This excerpt is taken from the book of Muhaddith al-Asr Sheikh Zubair Ali Zaee, may Allah have mercy on him, titled Ahl-e-Hadith: A Descriptive Name.
الحمد لله رب العالمين والصلوة والسلام على محمد رسول الله: خاتم النبيين صلى الله عليه وسلم و رضي الله عن أصحابه أجمعين و من تبعهم إلى يوم الدين، أما بعد:
The command of the Exalted Allah is: [قُلۡ ہَلۡ یَسۡتَوِی الَّذِیۡنَ یَعۡلَمُوۡنَ وَ الَّذِیۡنَ لَا یَعۡلَمُوۡنَ] Say! Are those who know equal to those who do not know?
Reference: (Az-Zumar: 9)
From this verse, it is understood that there are two (major) categories of people:
[1] Scholars (There are many types of scholars in terms of ranks, and students are also included among them).
[2] The common people (There are many types of common people, including the illiterate and ignorant).
The ruling for the common people is that they should ask the people of knowledge (scholars).
Reference: (See Surah An-Nahl: 43)
This asking is not taqlid (imitation).
Reference: See Muntaha al-Wusul by Ibn al-Hajib al-Nahwi (pp. 218-219)
and my book:
Reference: The Issue of Taqlid in Religion (p.16)
If asking were taqlid, then the common people of Barelvi and Deobandi sects would be followers of the current Barelvi and Deobandi scholars and would never call themselves Hanafi, Maturidi, or Naqshbandi, etc. Some would be prideful, some pious, and some stubborn (!), although no one advocates this. Therefore, categorically calling asking taqlid is wrong and false.
Imitation is not permissible for scholars; rather, it is necessary to act verbally and practically according to the Book, Sunnah, and consensus to the best of one's ability. And if a matter is not found in the three proofs, then ijtihad (for example, reasoning from the agreed and non-controversial actions of the pious predecessors and correct analogy, etc.) is permissible.
Hafiz Ibn al-Qayyim, may Allah have mercy on him (died 751 AH), said: [و إذا كان المقلد ليس من العلماء باتفاق العلماء لم يدخل في شيء من هذه النصوص] And when the one who imitates is not among the scholars, as is the consensus (ijma) of the scholars, then he is not included in these proofs (the virtues mentioned in the verses and hadiths).
Reference: (A'lam al-Muwaqqi'in: vol. 2, p. 200)
From the meaning of this statement, it is understood that a scholar is not an imitator.
Hafiz Ibn Abd al-Barr al-Andalusi, may Allah have mercy on him (died 463 AH), said: [وقالوا والمقلد لا علم له و لم يختلفوا في ذلك] And they (the scholars) said: The imitator is ignorant (unlearned), and there is no disagreement among them on this.
Reference: (Jami' Bayan al-'Ilm wa Fadlih: vol. 2, p. 231, chapter on the corruption of imitation)
This consensus also proves that a scholar is not a follower (muqallid), rather it is written in the margin of the Hanafi book Al-Hidayah: [يُحتمل أن يكون مراده بالجاهل المقلد لأنه ذكره في مقابلة المجتهد]
It is probable that by ignorant they mean the follower because they mentioned it in contrast to the Mujtahid.
Reference: (Hidayah Akhirin: p. 132, margin: 6, Kitab Adab al-Qadi)
After this preface, in this research article, references of one hundred (100) scholars are presented, about whom it is explicitly proven that they did not follow (taqlid):
Reference: 1
Sayyiduna Abdullah bin Mas'ud (may Allah be pleased with him) said: [لا تقلدوا دينكم الرجال] etc. Do not follow men (i.e., people) in your religion. etc.
Reference: (Al-Sunan al-Kubra by Al-Bayhaqi: 2/10, and its chain is authentic) Also see the issue of following in religion (p. 35)
Sayyiduna Abdullah bin Mas'ud (may Allah be pleased with him) said: [اغد عالمًا أو متعلمًا ولا تغد إمعة بين ذلك] Be scholars or learners (students), do not be followers between these two (i.e., other than these two).
Reference: (Jami' Bayan al-'Ilm wa Fadlih: 1/71-72, Hadith 108, and its chain is Hasan)
A translation of إمعہ is also follower (muqallid). See
Reference: Taj al-'Arus (vol. 11, p. 4), Al-Mujam al-Wasit (p. 26), and Al-Qamus al-Wahid (p. 134)
According to Sayyiduna Ibn Mas'ud (may Allah be pleased with him), there are three types of people:
[1] Scholar
[2] Seeker of knowledge
[3] Follower (Imitator)
He forbade people from becoming mere followers and commanded them to become scholars or seekers of knowledge.
Reference: 2
Sayyiduna Mu'adh bin Jabal (may Allah be pleased with him) said: [أما العالم فإن اهتدى فلا تقلدوه دينكم۔ إلخ] Even if a scholar is on the right guidance, do not imitate him in your religion. Etc.
Reference: (Jami' Bayan al-'Ilm wa Fadlih: 2/222 Hadith 955, and its chain is Hasan) Also see the issue of imitation in religion (pp. 35-37)
Warning:
Among all the Companions of the Prophet, there is no explicit permission, either verbally or practically, to imitate any one Companion. Rather, Hafiz Ibn Hazm al-Andalusi (may Allah have mercy on him) (died 456 AH) said: From beginning to end, there is an established consensus among all the Companions (may Allah be pleased with them) and all the Tabi'in that it is forbidden and impermissible to accept all the statements of any one person from among them or before them (from the Ummah). Etc.
Reference: (Al-Nabdhah al-Kafiyah by Ibn Hazm: p. 71), (Al-Radd 'ala man Akhlada ila al-Ard by Al-Suyuti: pp. 131-132), (The issue of imitation in religion: pp. 35-36)
Reference: 3
Imam Malik bin Anas Al-Madani, may Allah have mercy on him (died 179 AH), was a great Mujtahid. Tahtawi Hanafi said about the Four Imams (Imam Abu Hanifa, Imam Malik, Imam Shafi'i, and Imam Ahmad): [وهم غير مقلدين] and they were non-followers (ghair muqallid).
Reference: (Hashiyah al-Tahtawi ala al-Durr al-Mukhtar: Vol 1, p. 51)
A person named Muhammad Hussain "Hanafi" wrote: Every Mujtahid acts upon his own conjectures, therefore all the Four Imams are non-followers (ghair muqallid).
Reference: (Moeen al-Fiqh: p. 88)
Master Amin Okaraavi said: It is obligatory for a Mujtahid to perform Ijtihad, and it is forbidden to follow a Mujtahid like oneself, etc.
Reference: (Tajalliyat Safdar: Vol 3, p. 430)
Sarfaraz Khan Safdar Gakhrovi Deobandi said: And Taqlid (imitation) is only for the ignorant who are unaware of the rulings and evidences or who do not have the ability to reconcile or prefer between conflicting evidences.
Reference: (Al-Kalam al-Mufid fi Ithbat al-Taqleed: p. 234)
Reference: 4
Imam Ismail bin Yahya al-Muzani, may Allah have mercy on him (died 264 AH), said: My declaration is that Imam Shafi'i forbade his own Taqlid and the Taqlid of others so that (everyone) may keep their religion in view and take precaution for themselves.
Reference: (Mukhtasar al-Muzani: p. 1, The Issue of Taqlid in Religion: p. 38)
دار الہجرۃ
Imam Shafi'i, may Allah have mercy on him, said: [ولا تقلدوني] and do not follow me.
Reference: (Adab al-Shafi'i wa Manaqibah li Ibn Abi Hatim p. 51, and its chain is Hasan, The Issue of Taqlid in Deen: p. 38), (also see item no: 3)
Reference: 5
The famous Imam and Mujtahid of Ahl al-Sunnah, Ahmad ibn Muhammad ibn Hanbal, may Allah have mercy on him (died 241 AH), said to his student Imam Abu Dawood Sajistani, may Allah have mercy on him, regarding Imam Awza'i and Imam Malik: [لا تقلد دينك أحدًا من هؤلاءإلخ] Do not follow either of them in your religion. Etc.
Reference: (Masa'il Abi Dawood: p. 277) also see item: 3
Benefit:
Allama Nawawi said: [فإن المجتهد لا يقلد المجتهد] because indeed a Mujtahid does not follow another Mujtahid.
Reference: (Sharh Sahih Muslim: Vol. 1 p. 210 under Hadith 21)
Ibn al-Turkumani (Hanafi) said: [فإن المجتهد لا يقلد المجتهد] because indeed a Mujtahid does not follow another Mujtahid.
