulings of Shariah, we are followers of Imam Azam (may Allah have mercy on him). Thus, some follow the Shafi’i school, some the Maliki, and some the Hanbali. The followers of these four Imams, i.e., the Ahl al-Sunnah wa al-Jama’ah, are called the people of Sunnah. However, some individuals declare this Taqlid as Shirk.

Answer:

Respected Qadri Sahib! Before asking us this question, if you had asked your Pir Sultan al-Arifeen Hazrat Sultan Bahu, may Allah have mercy on him, then there would have been no need to trouble the people of Tawheed with this question. Accordingly, he explains the difference between the people of Tawheed and the people of Taqlid as follows.
He states that the people of Tawheed are endowed with grace and investigation.
And the people of Taqlid are worldly, complainant, and polytheists.

Pir Sahib further states that “the difference between the key and Taqlid” is that the key is entirely unity, and Taqlid is multiplicity and confusion; indeed, the people of Taqlid are ignorant and even inferior to animals.

Before discussing Taqlid further, it is necessary to define Taqlid so that it becomes clear to everyone what Taqlid means and what the word signifies.

التقليد العمل بقول الغير من غير حجة

Acting upon someone’s statement without evidence is Taqlid.
In Mukhtasar Ibn Hajib it is stated:

التقليد العمل بقول غيرك من غير حجة

التقليد اتباع الغير على ظن أنه محق بلا نظر فى الدليل

Following someone other than the Prophet with the assumption that he is more qualified, without any evidence, is Taqlid.
Acting upon someone’s opinion without evidence is Taqlid. (Siddiq Hanafi’s statement, printed in Egypt, page 6 with reference)

We have presented the definition of Taqlid from Hanafi books so that Hanafi brothers do not get confused while reading. Now we present what the meanings of Taqlid are.
Hafiz al-Rahman Qadri himself states that Taqlid has two meanings: one linguistic and the other Shariah-based.
The linguistic meaning is to put a necklace or strap around one’s neck.
In the Shariah sense, it means to make someone’s statement or action obligatory upon oneself, assuming that they are knowledgeable of the Shariah. The meaning of Taqlid also includes adopting and acting upon someone else’s statement without knowing its evidence.

The meanings of Taqlid are explained by the Hanafi Grand Mufti of Saharanpur: Taqlid means to put a strap or necklace, as is done around the neck of a sacrificial animal, or to make a necklace from bark or rope of a tree and put it on.

Dear readers! In light of the above references, you should have easily understood the definition and meaning of Taqlid, which is to accept the statement of someone other than the Prophet without evidence. But the Holy Quran does not accept this. Allah Almighty says:

وَلَا تَقْفُ مَا لَيْسَ لَكَ بِهِ عِلْمٌ

Do not follow anything of which you have no knowledge.
In another blessed verse, it is stated:

قُلْ هَاتُوا بُرْهَانَكُمْ إِنْ كُنْتُمْ صَادِقِينَ

Say, “If you are truthful, bring your proof.”
There is no doubt that the Holy Quran always commands obedience to Allah and following the Prophet, peace be upon him, and considers those who turn away from obeying Allah and following the Sunnah deserving of punishment. Along with this, it describes the benefits and felicities of obeying Allah and following the Prophet, peace be upon him. Thus, the first benefit of following the Messenger is stated:

إِنْ تُطِيعُوهُ تَهْتَدُوا

If you obey My Messenger, you will be guided.
It is understood that guidance is conditional upon following the Holy Prophet, peace be upon him. Without this, no person can claim to be rightly guided.

Second Important Point:

The secret of Allah Almighty’s love and forgiveness is hidden in following the Messenger ﷺ. Accordingly, Allah Almighty says:

قُلْ إِنْ كُنْتُمْ تُحِبُّونَ اللَّهَ فَاتَّبِعُونِي يُحْبِبْكُمُ اللَّهُ وَيَغْفِرْلَكُمْ ذُنُوبَكُمْ

(Say, O Prophet ﷺ) “If you love Allah, then follow me; Allah will love you and forgive your sins.”
In another blessed verse, it is stated:

قُلْ أَطِيعُوا اللَّهَ وَالرَّسُولَ فَإِنْ تَوَلَّوْا فَإِنَّ اللَّهَ لَا يُحِبُّ الْكَافِرِينَ