Reference: (Al-Jawhar al-Naqi 'ala al-Sunan al-Kubra by al-Bayhaqi: Vol. 6 p. 210)
Warning:
Some people have mentioned several scholars in Tabaqat al-Malikiyyah, Tabaqat al-Shafi'iyyah, Tabaqat al-Hanabilah, and Tabaqat al-Hanafiyyah (to increase their numbers), which is not proof of being followers of those mentioned scholars, for example:
(1) Imam Ahmad ibn Hanbal is mentioned in
Reference: Tabaqat al-Shafi'iyyah by al-Subki (Vol. 2, p. 199; second edition Vol. 1, p. 264)
.(2) Imam Shafi'i is mentioned in
Reference: Tabaqat al-Malikiyyah (Al-Dibaj al-Madhhab, p. 326, year 437) and Tabaqat al-Hanabilah (1/280)
.Was Imam Ahmad a follower of Imam Shafi'i, and was Imam Shafi'i a follower of Imam Malik and Imam Ahmad?
It is understood that the mention of a scholar in the mentioned Tabaqat is not proof of being their follower. Also see:
Reference: Tanqeed Sadid on Risalah Ijtihad wa Taqlid by our Sheikh Imam Abi Muhammad Badi' al-Din al-Rashidi al-Sindi, may Allah have mercy on him (pp. 33-37)
.Reference: 6
The statement of Tahawi Hanafi about Imam Abu Hanifa Nu'man ibn Thabit al-Kufi al-Akabli, may Allah have mercy on him, has already been mentioned that he was non-follower.
Reference: See paragraph: 3
Ashraf Ali Thanwi Deobandi said: Because it is certain that Imam Azam Abu Hanifa was a non-follower.
Reference: (Majalis Hakim al-Ummah: p. 345, Malfoozat Hakim al-Ummah: Vol. 24, p. 332)
Imam Abu Hanifa said to his student Qazi Abu Yusuf: Do not write down everything I say; today I have one opinion, and tomorrow it changes. If the day after tomorrow I have another opinion, that too changes.
Reference: (Tarikh Yahya bin Ma'in, Riwayata al-Duri Vol. 2, p. 607, Hadith 2461, with authentic chain, The Issue of Taqlid in Religion, pp. 38-39)
Benefit:
Sheikh al-Islam Ibn Taymiyyah and Hafiz Ibn al-Qayyim, may Allah have mercy on both, stated that Imam Abu Hanifa forbade taqlid (blind following). See
Reference: Majmu' Fatawa Ibn Taymiyyah (20/10, 211), I'lam al-Muwaqqi'in (2/200, 207, 211, 228), and Al-Radd 'ala man Akhlada ila al-Ard by al-Suyuti (p. 132)
It is also written in the following books of those who consider themselves Hanafi that Imam Abu Hanifa forbade taqlid:
Reference: Muqaddimah Umdat al-Ra'ayah fi Hall Sharh al-Waqayah (p. 9), Lamhāt al-Nazar fi Sirat al-Imam Zafar by al-Kawthari (p. 21), Hujjat Allah al-Balighah (1/157)
Reference: 7
Regarding Sheikh al-Islam Abu Abdul Rahman Baqi ibn Makhlad ibn Yazid al-Qurtubi, may Allah have mercy on him (died 276 AH), Imam Abu Abdullah Muhammad ibn al-Futuh ibn Abdullah al-Humaydi al-Azdi al-Andalusi al-Athari al-Zahiri, may Allah have mercy on him (died 488 AH), narrated from his teacher Abu Muhammad Ali ibn Ahmad known as Ibn Hazm: [و كان متخيرا لا يقلد أحدا] and he (used to follow the Book and Sunnah and what was most correct), he did not imitate any one person.
Reference: (Juzwat al-Muqtasib fi Dhikr Wulat al-Andalus: p. 168, Tarikh Dimashq by Ibn Asakir: 10/279)
The statement of Hafiz Ibn Hazm is also mentioned
Reference: in Kitab al-Salat by Ibn Bishkawal (1/108, died 284 AH)
and Hafiz al-Dhahabi said about Baqi ibn Makhlad: [و كان مجتهدا لا يقلد أحدا بل يفتي and he was a Mujtahid, he did not imitate any one person but gave fatwas according to the Athar (hadith and reports).
Reference: (Tarikh al-Islam vol. 20 p. 313, deaths 276 AH)
Benefit:
Hafiz Abu Saad Abdul Karim ibn Muhammad ibn Mansur al-Tamimi al-Sam'ani, may Allah have mercy on him (died 562 AH), said: [الأثري . . . هذه النسبة إلى الأثر يعني الحديث وطلبه و اتباعه] Athari... this Athar means the hadith, seeking hadith, and following it.
Reference: (Al-Ansab: 1/84)
بالأثر]
Hafiz Sam'ani, may Allah have mercy on him, said: [الظاهري . . . هذه النسبة إلى أصحاب الظاهر وهم جماعة ينتحلون مذهب داود بن علي الأصبهاني صاحب الظاهر فإنهم يجرون النصوص على ظاهرها و فيهم كثرة]
Zahiri... This refers to the followers of the Zahiri school, and this group follows the path of Dawood bin Ali Asbahani Zahiri. These people apply the texts (proofs from the Quran and Hadith) to their apparent meaning, and they are numerous.
Reference: (Al-Ansab: Vol. 4, p. 99)
Hafiz Sam'ani, may Allah have mercy on him, said: [السَّلَفي. . . هذه النسبة إلى السلف و انتحال مذهبهم على ما سمعت]
Salafi... As I have heard: this refers to the Salaf and adopting their creed (madhhab).
Reference: (Al-Ansab: Vol. 3, p. 273)
From this, it is understood that the true believers of correct creed have many descriptive names and titles; therefore, Salafi, Zahiri, Athari, Ahl al-Hadith, and Ahl al-Sunnah refer to those true believers who follow the Quran, Hadith, and consensus, and do not imitate any particular sect. والحمد للہ
Reference: 8
Regarding Imam Abu Muhammad Abdullah bin Wahb bin Muslim al-Fihri al-Masri, may Allah have mercy on him (died 197 AH), Hafiz Dhahabi said: [و كان ثقة حجة حافظًا مجتهدًا لا يقلّد أحدًا، ذا تعبد و زهد] and he was trustworthy (in narrating Hadith), authoritative, a memorizer and a mujtahid; he did not imitate anyone, and he was devoted to worship and asceticism.
Reference: (Tadhkirat al-Huffaz: 1/305, no. 283)
Reference: 9
Hafiz Zahbi said about Abu Ali Al-Hasan bin Musa Al-Ashib Al-Baghdadi, the judge of Mosul, may Allah have mercy on him (died 209 AH): [و كان من أوعية العلم لا يقلد أحدا] and he was among the treasuries of knowledge, he did not follow anyone.
Reference: (Siyar A'lam al-Nubala: Vol. 9, p. 560)
Reference: 10
Hafiz Zahbi said about Abu Muhammad Al-Qasim bin Muhammad bin Qasim bin Muhammad bin Sayyar Al-Bayani Al-Qurtubi Al-Andalusi, may Allah have mercy on him (died 276 AH): [ولازم ابن عبدالحكم حتى برع في الفقه و صار إمامًا مجتهدًا لا يقلّد أحدًا وهو مصنف كتاب الإيضاح في الرد على المقلدين] and he accompanied (Muhammad bin Abdullah) Ibn Abdul Hakim (bin Ayyan bin Laith Al-Masri) until he became very skilled in jurisprudence and became an Imam Mujtahid, he did not follow anyone, he is the author of the book الایضاح فی الرد علی المقلدین.
Reference: (Tadhkirat al-Huffaz 2/648, no. 671)
The following scholars have also mentioned your book in refutation of the followers:
(1) Al-Humaydi Al-Andalusi Al-Zahiri
Reference: (Juzwat al-Muqtasib 1/118, cited in Al-Maktabah al-Shamilah)
(2) Abdul Wahhab bin Ali bin Abdul Kafi Al-Subki
Reference: (Tabaqat al-Shafi'iyyah al-Kubra 1/530)
(3) Salah al-Din Khalil bin Aibak Al-Safadi
Reference: (Al-Wafi bil-Wafayat Vol. 24, p. 116)
(4) Jalal al-Din Al-Suyuti
Reference: (Tabaqat al-Huffaz p. 288, no. 647)
Warning:
To the best of our knowledge, during the era of Hadith compilation (5th century Hijri) and even up to the 8th century Hijri, no trustworthy and truthful scholar of sound creed wrote a book titled "Al-Difa' 'an al-Muqallidin," "Jawaz al-Taqleed," "Wujub al-Taqleed," or any book with this concept. If anyone disagrees with this research, they should present a clear reference. هل من مجيب؟
Reference: 11
Regarding Abu Bakr Muhammad ibn Ibrahim ibn al-Mundhir al-Naysaburi, Sheikh al-Haram, may Allah have mercy on him (died 318 AH), Hafiz Dhahabi said: [وكان مجتهدًا لا يقلّد أحدًا] and he was an ijtihad scholar; he did not follow anyone blindly.
Reference: (Tadhkirat al-Huffaz: 3/782, T775; Tarikh al-Islam: 23/568)
Allama Nawawi Shafi'i said: [ولا يلتزم التقيد في الاختيار بمذهب أحد بعينه ولا يتعصب لأحد ولا على أحد على عادة أهل الخلاف بل يدور مع ظهور الدليل و دلالة السنة الصحيحة و يقول بها مع من كانت و مع هذا فهو عند أصحابنا معدود من أصحاب الشافعي]
He did not confine himself to any particular sect nor was he biased towards anyone as is the habit of those who differ. Rather, he accepted clear evidence and the authentic Sunnah, regardless of who possessed the evidence. Nevertheless, our scholars have mentioned him among the companions of Shafi'i... etc.
Reference: (Tahdhib al-Asma' wal-Lughat: Vol. 2, p. 197)
Hafiz Zahbi quoted a part of Nawawi's statement and said: [ما يتقيد بمذهب واحد إلا من هو قاصر في التمكّن من العلم كأكثر علماء أهل زماننا أو من هو متعصب]
Only those adopt the restrictions of a particular sect who are incapable of acquiring knowledge, as is the case with most of the "Ulama" of our time, or who are biased.
Reference: (Seer A'lam An-Nubala: Vol.14, p.491)
Two points are evident from these references:
(1) Only the ignorant or biased follow sects blindly.
(2) The followers of sects have included many scholars in their respective categories, even though it is not proven that these scholars were followers; rather, they opposed blind following. Therefore, the sectarian biographical books are not reliable.
Reference: 12
Regarding Abu Ali Al-Hasan bin Saad bin Idris Al-Kattami Al-Qurtubi, may Allah have mercy on him (died 331 AH), who held the rank of __ARABIC_30, Hafiz Zahbi said: ARABIC_31__ He was a great scholar and mujtahid, did not follow blindly, and inclined towards the sayings of Shafi'i.
Reference: (Tadhkirat al-Huffaz: 3/870, T840)
Reference: 13
Regarding Abu Muhammad Mus'ab bin Imran Al-Qurtubi, the judge of Hisham bin Abdul Rahman bin Muawiyah Al-Andalusi, the great student of Imam Awza'i (may Allah have mercy on him, died 157 AH) and the Emir (Caliph) of Andalusia, Ibn al-Faradi said: [و كان لا يقلد مذهبا و يقضي بما رآه صوابا و كان خيرا فاضلا]
He did not follow any particular sect; he judged according to what he considered correct, and he was a person of good virtue.
Reference: (Tarikh Ulama Al-Andalus: Vol 1 p189, second edition: Vol 2 p133, Al-Maktabah Al-Shamilah)(Tarikh Qudat Al-Andalus (Vol 1 p47, 142) and Al-Maghrib fi Hilyat Al-Maghrib by Ibn Sa'id Al-Maghribi (1/32)
Reference: 14
Regarding Abu Ja'far Muhammad bin Jarir bin Yazid Al-Tabari Al-Sunni (may Allah have mercy on him, died 310 AH), Hafiz Al-Dhahabi said: [و كان مجتهدًا لا يقلّد أحدًا] and he was a Mujtahid, he did not follow anyone.
Reference: (Al-Ibar fi Khabar man Ghabar: Vol 1 p460)
Ibn Khalkan the historian said: [و كان من الأئمة المجتهدين، لم يقلّد أحدًا] He was among the Imams of Mujtahids, and he did not follow anyone.
Reference: (Wafayat Al-A'yan: 4/191, no. 570)
Reference: 15
Regarding the truthful and excellent hadith scholar Qadi Abu Bakr Ahmad bin Kamil bin Khalaf bin Shajrah Al-Baghdadi, may Allah have mercy on him (died 350 AH), Hafiz Al-Dhahabi said: [كان يختار لنفسه ولا يقلّد أحدًا] He used to adopt (the preferred opinion) for himself and did not follow anyone.
Reference: (Siyar A'lam al-Nubala: 15/545, Tarikh al-Islam: 25/435)
Reference: 16
Regarding Abu Bakr Muhammad bin Dawood bin Ali Al-Zahiri, may Allah have mercy on him (died 297 AH), Hafiz Al-Dhahabi said: [و كان يجتهد ولا يقلّد أحدًا] And he used to perform ijtihad, he did not follow anyone.
Reference: (Siyar A'lam al-Nubala: 13/109)
Reference: 17
Regarding Abu Thawr Ibrahim bin Khalid Al-Kalbi Al-Baghdadi Al-Faqih, may Allah have mercy on him (died 240 AH), Hafiz Al-Dhahabi said: [و برع في العلم ولم يقلد أحدا] And he became an expert in knowledge and did not follow anyone.
Reference: (Al-Ibar fi Khabar man Ghabar: 1/339)
Reference: 18
Sheikh al-Islam Hafiz Ibn Taymiyyah Al-Shami, may Allah have mercy on him (died 728 AH), was asked: [هل البخاري ومسلم و أبو داود والترمذي والنسائي و ابن ماجه و أبو داود الطيالسي والدارمي والبزار والدارقطني والبيهقي و ابن خزيمة و أبو يعلى الموصلي : هل كان هؤلاء مجتهدين لم يقلّدوا أحدًا من الأئمة أم كانوا مقلدين؟]
Were Bukhari, Muslim, Abu Dawood, Tirmidhi, Nasa'i, Ibn Majah, Abu Dawood Al-Tayalisi, Darimi, Bazzar, Darqutni, Bayhaqi, Ibn Khuzaymah, and Abu Ya'la Al-Mawsili among the mujtahids who did not follow any of the imams, or were they followers?
So Hafiz Ibn Taymiyyah, may Allah have mercy on him, replied: [الحمد لله ربّ العالمين ، أما البخاري و أبو داود فإمّان في الفقه من أهل الاجتهاد . و أمّا مسلم والترمذي والنسائي و ابن ماجه و ابن خزيمة و أبويعلى والبزار ونحوهم فهم على مذهب أهل الحديث ليسوا مقلدين لواحد بعينه من العلماء ولا هم من الأئمة المجتهدين على الاطلاق]
All praise and thanks are for Allah رب العالمین alone. Bukhari and Abu Dawood were two Imams among the jurists of Ijtihad (i.e., absolute Mujtahids), and Muslim, Tirmidhi, Nasa'i, Ibn Majah, Ibn Khuzaymah, Abu Ya'la, Bazzar, and others like them were on the creed of Ahl al-Hadith; they were not followers of any specific scholar, nor were they among the absolute Mujtahid Imams. Etc.
Reference: (Majmoo' Fatawa Ibn Taymiyyah: Vol. 20, pp. 39-40)
From this research and testimony, four points have become clear:
(1) According to Hafiz Ibn Taymiyyah, Imam Bukhari and Imam Abu Dawood were absolute Mujtahids; therefore, it is incorrect to call or classify them as Hanafi, Shafi'i, Hanbali, or Maliki.
(2) Imam Muslim, Imam Tirmidhi, Imam Nasa'i, etc., were all on the creed of Ahl al-Hadith and were not followers of anyone; therefore, mentioning them as Shafi'is, etc., in the books of Tabaqat is incorrect.
(3) None of the noble Muhaddithin were followers (Muqallid).
(4) There are two categories of Mujtahids:
First: Absolute Mujtahids
Second: General Mujtahids
From the great statement of Sheikh al-Islam Ibn Taymiyyah, may Allah have mercy on him, it is proven that Imam Muhammad ibn Ismail al-Bukhari, may Allah have mercy on him (died 256 AH), was not an imitator but a Mujtahid.
Hafiz Dhahabi said about Imam Bukhari: [و كان إمامًا حافظًا حجةً رأسًا في الفقه والحديث مجتهدًا من أفراد العالم مع الدين والورع والتأله]
And you are the proof in the narration of Hadith, the leader in jurisprudence and Hadith, among the unique people of the world in religion, piety, and divinity.
Reference: (Al-Kashif fi Ma'rifat Man Lahu Riwayah fi al-Kutub al-Sittah: Vol. 3, p. 18, Hadith 4790)
In support of numerous such testimonies, it is stated that the biased Deobandi who wrote the introduction to Faiz al-Bari said: [و اعلم أن البخاري مجتهد لا ريب فيه] And know that Bukhari is a Mujtahid, there is no doubt in this.
Reference: (Muqaddimah Faiz al-Bari: Vol. 1, p. 58)
Saleemullah Khan Deobandi (Muhtamim Jamia Faruqia Deobandia Karachi) said: Bukhari is an absolute Mujtahid.
Reference: (Taqreez or Muqaddimah Fazl al-Bari: Vol. 1, p. 36)
The principle about a Mujtahid is that a Mujtahid does not imitate. Allama Nawawi Shafi'i said: Because indeed a Mujtahid does not imitate another Mujtahid.
Reference: (Sharh Sahih Muslim by Nawawi Vol. 1, p. 210 under Hadith 21, see paragraph: 5)
Reference: 19
Regarding Imam Abu al-Husayn Muslim bin al-Hajjaj bin Muslim al-Nisaburi al-Qushayri, may Allah have mercy on him (died 261 AH), Hafiz Ibn Taymiyyah, may Allah have mercy on him, said: He was on the creed of Ahl al-Hadith, and was not a follower of any particular scholar.