Say, “Obey Allah and His Messenger ﷺ.” But if they turn away, then indeed Allah does not like the disbelievers.
Allah Almighty addresses His Prophet ﷺ and says to tell his nation that if you seek to attain Allah’s love, then follow and obey me, and Allah will not only love you but also forgive your past sins. There are many benefits of obeying the Messenger ﷺ, but we will mention them at our place, InshaAllah.
Now, we will present the rejection of blind imitation from the Quran and Hadith. Allah Almighty says at another place:

اِتَّبِعُوا مَا أُنْزِلَ إِلَيْكُمْ مِنْ رَبِّكُمْ وَلَا تَتَّبِعُوا مِنْ دُونِهِ أَوْلِيَاءَ قَلِيلًا مَا تَذَكَّرُونَ

Follow the revelations and commands sent down from your Lord and do not follow other protectors besides Him. You have little understanding.
In Tafsir Qurtubi, it is written that ما أنزل refers only to the Book and Sunnah.

This blessed verse indicates that in the presence of evidence from the Quran and Hadith, the opinions of scholars and saints should be abandoned. It contains a clear rejection of blind imitation.
At one place, Allah Almighty says:

فَلَا وَرَبِّكَ لَا يُؤْمِنُونَ حَتَّى يُحَكِّمُوكَ فِيمَا شَجَرَ بَيْنَهُمْ ثُمَّ لَا يَجِدُوا فِي أَنْفُسِهِمْ حَرَجًا مِمَّا قَضَيْتَ وَيُسَلِّمُوا تَسْلِيمًا

By your Lord, they will never become believers until they accept you as a judge in all their disputes and then submit fully to your judgment.
It is proven that complete salvation and guidance lie in obedience to the Prophet ﷺ, and entry into Paradise is only possible through obedience to him ﷺ. The Prophet ﷺ said: Whoever obeys me will enter Paradise.

Therefore, believers have no need for blind imitation.
Rejecting imitation, the Lord of the universe says:

وَالَّذِينَ يُؤْمِنُونَ بِمَا أُنْزِلَ إِلَيْكَ وَمَا أُنْزِلَ مِنْ قَبْلِكَ وَبِالْآخِرَةِ هُمْ يُوقِنُونَ أُولَئِكَ عَلَى هُدًى مِنْ رَبِّهِمْ وَأُولَئِكَ هُمُ الْمُفْلِحُونَ

The believers are those who believe in the Book revealed to you ﷺ and the books revealed before you, and they have firm belief in the Hereafter. These are the ones truly guided and successful.
In the mentioned verse, بما أنزل refers to the Quran and Hadith. In this verse, Allah Almighty has made guidance and success dependent on following the Book and Sunnah.
Those who do not live their lives according to the Quran and Sunnah will have great regret in the Hereafter. The Quran states:

يَوْمَ تُقَلَّبُ وُجُوهُهُمْ فِي النَّارِ يَقُولُونَ يَا لَيْتَنَا أَطَعْنَا اللَّهَ وَأَطَعْنَا الرَّسُولَا وَقَالُوا رَبَّنَا إِنَّا أَطَعْنَا سَادَتَنَا وَكُبَرَاءَنَا فَأَضَلُّونَا السَّبِيلَا

The day their faces will be turned into the fire, they will say, “Oh, would that we had obeyed Allah and obeyed the Messenger ﷺ.” And they will say, “Our Lord, we obeyed our leaders and our great ones, and they led us astray from the path.”
This blessed verse is clear evidence against blind imitation and proves that the secret of guidance lies in obedience to the Quran and Hadith. Following anyone other than the Quran and Hadith results only in misguidance. If a follower understands the Book and Sunnah and acts upon them, he is guided, but in such a case, he is not a mere follower but a follower of the Quran and Sunnah. If he does not understand the Quran and Hadith, he is ignorant and in no way knows that by being a follower he is attaining guidance. This answers all objections where followers try to prove themselves guided by following a guided Imam.
I say that when the religion was completed in the life of the Messenger of Allah ﷺ, as the Quran states:

الْيَوْمَ أَكْمَلْتُ لَكُمْ دِينَكُمْ وَأَتْمَمْتُ عَلَيْكُمْ نِعْمَتِي وَرَضِيتُ لَكُمُ الْإِسْلَامَ دِينًا

Today I have perfected your religion for you, completed My favor upon you, and have chosen Islam as your religion.
This verse was revealed on the 9th of Dhu al-Hijjah, 10 AH, in the plain of Arafat. After this, the Prophet ﷺ remained in the world for a very short time. The purpose of the Prophethood, which was to complete the religion of Islam, was fulfilled, and Allah’s beloved ﷺ left us with a complete and perfect religion and advised the Ummah:

قد تركت فيكم ما إن اعتصمتم به فلن تضلوا أبدا كتاب الله وسنة نبيه

I am leaving among you that which, if you hold fast to it firmly, you will never go astray: the Book of Allah and the Sunnah of His Prophet ﷺ.
In another Hadith, Sayyiduna Abu Hurairah رضي الله عنه narrates that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said:

قال رسول الله إني قد تركت فيكم شيئين لن تضلوا بعدهما كتاب الله وسنتي

I am leaving among you two things; if you hold fast to them, you will never go astray: the Book of Allah and my Sunnah.
Dear readers! The religion of Islam was perfected and completed with these two things. The division of the Ummah that will occur in the last days was also described by the Prophet ﷺ, who said that the rightly guided group will be the one that follows what I and my companions رضي الله عنهم are upon.

Thus, it is understood that what is in the Quran and Hadith is the Shariah.
What has come to the tongue has become a cherished word,
The mark that fell upon the forehead has become the style.

These two things only were left by the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) as practical guidance for the Ummah. After the passing of the Prophet (peace be upon him), the Companions (may Allah be pleased with them) had only these two things to act upon. The Tabi‘in and Taba‘ al-Tabi‘in (may Allah have mercy on them) also dealt with only these two things. The best of generations based their actions and beliefs on these two things alone. They neither felt the need for a third thing, nor did they invent a third thing, nor was any third thing included in the religion, nor could any third thing stand against these two. Complete proof and permanent evidence were considered to be only these two things. And these two things were also capable of that.

Is blind imitation really obligatory upon Muslims?

According to the followers, imitation (taqlid) is obligatory upon Muslims. Were not the four Imams, may Allah have mercy on them, Muslims? Why did they not follow the people from whom they acquired knowledge?
If a person cannot become a true Muslim without imitation, then were not the Companions of the Prophet, may Allah be pleased with them, true believers and Muslims without imitation? Then how did they receive the certificate of approval from Allah?
The followers say that one cannot manage without imitation, so did the Companions, may Allah be pleased with them, manage without it? The Companions succeeded by following these two things. So if today someone acts upon the Quran and Sunnah without following the four schools of thought, why would that person fail?
Because no Companion of the Prophet, may Allah be pleased with him, was Hanafi, Maliki, Shafi’i, or Hanbali, yet Allah was pleased with them and they were pleased with Allah.

Is it really impossible to resolve issues without jurisprudence?

People say that problems cannot be solved without jurisprudence, so it is necessary to follow jurisprudence.
To this, it is said that the companions of the Prophet, may Allah be pleased with them, solved their issues from the Quran and Hadith without Hanafi jurisprudence, so are our problems greater than theirs? The companions, may Allah be pleased with them, used to pray, fast, perform Hajj, and give Zakat. From where were their issues resolved?
If being a follower (Muqallid) is a bad thing, then tell me, these four Imams, may Allah have mercy on them, were also non-followers. Just as nowadays people say that non-followers are misguided, the Imam whom you follow was also a non-follower. If the Imam himself is misguided, then how can those who follow him be on the right path? The Four Schools of Thought and the Four Imams, may Allah have mercy on them, have no proof in the Quran, nor in Hadith, nor was there any need for them, nor is there now. And the Four Schools of Thought did not exist during the time of the Prophet, peace be upon him. Why create four instead of one religion? The religion is already complete, so what is the need to establish the Four Schools of Thought? Our religion is Islam and we are Muslims, so what is the need to be called Hanafi, Shafi’i, Maliki, Hanbali, which we have imposed upon ourselves? If one must be affiliated with someone, then that affiliation is only one, to which we invite you all: become Muhammadi, then you will not need any other affiliation, God willing. We have given the authority of halal and haram to the Imams, which was the right of Allah. Accordingly, it is in the Holy Quran:

اتَّخَذُوا أَحْبَارَهُمْ وَرُهْبَانَهُمْ أَرْبَابًا مِنْ دُونِ اللَّهِ

They have taken their scholars and monks as lords besides Allah.
Although this verse was revealed about the Jews and Christians, it is unanimously accepted as a law that the general meaning of the word is considered, not the specific cause or the occasion of revelation. The evil of Jews and Christians has not come upon us? It means that the Jews and Christians gave their clerics and spiritual leaders the authority over halal and haram. They considered halal as haram and haram as halal on their command. It is narrated in Hadith that Uday ibn Hatim Al-Tai, may Allah be pleased with him, repented from Christianity and embraced Islam. When he heard the mentioned verse of Surah At-Tawbah in the presence of the Prophet, peace be upon him, he asked the Prophet that we did not make them gods or deities. The Prophet, peace be upon him, replied: When they declared what Allah made lawful as unlawful, did you not consider it unlawful? Uday ibn Hatim said: Yes, we did so. Then the Prophet, peace be upon him, said: That is their worship.