Reference: (See paragraph number: 18)
Imam Muslim said: [و قد شرحنا من مذهب الحديث و أهله] and we explained the hadith and the creed of Ahl al-Hadith, etc.
Reference: (Introduction to Sahih Muslim, Dar al-Salam edition: p. 6 b)
Note:
It is not explicitly proven that Imam Muslim was a follower of any one authentic Imam.
Reference: 20
Regarding Imam Abu Bakr Muhammad bin Ishaq bin Khuzaymah al-Nisaburi, may Allah have mercy on him (died 311 AH), Hafiz Ibn Taymiyyah, may Allah have mercy on him, said: He was on the creed of Ahl al-Hadith, and was not a follower of any particular scholar.
Reference: See paragraph number 18 (and Tahqiqi Maqalat vol. 2 p. 563)
Abdul Wahab bin Ali bin Abdul Kafi Al-Subki (died 771 AH) said: [قلت: المحمدون الأربعة محمد بن نصر و محمد بن جرير و ابن خزيمة و ابن المنذر من أصحابنا و قد بلغوا درجة الاجتهاد المطلق ، و لم يخرجهم ذلك عن كونهم من أصحاب الشافعي المخرجين على أصوله المتمذهبين بمذهبه لوفاق اجتهادهم اجتهاده ، بل قد ادعى من هو بعد من أصحابنا الخلص كالشيخ أبي علي وغيره أنهم وافق رأيهم رأي الإمام الأعظم "So follow them and attribute to them, not that they are mere imitators."
I said: Muhammad bin Nasr (Al-Marwazi), Muhammad bin Jarir (bin Yazid Al-Tabari), Muhammad bin (Ishaq bin) Khuzaymah, and Muhammad (bin Ibrahim) bin Al-Mundhir were all among our companions who reached the level of absolute Ijtihad, and this did not exclude them from being companions of Al-Shafi'i. Those who derive rulings from their principles and adopt their school of thought did so because their Ijtihad coincided with that of Imam Al-Shafi'i. In fact, after them, our sincere companions such as Abu Ali and others claimed that their opinions aligned with those of the Great Imam (Imam Al-Shafi'i), so they followed him and were attributed to him, not that they were mere imitators. Etc.
Reference: (Tabaqat Al-Shafi'iyyah Al-Kubra, Vol. 2, p. 78, translation by Ibn Al-Mundhir)
The statement by Subki was made to increase his own numbers, but from his admission it is clear that according to him Muhammad ibn Nasr al-Marwazi, Muhammad ibn Jarir al-Tabari, Muhammad ibn Ishaq ibn Khuzaymah, Muhammad ibn Ibrahim ibn al-Mundhir, and Abu Ali
Reference: (see phrase: 97)
were all non-conformists (and Ahl al-Hadith).Benefit:
Just as the Hanafi scholars call Imam Abu Hanifa the Greatest Imam to increase their numbers, similarly the Shafi'i scholars also call Imam Shafi'i the Greatest Imam.
For example: Taj al-Din Abdul Wahhab ibn Taqi al-Din al-Subki said: [محمد بن الشافعي: إمامنا، الإمام الأعظم المطلبي أبي عبدالله محمد بن إدريس]
Reference: (Tabaqat al-Shafi'iyyah al-Kubra vol. 1 p. 225, second edition vol. 1 p. 303)
Ahmad ibn Muhammad ibn Salamah al-Qalyubi (d. 1069 AH) said: [قوله (الشافعي): هو الإمام الأعظم]
Reference: (Hashiyat al-Qalyubi on Sharh Jalal al-Din al-Mahalli on Minhaj al-Talibin vol. 1 p. 10, Al-Shamilah)
Qastalani (Shafi'i) called Imam Malik ’الإمام الأعظم‘.
Reference: (Irshad al-Sari li Sharh Sahih al-Bukhari vol. 5 p. 370 hadith 3300, vol. 10 p. 107 hadith 6962)
Qastalani said about Imam Ahmad ibn Hanbal: "__ARABIC_49"
Reference: (Irshad al-Sari vol. 5 p. 35 hadith 5105)
ARABIC_45__
Hafiz Ibn Hajar Asqalani called the Muslim Caliph (Imam) 'الإمام الأعظم'.
Reference: (Fath al-Bari 3/112 Hadith 7138)
Now let the followers decide (!!) who among them is the true "Great Imam"?
Abu Ishaq al-Shirazi said about some people: [والصحيح الذي ذهب إليه المحققون ما ذهب إليه أصحابنا و هو أنهم صاروا إلى مذهب الشافعي لا تقليدًا له، بل وجدوا طرقه في الإجتهاد و القياس أسد الطرق]
And the correct view is that of our scholarly companions who did not accept the Shafi'i school due to mere imitation, but they saw that their method in Ijtihad and Qiyas was the strongest.
Reference: (Al-Majmu' Sharh al-Muhadhdhab: Vol 1, p.43)
After that, Nawawi said: [و ذكر أبو علي السِّنْجِي بكسر السين المهملة نحو هذا فقال: اتبعنا الشافعي دون غيره لأنا وجدنا قوله أرجح الأقوال و أعدلها ، لا أنا قلدناهإلخ]
Abu Ali al-Sanji said a similar thing: We followed the Shafi'i school leaving others because we found their opinion the most sound and correct, not because we were their followers. Etc.
Reference: (Al-Majmu': 1/43)
It has been established that the suffixes like Shafi'i, Hanafi, Maliki, etc., attached to the names of scholars do not mean that they were followers (Muqallideen). Rather, the correct understanding is that they were not followers, and their Ijtihad coincided with the Ijtihad of the mentioned Imam.
Reference: Also see paragraph: 95 (p. 54)
Reference: 21
Qadi Abu Bakr Muhammad bin Umar bin Ismail al-Dawudi (d. 429 AH) said about the trustworthy according to the majority, Imam Abu Hafs Umar bin Ahmad bin Uthman, known as Ibn Shahin al-Baghdadi (d. 385 AH): [و كان أيضًا لا يعرف من الفقه لا قليلاً و لا كثيرًا و كان إذا ذكر له مذاهب الفقهاء كالشافعي وغيره ، يقول : أنا محمدي المذهب]
He did not know (or follow) taqlidi fiqh, neither a little nor a lot (meaning he did not give any status to taqlidi fiqh). When the madhhab of jurists such as Shafi'i was mentioned before him, he would say: I am Muhammadi in madhhab.
Reference: (Tarikh Baghdad 11/267, Hadith 6028 with authentic chain)
Reference: 22
Imam Abu Dawud Sijistani Sulayman bin Ash'ath, the author of Sunan Abi Dawud (d. 275 AH), was removed from the category of followers (Muqallideen) and declared an absolute Mujtahid by Hafiz Ibn Taymiyyah.
Reference: (See paragraph: 18)
Reference: 23
Regarding the author of Sunan Tirmidhi, Imam Abu Isa Muhammad bin Isa bin Surah al-Tirmidhi, may Allah have mercy on him (died 279 AH), Hafiz Ibn Taymiyyah, may Allah have mercy on him, said: He was on the creed of Ahl al-Hadith and was not a follower of any particular scholar.
Reference: (See paragraph: 18)
Reference: 24
Regarding the author of Sunan Nasai, Imam Ahmad bin Shuayb al-Nasa'i, may Allah have mercy on him (died 303 AH), Hafiz Ibn Taymiyyah, may Allah have mercy on him, said: He was on the creed of Ahl al-Hadith and was not a follower of any particular scholar.
Reference: (See paragraph: 18)
Reference: 25
Regarding the author of Sunan Ibn Majah, Imam Muhammad bin Yazid Ibn Majah al-Qazwini, may Allah have mercy on him (died 273 AH), Hafiz Ibn Taymiyyah, may Allah have mercy on him, said: He was on the creed of Ahl al-Hadith and was not a follower of any particular scholar.
Reference: (See paragraph: 18)
Reference: 26
Regarding Imam Abu Ya'la Ahmad bin Ali bin al-Muthanna al-Mawsili, may Allah have mercy on him (died 307 AH), Hafiz Ibn Taymiyyah, may Allah have mercy on him, said: He was on the creed of Ahl al-Hadith and was not a follower of any particular scholar.
Reference: (See paragraph: 18)
Reference: 27
Abu Bakr Ahmad bin Amr bin Abdul Khaliq Al-Bazzar Al-Basri (صدوق حسن الحدیث) may Allah have mercy on him (died 292 AH) about whom Hafiz Ibn Taymiyyah may Allah have mercy on him said: He was on the creed of Ahl al-Hadith, and was not a follower of any particular scholar.
Reference: (See paragraph: 18)
Reference: 28
Hafiz Abu Muhammad Ali bin Ahmad bin Saeed bin Hazm Al-Andalusi Al-Qurtubi (died 456 AH) said about Taqlid (imitation): [والتقليد حرام . . . والعامي والعالم في ذلك سواء و على كل أحد حظه الذي يقدر عليه من الاجتهاد]
And Taqlid is forbidden... in this, the commoner and the scholar are equal, and it is obligatory upon everyone to perform Ijtihad according to their capability.
Reference: (Al-Nabdhah Al-Kafiyah fi Ahkam Usool al-Deen pp. 70-71), (also see Al-Ahkam by Ibn Hazm and Al-Muhalla fi Sharh al-Mujalla bil-Haqq wal-Athar)
Hafiz Ibn Hazm said in his book of creed: It is not permissible for a person to perform Taqlid, whether of the living or the dead.
Reference: (Kitab al-Durra fima Yajibu I'tiqadahu p. 427, also see Deen mein Taqlid ka Mas'alah p. 39)
Hafiz Ibn Hazm prayed saying: [وأن يعصمنا من بدعة التقليد المحدث بعد القرون الثلاثة المحمودة. آمين]
And (O Allah) protect us from the innovation of Taqlid that arose after the praiseworthy three generations (i.e., the imitation of the four madhhabs). Ameen.
Reference: (Al-Risalah Al-Bahira vol. 1 p. 5, Al-Maktabah Al-Shamilah)
Reference: 29
Hafiz Ibn Abdul Barr Al-Andalusi, may Allah have mercy on him (died 463 AH), dedicated a chapter in his famous book: [باب فساد التقليد والفرق بين التقليد والاتباع]
The chapter on the corruption of imitation and the difference between imitation and following.
Reference: (Jami' Bayan al-'Ilm wa Fadlih vol. 2 p. 218)
It is absolutely not proven that Hafiz Ibn Abdul Barr was a follower (muqallid); rather, Hafiz Al-Dhahabi said: [فإنه ممن بلغ رتبة الأئمة المجتهدين] So indeed, he was among those who reached the rank of Mujtahid Imams.
Reference: (Siyar A'lam al-Nubala 18/157)
And it is known to the general public that a Mujtahid is not a follower (muqallid).
Reference: (Also see paragraph: 5)
Hafiz Ibn Abdul Barr, may Allah have mercy on him, himself said: [لا فرق بين مقلّد و بهيمة] There is no difference between a follower (muqallid) and an animal.
Reference: (Jami' Bayan al-'Ilm wa Fadlih vol. 2 p. 228)
Warning:
Hafiz Ibn Abdul Barr and Khateeb Baghdadi, among others, have stated in some phrases that it is permissible for a layperson to follow a (living) scholar, which only means that an ignorant person should ask a scholar about a matter and act upon it. We also say that it is necessary for an ignorant person to ask a scholar with correct belief according to the Book and Sunnah about a matter and act upon it, but calling it taqlid (imitation) is incorrect. It is a well-known principle of jurisprudence that a layperson's turning to a mufti (scholar) is not taqlid.
Reference: See Muslim Al-Thuboot (p.289) and The Issue of Taqlid in Religion (pp.8-11)
Reference: 30
Amir al-Mu'minin Caliph Abu Yusuf Ya'qub ibn Yusuf ibn Abd al-Mu'min ibn Ali al-Qaysi al-Kumi al-Marrakushi al-Zahiri al-Maghribi, may Allah have mercy on him (died 595 AH), implemented the rulings of Sharia in his kingdom, raised the banner of Jihad, enforced Hudood with justice and fairness, and established the scale of justice. About him, the historian Ibn Khallikan wrote: [و كان ملكًا جوادًا متمسكًا بالشرع المطهر يأمر بالمعروف و ينهى عن المنكر كما ينبغي من غير محاباة و يصلّي بالناس الصلوات الخمس و يلبس الصوف و يقف للمرأة و للضعيف و يأخذلهم الحق و أوصى أن يدفن على قارعة الطريق ليترحّم عليه من يمر به]
He was a generous king, one who adhered to the pure Sharia, commanding good and forbidding evil without fear or hesitation as is appropriate, made people perform the five prayers, wore woolen clothes, and whether it was a woman or a weak person, he would stop for them and ensure their rights. He advised that he be buried in the middle of the road, that is, nearby, so that those who pass by may pray for mercy for him.
Reference: (Wafayat al-A'yan vol. 7 p. 10)
Regarding this Mujahid and rightly guided Caliph, may Allah have mercy on him, Ibn Khallikan further wrote: [و أمر برفض فروع الفقه و أنَّ العلماء لا يفتون إلا بالكتاب العزيز والسنة النبوية ولا يقلّدون أحدًا من المجتهدين المتقدمين، بل تكون أحكامهم بما يؤدي إليه اجتهاد هم من استنباطهم القضايا من الكتاب والحديث والإجماع والقياس]
And he ordered to abandon the branches of jurisprudence (books of Maliki jurisprudence) and said: Scholars should issue fatwas only according to the Holy Quran and the Prophetic Sunnah (Hadith) and should not follow any of the earlier Mujtahids, but rather make decisions based on their own Ijtihad and deduction from the Quran, Hadith, consensus, and analogy.
Reference: (Tarikh Ibn Khalkan: Wafayat al-Ayan Vol. 7, p. 11)
This is exactly the same methodology, creed, and call of Ahl al-Hadith (Ahl al-Sunnah). والحمد للہ Those who call Ahl al-Hadith a product of the English era with lies and slander should open their eyes and read about the conditions of this caliph of the sixth century who did not follow imitation, so that they may see something.
Regarding this Mujahid Caliph, Hafiz Dhahabi wrote that he said about the follower (Muqallid): Follow the Quran and the Sunan of Abu Dawood (a book of Hadith) or else this sword is present.
Reference: (Siyar A'lam al-Nubala 21/312, summarized)
Hafiz Dhahabi further said: [و عظم صيت العباد والصالحين في زمانه و كذلك أهل الحديث وارتفعت منزلتهم عنده فكان يسألهم الدعاء وانقطع في أيامه علم الفروع و خاف منه الفقهاء و أمر بإحراق كتب المذهب بعد أن يجرّد ما فيها من الحديث فأحرق منها جملة في سائر بلاده كالمدوّنة و كتاب ابن يونس و نوا در ابن أبي زيد والتهذيب للبرادعي والواضحة لابن حبيب۔ قال محيي الدين عبدالواحد بن علي المراكشي في كتاب المعجب له : ولقد كنت بفاس فشهدتُ يؤتى بالأحمال منها فتوضع و يطلق فيها النار]
And in their time, the status of worshippers and the righteous was elevated, and similarly, the position of the Ahl al-Hadith was raised among them, and they would have them pray for them. In their time, the knowledge of Furu' (jurisprudential branches) came to an end (i.e., the end of taqlidi fiqh), and the (so-called taqlidi) jurists began to fear them. After separating the hadiths, they ordered the burning of the books of (taqlidi) madhhabs. Therefore, throughout the country, books such as Madawwana, Ibn Yunus (Al-Maliki), Nawadir Ibn Abi Zaid, Tahdhib al-Baradi, and Al-Wadihah of Ibn Habib were burned.
Muhy al-Din Abd al-Wahid ibn Ali al-Marrakushi said in his book Al-Mu'jib (p. 352): I was in Fes (a city) when I saw loads of books being brought, then placed and burned.
Reference: (Tarikh al-Islam by al-Dhahabi, vol. 42, p. 216)
O Allah! Grant this Mujahid Caliph and Amir al-Mu'minin a high station in Paradise and forgive our sins and, by Your grace and mercy, grant us the companionship of such true Aqeedah Mujahideen and believers. Ameen
Reference: 31
Jalal al-Din al-Suyuti (d. 911 AH) said: [ثم حدث بعدهم من اعتصم بهداهم وسلك سبيلهم في ذلك نحو: یحیی بن سعید القطان و عبدالرحمن بن مہدی و بشر بن المفضل و خالد ابن الحارث و عبدالرزاق و وکیع و یحیی بن آدم و حمید بن عبدالرحمن الرواسی والولید بن مسلم والحمیدی والشافعی و ابن المبارک و حفص ابن غیاث و یحیی بن زکریا بن ابی زائدہ و ابی داود الطیالسی و ابی الولید الطیالسی و محمد بن ابی عدی و محمد بن جعفر و یحیی بن یحیی النیسابوری و یزید بن زریع و إسماعیل بن علیۃ و عبدالوارث بن سعید وابنہ عبدالصمد و وہب بن جریر و أزہر بن سعد و عفان بن مسلم و بشر ابن عمر و ابی عاصم النبیل والمعتمر بن سلیمان والنضر بن شمیل و مسلم بن إبراہیم والحجاج بن منہال وأبي عامر العقدي وعبدالوہاب الثقفي والفریابي و وہب بن خالد وعبداللہ بن نمیر و غیرہم ما من هو لاء أحد قلّد إمامًا كان قبلہ]
Then after them came those who followed their path and firmly held onto guidance. For example: Yahya ibn Saeed al-Qattan, Abdulrahman ibn Mahdi, Bishr ibn al-Mufaddal, Khalid ibn al-Harith, Abdul Razzaq (ibn Hammam al-San'ani), Waki' (ibn al-Jarrah), Yahya ibn Adam, Hameed ibn Abdulrahman al-Rawasi, Waleed ibn Muslim, (Abdullah ibn al-Zubair) al-Humaydi, (Muhammad ibn Idris) al-Shafi'i, (Abdullah) ibn al-Mubarak, Hafs ibn Ghiyath, Yahya ibn Zakariya ibn Abi Za'idah, Abu Dawood al-Tayalisi, Abu al-Waleed al-Tayalisi, Muhammad ibn Abi 'Adi, Muhammad ibn Ja'far, Yahya ibn Yahya al-Nisaburi, Yazid ibn Zuray', Ismail ibn 'Ali, Abdul Warith ibn Saeed, Abdul Samad ibn Abdul Warith ibn Saeed, Wahb ibn Jarir, Azhar ibn Sa'd, Affan ibn Muslim, Bishr ibn 'Umar, Abu 'Asim al-Nabil, Mu'tamir ibn Sulayman, Nadr ibn Shumayl, Muslim ibn Ibrahim, Hijaj ibn Minhal, Abu 'Amir al-'Uqdi, Abdul Wahab al-Thaqafi, Firyabi, Wahib (✓) ibn Khalid, Abdullah ibn Numayr and others; none of them followed an imam other than their own predecessor.