Following someone is also considered associating partners with Allah, as stated in the Holy Quran:

أَمْ لَهُمْ شُرَكَاءُ شَرَعُوا لَهُمْ مِنَ الدِّينِ مَا لَمْ يَأْذَنْ بِهِ اللَّهُ

Have they taken gods besides Allah who create for them a religion not permitted by Allah?
Because the fabricated issues of jurisprudence have no permission from Allah, believing in them also falls into the same category. All this is the miracle of following (Taqlid).
Allama Iqbal, may Allah have mercy on him, beautifully said:
There is only monotheism and the Sunnah, the way of peace and comfort
Do not create the turmoil of war and dispute through following
What was the methodology of the Messenger of Allah, peace be upon him, which Allah Himself declared:

فَاسْتَمْسِكْ بِالَّذِي أُوحِيَ إِلَيْكَ إِنَّكَ عَلَىٰ صِرَاطٍ مُسْتَقِيمٍ

So hold firmly to that which has been revealed to you. Indeed, you are on a straight path.
Allah Almighty has negated other partnerships. One partnership is in worship. Partnership in worship is not accepted, as Allah Almighty said:

وَلَا يُشْرِكْ بِعِبَادَةِ رَبِّهِ أَحَدًا

Do not associate anyone in worship with your Lord.
Just as Allah Almighty has negated partnership in worship, similarly, He does not accept partnership in His system of law and His command. He said:

وَلَا يُشْرِكُ فِي حُكْمِهِ أَحَدًا

And He does not share His command with anyone.

Is it really necessary to be a follower of one of the four schools of thought?

People say that it is necessary to be a follower of one of the four madhhabs. However, the Messenger of Allah, peace be upon him, drew four lines and clarified the issue of truth, pointing out the straight path:

عن جابر بن عبدالله قال كنا عند النبى صلى الله عليه وسلم فخط خطا وخط خطين عن يمينه وخط خطين عن يساره ثم وضع يده فى الخط الأوسط فقال هذا سبيل الله ثم تلا هذه الآية، وأن هذا صراطي مستقيما فاتبعوه ولا تتبعوا السبل فتفرق عن سبيله

Hazrat Jabir bin Abdullah, may Allah be pleased with him, narrates that once we were sitting with the Noble Prophet, peace be upon him. He drew a straight line and then drew two lines on the right side and two lines on the left side. Then placing his hand on the middle straight line, he said that this is the straight path of Allah. Then he recited this verse:

وَأَنَّ هَٰذَا صِرَاطِي مُسْتَقِيمًا فَاتَّبِعُوهُ وَلَا تَتَّبِعُوا السُّبُلَ فَتَفَرَّقَ بِكُمْ عَنْ سَبِيلِهِ

This is My straight path, so follow it and do not follow other ways, lest you stray from the way.
It is worth thinking that when the four Imams, may Allah have mercy on them, were not yet born, was the religion of Allah not present on earth before that? On which religion were the Companions, may Allah be pleased with them, and the Followers, may Allah have mercy on them, because these Imams were born much later:
Imam Abu Hanifa, may Allah have mercy on him, was born in 80 AH.
Imam Malik, may Allah have mercy on him, was born in 90 or 93 AH.
Imam Shafi’i, may Allah have mercy on him, was born in 150 AH.
Imam Ahmad bin Hanbal, may Allah have mercy on him, was born in 164 AH.

Every sect claims that we came first, and you are a later creation, but I say that a son cannot exist before the father. This is a principle that no one can deny.
It is clear that before 80 Hijri, there was no sect called the Hanafi religion present on earth.
Before that, there was no Muslim on earth called a Hanafi follower because the Imam must come first, and then the followers come later.
Before 93 Hijri, there was no group of the Maliki religion present.
Before 150 Hijri, there was no sect called the Shafi’i religion present on earth.
Before 164 Hijri, there was no group of the Hanbali religion present.
If any group existed, it was the Muhammadi group, those who accepted the Quran and Sunnah, present even during the time of the Messenger of Allah, peace be upon him. At that time, Allah’s religion was complete, which the Messenger of Allah, peace be upon him, left for the people.