Reference: (Al-Radd 'ala man akhlada ila al-ardh wa jahila anna al-ijtihad fi kull 'asr farid, pp. 136-137)
It has been found that Imam Ahmad, Imam Ali bin al-Madini, and Imam Yahya bin Ma'in, etc., were not followers ([ثقہ متقن حافظ امام قدوۃ]) of their teacher Imam Abu Saeed Yahya bin Saeed bin Faroukh al-Qattan al-Basri, may Allah have mercy on him (died 198 AH).
Benefit:
Yahya bin Saeed al-Qattan said about Imam Sulaiman bin Tarkhan al-Taymi, may Allah have mercy on him (a Tabi'i): He is among the Ahl al-Hadith according to us.
Reference: (See Musnad Ali bin al-Ja'd: 1354, and its chain is authentic, Al-Jarh wa al-Ta'dil 4/125, and its chain is authentic, my book Ilmi Maqalat Vol. 2 p. 162)
Reference: 32
Trustworthy, reliable Hafiz, scholar in men and hadith, Imam Abu Saeed Abdul Rahman bin Mahdi al-Basri, may Allah have mercy on him (died 198 AH), according to Al-Suyuti, was not a follower.
Reference: (See paragraph number 31)
Reference: 33
Trustworthy, reliable worshipper, Imam Abu Ismail Bishr bin al-Mufaddal bin Laheq al-Raqashi al-Basri, may Allah have mercy on him (died 186 AH or 187 AH), according to Al-Suyuti, was not a follower.
Reference: (See paragraph: 31)
Reference: 34
Trustworthy, reliable Imam Abu Uthman Khalid bin al-Harith bin Ubaid bin Muslim al-Hujaymi al-Basri, may Allah have mercy on him (died 186 AH), according to Al-Suyuti, was not a follower.
Reference: (See paragraph: 31)
Reference: 35
Trustworthy and truthful according to the majority, Imam Abdul Razzaq bin Hammam al-San'ani al-Yamani, may Allah have mercy on him (died 211 AH), according to Al-Suyuti, did not practice taqlid (blind following).
Reference: (See paragraph: 31)
Reference: 36
Trustworthy Hafiz Abid Imam Abu Sufyan Waki' bin Al-Jarrah bin Maliyah Al-Rawasi Al-Kufi, may Allah have mercy on him (died 197 AH), according to Al-Suyuti, did not follow imitation.
Reference: (See sentence: 31)
Reference: 37
Trustworthy Hafiz Fazil Abu Zakariya Yahya bin Adam bin Sulaiman Al-Kufi, may Allah have mercy on him (died 203 AH), Al-Suyuti said that he did not imitate any one imam before him.
Reference: (See sentence: 31)
Reference: 38
Trustworthy Imam Abu Awf Hamid bin Abdul Rahman bin Hamid Al-Rawasi Al-Kufi, may Allah have mercy on him (died 189 AH), according to Al-Suyuti, did not practice imitation.
Reference: (See sentence: 31)
Reference: 39
Trustworthy, truthful, and one who conceals defects Imam Abu Al-Abbas Walid bin Muslim Al-Qurashi Al-Dimashqi, may Allah have mercy on him (died 194 AH), according to Al-Suyuti, did not practice imitation.
Reference: (See sentence number: 31)
Reference: 40
Imam Bukhari’s teacher, trustworthy Hafiz, jurist Imam Abu Bakr Abdullah bin Zubair bin Isa Al-Humaydi Al-Makki, may Allah have mercy on him (died 219 AH), according to Al-Suyuti, did not practice imitation.
Reference: (See sentence: 31)
Reference: 41
Trustworthy, established, jurist, scholar, warrior Imam Abdullah bin Al-Mubarak Al-Marwazi, may Allah have mercy on him (died 181 AH), according to Al-Suyuti, did not practice imitation.
Reference: (See sentence: 31)
Reference: 42
The trustworthy and truthful jurist Abu Umar Hafs bin Ghiyath bin Talq bin Muawiyah Al-Kufi Al-Qadi, may Allah have mercy on him (died 195 AH), according to Sayyuti, did not follow taqlid (blind imitation).
Reference: (See sentence: 31)
Warning:
Hafs bin Ghiyath, may Allah have mercy on him, said: [كنت أجلس إلى أبي حنيفة فأسمعه يسأل عن مسألة في اليوم الواحد فيفتي فيها بخمسة أقاويل ، فلما رأيت ذلك تركته و أقبلت على الحديث]
I used to sit with Abu Hanifa, and one day I heard him giving five different fatwas on the same issue. When I saw this, I abandoned him (left him) and turned completely towards hadith.
Reference: (Tarikh Baghdad vol. 13, p. 425 with authentic chain)
The narrator of this narration from Ibrahim bin Saeed Al-Jawhari, may Allah have mercy on him, was Abu Bakr Ahmad bin Jaafar bin Muhammad bin Salm, who was trustworthy. See
Reference: Al-Tanqil bima fi Taneeb Al-Kawthari min Al-Abateel (1/103, 13th century)
. Abdullah bin Ahmad bin Hanbal (Al-Sunnah: 316) and Ahmad bin Yahya bin Uthman (Kitab Al-Ma'rifah wal-Tarikh 2/789) both have followed him, meaning they narrated the same narration from Imam Ibrahim bin Saeed Al-Jawhari, may Allah have mercy on him.It is clear that Imam Hafs bin Ghiyath Al-Kufi abandoned the sect of Ahl al-Ra'y and adopted the sect of Ahl al-Hadith. رحمہ اللہ
Reference: 43
Reliable and precise Imam Abu Saeed Yahya bin Zakariya bin Abi Zaidah Al-Hamdani Al-Kufi, may Allah have mercy on him (died 184 AH), according to Al-Suyuti, did not follow taqlid.
Reference: (See sentence: 31)
Reference: 44
Reliable and truthful Hafiz Abu Dawood Sulaiman bin Dawood bin Al-Jarood Al-Tayalisi Al-Basri, may Allah have mercy on him (died 204 AH), according to Al-Suyuti, did not follow taqlid.
Reference: (See sentence: 31)
Reference: 45
Reliable and established Imam Abu Al-Waleed Hisham bin Abdul Malik Al-Bahili Al-Tayalisi Al-Basri, may Allah have mercy on him (died 227 AH), according to Al-Suyuti, did not follow taqlid.
Reference: (See sentence: 31)
Reference: 46
Reliable Imam Abu Omar Muhammad bin Ibrahim bin Abi Uday Al-Basri, may Allah have mercy on him (died 194 AH), according to Al-Suyuti, did not follow taqlid.
Reference: (See sentence: 31)
Reference: 47
Reliable, truthful, and widely trusted Imam Muhammad bin Jaafar Al-Hadhli Al-Basri, known as: Ghandar, may Allah have mercy on him (died 194 AH), according to Al-Suyuti, did not follow taqlid.
Reference: (See sentence: 31)
Reference: 48
Reliable and established Imam Abu Zakariya Yahya bin Yahya bin Bakr bin Abdul Rahman Al-Tamimi Al-Nisaburi, may Allah have mercy on him (died 226 AH), according to Al-Suyuti, did not follow taqlid.
Reference: (See sentence: 31)
Reference: 49
Reliable and established Imam Abu Muawiyah Yazid bin Zari' Al-Basri, may Allah have mercy on him (died 182 AH), according to Al-Suyuti, was not a follower (muqallid).
Reference: (See sentence: 31)
Reference: 50
Trustworthy Hafiz Imam Abu Bishr Ismail bin Ibrahim bin Muqsim Al-Asadi Al-Basri, may Allah have mercy on him, known as: Ibn Alayh (died 193 AH) according to Al-Suyuti did not follow anyone.
Reference: (See phrase: 31)
Reference: 51
Trustworthy and established Sunni Imam Abu Ubaidah Abdul Warith bin Saeed bin Zikwan Al-Anbari Al-Tanuri Al-Basri, may Allah have mercy on him (died 180 AH) according to Al-Suyuti was not a follower.
Reference: (See phrase: 31)
Reference: 52
Trustworthy and truthful Imam Abu Suhail Abdul Samad bin Abdul Warith bin Saeed Al-Basri, may Allah have mercy on him (died 207 AH) according to Al-Suyuti did not follow anyone.
Reference: (See phrase: 31)
Reference: 53
Trustworthy Imam Abu Al-Abbas Wahb bin Jarir bin Hazm bin Zaid Al-Basri Al-Azdi, may Allah have mercy on him (died 206 AH) according to Al-Suyuti did not follow anyone.
Reference: (See phrase: 31)
Reference: 54
Trustworthy Imam Abu Bakr Azhar bin Saad Al-Samman Al-Bahili Al-Basri, may Allah have mercy on him (died 203 AH) according to Al-Suyuti was not a follower.
Reference: (See phrase: 31)
Reference: 55
Trustworthy and established Imam Abu Uthman Affan bin Muslim bin Abdullah Al-Bahili Al-Saffar Al-Basri, may Allah have mercy on him (died 219 AH) according to Al-Suyuti was not a follower of anyone.
Reference: (See phrase: 31)
Reference: 56
Trustworthy Imam Abu Muhammad Bishr bin Umar bin Al-Hakam Al-Zahrani Al-Azdi Al-Basri, may Allah have mercy on him, died (209 AH), according to Al-Suyuti, did not follow anyone.
Reference: (See phrase: 31)
Reference: 57
Trustworthy and established Imam Abu Asim Dhahak bin Mukhlad bin Dhahak bin Muslim Al-Shaibani Al-Nabil Al-Basri, may Allah have mercy on him (died 212 AH), according to Al-Suyuti, did not follow anyone.
Reference: (See phrase: 31)
Reference: 58
Trustworthy Imam Abu Muhammad Mu'tamir bin Sulayman bin Tarkhan Al-Taymi Al-Basri, may Allah have mercy on him (died 187 AH), according to Al-Suyuti, did not follow anyone.
Reference: (See phrase: 31)
Reference: 59
Trustworthy and established Imam Abu Al-Hasan Nadhir bin Shamil Al-Mazini Al-Basri Al-Nahwi, may Allah have mercy on him (died 204 AH), according to Al-Suyuti, did not follow anyone.
Reference: (See phrase: 31)
Reference: 60
Trustworthy Imam Abu Amr Muslim bin Ibrahim Al-Azdi Al-Farahidi Al-Basri, may Allah have mercy on him (died 222 AH), according to Al-Suyuti, did not follow anyone.
Reference: (See phrase: 31)
Reference: 61
Trustworthy and learned Imam Abu Muhammad Hajjaj bin Minhal Al-Anmati Al-Salmi Al-Basri, may Allah have mercy on him (died 217 AH), according to Al-Suyuti, did not follow anyone.
Reference: (See phrase: 31)
Reference: 62
Trustworthy Imam Abu Amir Abdul Malik bin Umar Al-Qaysi Al-Aqdi, may Allah have mercy on him (died 205 AH), according to Al-Suyuti, did not follow anyone.
Reference: (See phrase: 31)
Reference: 63
Trustworthy and truthful Imam Abu Muhammad Abdul Wahhab bin Abdul Majeed Al-Thaqafi Al-Basri, may Allah have mercy on him (died 194 AH), according to Al-Suyuti, did not follow anyone.
Reference: (See sentence: 31)
Reference: 64
Trustworthy and truthful Imam Muhammad bin Yusuf bin Waqid Al-Dhabi Al-Faryabi, may Allah have mercy on him (died 212 AH), according to Al-Suyuti, did not follow anyone.
Reference: (See sentence: 31)
Imam Al-Faryabi said about himself and his companions: "And we were a group of Ahl al-Hadith."
Reference: (Al-Jarh wa al-Ta'dil 1/60 with authentic chain, Ilmi Maqalat vol. 1 p. 164)
Reference: 65
Trustworthy and truthful Imam Abu Bakr Wahib bin Khalid bin Ajlan Al-Bahili Al-Basri, may Allah have mercy on him (died 165 AH), according to Al-Suyuti, did not follow anyone.
Reference: (See sentence: 31)
Note:
Originally it is written Wahib bin Khalid, which seems to be a mistake by the scribe or copyist, and if this is not a mistake, then in this category Abu Khalid Wahib bin Khalid Al-Humairi Al-Himsi was trustworthy.
Reference: (See Taqreeb al-Tahdheeb: 7474)
Reference: 66
Trustworthy Imam of Ahl al-Sunnah Abu Hisham Abdullah bin Numair Al-Kufi Al-Hamdani, may Allah have mercy on him (died 199 AH), according to Al-Suyuti, did not follow anyone.
Reference: (See sentence: 31)
Reference: 67
Jalaluddin Abdul Rahman bin Abi Bakr Al-Suyuti (died 911 AH) further said: [ثم تلاهم على مثل ذلك أحمد بن حنبل و إسحاق بن راهويه وأبو ثور و أبو عبيد و أبو خيثمة و أبو أيوب الهاشمي و أبو إسحاق الفزاري و مخلد ابن الحسين و محمد بن يحيى الذهلي و أبو بكر و عثمان ابنا أبي شيبة و سعيد بن منصور و قتيبة و مسدد و الفضل بن دكين و محمد بن المثنى وبندار ومحمد بن عبدالله بن نمير و محمد بن العلاء و الحسن بن محمد الزعفراني و سليمان بن حرب و عارم وغيرهم ليس منهم أحد قلّد رجلاً ، وقد شاهدوا من قبلهم و رأوهم فلو رأوا أنفسهم في سعة من أن يقلدوا دينهم أحدًا منهم لقلّدوا]
Then after them came Ahmad bin Hanbal, Ishaq bin Rahwayh, Abu Thawr, Abu Ubaid, Abu Khaithama, Abu Ayyub Al-Hashimi, Abu Ishaq Al-Fazari, Mukhlad bin Al-Husayn, Muhammad bin Yahya Al-Dhuhli, Abu Bakr bin Abi Shaybah, Uthman bin Abi Shaybah, Saeed bin Mansur, Qutaybah, Musaddad, Fadl bin Dukain, Muhammad bin Al-Muthanna, Bandar, Muhammad bin Abdullah bin Numayr, Muhammad bin Al-‘Alaa, Hasan bin Muhammad Al-Za’farani, Sulayman bin Harb, ‘Aaram and others like them; none of them followed anyone blindly. They observed and studied the earlier people, so if they found any allowance (permissibility) for following someone in their religion, they would have followed one of those (earlier) people!
Reference: (Al-Radd ‘ala man Akhlada ila al-Ard p. 137)
From Sayuti's clarification, it is understood that the trustworthy Imam Abu Muhammad Ishaq bin Ibrahim bin Makhlad al-Hanzali al-Marwazi, known as Ibn al-Rahwayh, may Allah have mercy on him (died 238 AH), was not a follower (muqallid).
About him (Imam Ishaq bin Rahwayh), Hafiz Ibn Hajar al-Asqalani wrote: [مجتهد قرين أحمد بن حنبل] He is a Mujtahid, a companion (or associate) of Ahmad bin Hanbal.
Reference: (Taqreeb al-Tahdheeb: 332)
Reference: 68
The trustworthy scholar Imam Abu Ubaid al-Qasim bin Salam al-Baghdadi, may Allah have mercy on him (died 224 AH), according to Sayuti, did not follow taqlid (imitation).
Reference: (See sentence: 67)
Reference: 69
The trustworthy and established Imam Abu Khaithama Zuhair bin Harb bin Shaddad al-Nasa'i al-Baghdadi, may Allah have mercy on him (died 234 AH), according to Sayuti, did not follow anyone's taqlid.
Reference: (See sentence: 67)
Reference: 70
The trustworthy and venerable Imam Abu Ayyub Sulayman bin Dawood bin Ali al-Hashimi al-Faqih al-Baghdadi, may Allah have mercy on him (died 219 AH), according to Sayuti, did not follow anyone's taqlid.
Reference: (See sentence: 67)
Reference: 71
The trustworthy Hafiz Imam Abu Ishaq Ibrahim bin Muhammad bin al-Harith al-Fazari, may Allah have mercy on him (died 189 AH), according to Sayuti, did not follow anyone's taqlid.
Reference: (See sentence: 67)
Reference: 72
Trustworthy scholar Imam Abu Muhammad Mukhlad bin Al-Husayn Al-Muhalbi Al-Basri, may Allah have mercy on him (died 191 AH), according to Al-Suyuti, did not follow anyone's taqlid (imitation).
Reference: (See sentence: 67)
Reference: 73
Trustworthy Hafiz Imam Muhammad bin Yahya bin Abdullah bin Khalid Al-Dhahli Al-Nisaburi, may Allah have mercy on him (died 268 AH), according to Al-Suyuti, did not follow anyone's taqlid.