The Companions also forbade imitation!

Imitation is an evil from which the Companions of the Prophet, may Allah be pleased with them, also refrained.
Sayyiduna Muadh bin Jabal, may Allah be pleased with him, said:

إما العالم فإن اهتدى فلا تقلدوه دينكم

Even if a scholar is on the path of guidance, do not imitate him in your religion.
Sayyiduna Abdullah bin Mas’ud, may Allah be pleased with him, said:

لا تقلدوا دينكم الرجال

Do not imitate people in your religion.
This is why the very thing from which the Companions of the Prophet, may Allah be pleased with them, refrained, today those who follow in the footsteps of the Companions, the Wahhabis who share the same creed as the Companions, also forbid. Because no Companion of the Prophet, peace be upon him, was an imitator. All were followers of the Sunnah. The imitators do not even truly follow the words of the Imams because all four Imams forbade imitation.

The Four Imams also forbade imitation!

Thus Imam Abu Hanifa, may Allah have mercy on him, said:

حرام على من لم يعرف دليلي أن يفتي بكلامي

Whoever does not find evidence for what I say, it is forbidden to issue a fatwa based on my statement.
At another place, Imam Abu Hanifa, may Allah have mercy on him, says, I quote the full passage:

قال أبو حنيفة لا أقلد التابعي لأنهم رجال ونحن رجال ولا يصح تقليده

Imam Abu Hanifa, may Allah have mercy on him, said: I do not imitate a Tabi’i because he is also a human like us; his imitation is not permissible.
At another place, Imam Abu Hanifa, may Allah have mercy on him, says:

قال أبو حنيفة لا يحل لأحد أن يأخذ بقولي ما لم يعلم من أين قلته ونهى عن التقليد وندب إلى الدليل

Imam Abu Hanifa, may Allah have mercy on him, said: It is not lawful for anyone to take my statement without knowing where I forbade imitation.
Dear readers! Imam Abu Hanifa, may Allah have mercy on him, clearly expressed his position:
If someone does not accept his statement, the responsibility lies on them. He declared the truth and fulfilled his duty.
Imam Malik, may Allah have mercy on him, says:

كان الإمام مالك يقول ما من أحد إلا ومأخوذ من كلامه ومردود عليه إلا رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم

Imam Malik, may Allah have mercy on him, used to say that there is no being whose every word is to be acted upon except the Messenger of Allah, peace be upon him.
Imam Shafi’i, may Allah have mercy on him, also said:

قال الشافعي إذا قلت قولا وكان النبى صلى الله عليه وسلم قال خلاف قولي فما يصح من النبى صلى الله عليه وسلم أولى فلا تقلدوني

Imam Shafi’i, may Allah have mercy on him, said: When I present an issue and the statement of the Prophet, peace be upon him, contradicts my statement, then the issue proven by authentic hadith is more worthy; do not imitate me. Then he said: When an authentic hadith is found, that is my creed; if my statement contradicts the hadith, then act upon the hadith and throw my statement against the wall; do not imitate me.

فقد صح عن الشافعي أنه نهى عن تقليده وتقليد غيره

Imam Shafi’i, may Allah have mercy on him, forbade imitation of himself and others.
Imam Ahmad ibn Hanbal, may Allah have mercy on him, says:

وكان الإمام أحمد يقول ليس لأحد مع الله ورسوله كلام فلا تقلدوني ولا تقلدوا مالكا ولا الأوزاعي ولا النخعي وغيرهم

Imam Ahmad, may Allah have mercy on him, said: Do not imitate me, nor Malik, may Allah have mercy on him, nor Awza’i, may Allah have mercy on him, nor Nakha’i, may Allah have mercy on him, nor anyone else. Take rulings from the Book and Sunnah from where they took them.
Consider that all four Imams, may Allah have mercy on them, forbade imitation, yet their followers disobey. They declare imitation obligatory and claim that they follow the four Imams, whereas the creed of the four Imams is different from that of their followers because they were all non-imitators. A poet beautifully said:
What kind of destination is this, neither shore nor river,
The swimmer of the sea of sorrow, where to drown, where to emerge?

Hazrat Shah Waliullah Muhaddith Dehlvi (may Allah have mercy on him) also states that the people of the fourth century were not gathered in the imitation of any particular person.

Allah Almighty says:

يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا أَطِيعُوا اللَّهَ وَأَطِيعُوا الرَّسُولَ وَلَا تُبْطِلُوا أَعْمَالَكُمْ

O you who have believed, obey Allah and obey the Messenger and do not invalidate your deeds.
It is understood that the deeds done in obedience to Allah and His Messenger (peace be upon him) are accepted by Allah, and those done otherwise are all rejected. However, in our society, people appear to be deeply trapped in imitation and are not willing to leave it. One major reason for this is that they say their forefathers used to do the same. Thus, this is not a matter of today but thousands of years old. The Holy Quran has mentioned this concept repeatedly:

وَإِذَا قِيلَ لَهُمُ اتَّبِعُوا مَا أَنْزَلَ اللَّهُ قَالُوا بَلْ نَتَّبِعُ مَا أَلْفَيْنَا عَلَيْهِ آبَاءَنَا أَوَلَوْ كَانَ آبَاؤُهُمْ لَا يَعْقِلُونَ شَيْئًا وَلَا يَهْتَدُونَ

And when it is said to them, “Follow what Allah has revealed,” they say, “No, but we will follow that upon which we found our forefathers.” Even though their forefathers understood nothing, nor were they guided.
At another place, it is said: When Prophet Ibrahim (peace be upon him) was invited to the revelation, they gave this answer:

وَجَدْنَا آبَاءَنَا لَهَا عَابِدِينَ

We found our forefathers worshipping them.
In response, Ibrahim (peace be upon him) said:

لَقَدْ كُنْتُمْ أَنْتُمْ وَآبَاؤُكُمْ فِي ضَلَالٍ مُبِينٍ

You and your forefathers have been clearly in manifest error.
At another place, when Ibrahim (peace be upon him) was told: We cannot abandon our ancestral religion because of your preaching; we will do what they used to do.

وَإِذَا قِيلَ لَهُمُ اتَّبِعُوا مَا أَنْزَلَ اللَّهُ قَالُوا بَلْ نَتَّبِعُ مَا وَجَدْنَا عَلَيْهِ آبَاءَنَا أَوَلَوْ كَانَ الشَّيْطَانُ يَدْعُوهُمْ إِلَىٰ عَذَابِ السَّعِيرِ

And when it is said to them, “Follow what Allah has revealed,” they say, “No, but we will follow that upon which we found our forefathers,” even though Satan invites them to the punishment of the Hellfire.
At another place, in response to the call to Allah, they say:

حَسْبُنَا مَا وَجَدْنَا عَلَيْهِ آبَاءَنَا

The way we found our forefathers doing is sufficient for us.
Hazrat Hud (peace be upon him) called his people to the religion of Allah and presented arguments, but the people replied:

قَالُوا أَجِئْتَنَا لِنَعْبُدَ اللَّهَ وَحْدَهُ وَنَذَرَ مَا كَانَ يَعْبُدُ آبَاؤُنَا

They said, “Have you come to us to abandon what we found our forefathers worshipping and to worship Allah alone?”
Some other misguided polytheists said:

قالوا إنا وجدنا آباءنا علىٰ أمة وإنا علىٰ آثارهم مهتدون

They said, “We found our forefathers upon a way, and we are following in their footsteps.”
This is a method: not to see whether the beliefs and deeds of the forefathers were correct or wrong, not to investigate, blindly following the path of the forefathers without evidence—this is imitation, accepting the words of elders in religious matters without proof. All the Prophets (peace be upon them) presented arguments before their nations, flowing rivers of knowledge and insight, but their nations accepted the words of their elders without evidence, as if the misguided people of all nations held this belief, as Allah Almighty said:

وَكَذَٰلِكَ مَا أَرْسَلْنَا مِنْ قَبْلِكَ فِي قَرْيَةٍ مِنْ نَذِيرٍ إِلَّا قَالَ مُتْرَفُوهَا إِنَّا وَجَدْنَا آبَاءَنَا عَلَىٰ أُمَّةٍ وَإِنَّا عَلَىٰ آثَارِهِمْ مُقْتَدُونَ

And thus We did not send any warner before you to any city but the affluent among them said, “Indeed, we found our forefathers upon a way, and we are following in their footsteps.”
When the Prophets (peace be upon them) asked people why they did ignorant deeds, they replied immediately:

بَلْ وَجَدْنَا آبَاءَنَا كَذَٰلِكَ يَفْعَلُونَ

They said, “Rather, we found our forefathers doing the same.”
Allama Iqbal (may Allah have mercy on him) beautifully said:
If imitation were a good method,
The Prophet would have followed the path of our ancestors.

Translation: If imitation were a good method, then the Prophet would have followed the path of his ancestors.