Reference: (See sentence: 67)
Reference: 74
Trustworthy Hafiz Imam Abu Bakr Abdullah bin Muhammad bin Abi Shaybah Ibrahim bin Uthman Al-Wasiti Al-Kufi, may Allah have mercy on him (died 235 AH), according to Al-Suyuti, did not follow anyone's taqlid.
Reference: (See sentence: 67)
Reference: 75
Trustworthy Hafiz Imam Abu Al-Hasan Uthman bin Abi Shaybah Al-Absi Al-Kufi, may Allah have mercy on him (died 239 AH), according to Al-Suyuti, did not follow anyone's taqlid.
Reference: (See sentence: 67)
Reference: 76
Trustworthy author Imam Abu Uthman Saeed bin Mansur bin Shu'bah Al-Khurasani Al-Makki, may Allah have mercy on him (died 227 AH), according to Al-Suyuti, did not follow anyone's taqlid.
Reference: (See sentence: 67)
Reference: 77
Trustworthy and reliable Sunni Imam Abu Raja Qutaybah bin Saeed bin Jameel Al-Thaqafi Al-Baghilani, may Allah have mercy on him (died 240 AH), according to Al-Suyuti, did not follow anyone.
Reference: (See phrase: 67)
Imam Qutaybah bin Saeed said: [إذا رأيتَ الرجل يحب أهل الحديث مثل يحيى ابن سعيد القطان و عبدالرحمن بن مهدي و أحمد بن حنبل و إسحاق بن راهويه و ذكر قومًا آخرين فإنه على السنة و من خالف هذا فاعلم أنه مبتدع]
When you see someone who loves the Ahl al-Hadith, for example Yahya bin Saeed Al-Qattan, Abdul Rahman bin Mahdi, Ahmad bin Hanbal, Ishaq bin Rahwayh, and they mention other people, then this person is on the Sunnah (i.e., Sunni), and whoever opposes him, know that he is an innovator.
Reference: (Sharaf Ashaab al-Hadith by Al-Khatib: 143, and its chain is authentic)
Imam Yahya Al-Qattan, Imam Abdul Rahman bin Mahdi, Imam Ahmad, and Imam Ishaq bin Rahwayh—all of them did not follow anyone.
Reference: See phrase: 31, 32, 5, 67 (respectively)
Reference: 78
Trustworthy Hafiz Imam Abu Al-Hasan Musaddad bin Musarhad bin Musarbil bin Mustawrad Al-Asadi Al-Basri, may Allah have mercy on him (died 228 AH), according to Al-Suyuti, did not follow anyone.
Reference: (See phrase: 67)
Reference: 79
Trustworthy and reliable Imam Abu Nu'aym Al-Fadl bin Dukain: Amr bin Hammad Al-Taymi Al-Malawi Al-Kufi, may Allah have mercy on him (died 217 AH), according to Al-Suyuti, did not follow anyone.
Reference: (See phrase: 67)
Reference: 80
Trustworthy and established Imam Abu Musa Muhammad bin Al-Muthanna bin Ubaid Al-Basri Al-Anzi, may Allah have mercy on him (died 252 AH), according to Al-Suyuti, did not follow anyone.
Reference: (See phrase: 67)
Reference: 81
Trustworthy and truthful Imam Abu Bakr Muhammad bin Bashar bin Uthman Al-Abdi Al-Basri: Bandar, may Allah have mercy on him (died 252 AH), according to Al-Suyuti, did not follow anyone.
Reference: (See phrase: 67)
Reference: 82
Trustworthy, memorizer, and virtuous Imam Abu Abdul Rahman Muhammad bin Abdullah bin Namir Al-Hamdani Al-Kufi, may Allah have mercy on him (died 234 AH), according to Al-Suyuti, did not follow anyone.
Reference: (See phrase: 67)
Reference: 83
Trustworthy memorizer Imam Abu Karib Muhammad bin Alaa bin Karib Al-Hamdani Al-Kufi, may Allah have mercy on him (died 247 AH), according to Al-Suyuti, did not follow anyone.
Reference: (See phrase: 67)
Reference: 84
Trustworthy Imam Abu Ali Al-Hasan bin Muhammad bin Al-Sabbah Al-Za'faraani Al-Baghdadi, the Shafi'i scholar, may Allah have mercy on him (died 260 AH), according to Al-Suyuti, did not follow anyone.
Reference: (See phrase: 67)
Reference: 85
Trustworthy Imam Hafiz Sulayman bin Harb Al-Azdi Al-Basri Al-Washshi, may Allah have mercy on him (died 224 AH), according to Al-Suyuti, did not follow anyone.
Reference: (See phrase: 67)
Reference: 86
Trustworthy and truthful Imam Abu al-Numan Muhammad ibn al-Fadl al-Sadusi al-Basri: Aram, may Allah have mercy on him (died 224 AH) did not follow anyone according to Suyuti.
Reference: (See phrase: 67)
Benefit:
Regarding Imam Abu al-Numan, Hafiz al-Dhahabi said: [تغيّر قبل موته فما حدّث] He suffered from confusion (delirium) before his death but did not narrate any hadith in that state.
Reference: (Al-Kashif vol. 3 p. 79 hadith 5197)
It is understood that the objection of confusion in the narrations of Imam Abu al-Numan is false and rejected.
Reference: 87
Jalal al-Din Suyuti said (probably quoting Hafiz Ibn Hazm al-Andalusi): [ولم أجد أحدًا ممن يوصف بالعلم قديمًا و حديثًا يستجيز التقليد ولا يأمر به و كذلك ابن وهب و ابن الماجشون والمغيرة بن أبي حازم و مطرف و ابن كنانة لم يقلّدوا شيخهم مالكًا في كل ما قال : بل خالفوه في مواضع و اختاروا غير قوله]
I have not found any scholar in ancient or recent times who considered taqlid (imitation) permissible or commanded it, likewise Ibn Wahb, Ibn al-Majshun, Mughira ibn Abi Hazim (☆), Mutarrif, and (Uthman ibn Isa) Ibn Kanana did not imitate their teacher (Imam) Malik in every matter but opposed him in many places and abandoned his opinion in favor of other views.
Reference: (Al-Radd ala man akhlada ila al-ard p. 137)
It has been found that (Siddiq Imam) Abu Marwan Abdul Malik bin Abdul Aziz bin Abdullah bin Abi Salmah Al-Majshoon Al-Qurashi Al-Taymi Al-Madani, may Allah have mercy on him (died 213 AH), according to Sayuti, did not practice Taqlid.
Note:
In fact, it is Mughira bin Abi Hazim, whereas the correct one is Mughira wa Ibn Abi Hazim, as is evident from
Reference: Jami' al-Sirah by Ibn Hazm (1/326, Al-Shamilah)
. By Mughira is meant Ibn Abdul Rahman Al-Makhzumi, and by Ibn Abi Hazim is meant Abdul Aziz.Reference: 88
Siddiq Faqih Mughira bin Abdul Rahman bin Al-Harith bin Abdullah bin Ayash Al-Makhzumi Al-Madani, may Allah have mercy on him (died 188 AH), according to Sayuti, did not practice Taqlid.
Reference: (See item: 87)
Reference: 89
Siddiq Faqih Abdul Aziz bin Abi Hazim Al-Madani, may Allah have mercy on him (died 184 AH), according to Sayuti, did not practice Taqlid.
Reference: (See item: 87)
Reference: 90
Trustworthy Imam Abu Musab Mutrif bin Abdullah bin Mutrif Al-Yasari Al-Madani, son of the sister of Malik, may Allah have mercy on them (died 220 AH), according to Sayuti, did not practice Taqlid.
Reference: (See item: 87)
Reference: 91
Hafiz Ibn Hazm Andalusi said: [ثم أصحاب الشافعي و كانوا مجتهدين غير مقلدين كأبي يعقوب البويطي و إسماعيل بن يحيى المزني]
Then the Shafi'i (may Allah have mercy on him) students were mujtahids, not followers, such as Abu Yaqub al-Buwayti and Ismail bin Yahya al-Muzani
Reference: (Jawaami' al-Seerah Vol 1 p. 333, Al-Maktabah al-Shamilah)
It is clear that according to Ibn Hazm, Abu Yaqub Yusuf bin Yahya al-Masri al-Buwayti, the master of Imam al-Shafi'i (may Allah have mercy on him) (a trustworthy imam, chief of jurists, died 231 AH) was not a follower.Reference: 92
The trustworthy imam jurist Abu Ibrahim Ismail bin Yahya bin Ismail al-Muzani al-Masri (may Allah have mercy on him) (died 264 AH) according to Ibn Hazm was not a follower.
Reference: (See paragraph: 91), (also see paragraph: 4)
Abu Ali Ahmad bin Ali bin Al-Hasan bin Shu'aib bin Ziyad Al-Mada'ini: [حسن الحدیث و ثقہ الجمہور] (died 327 AH) narrated from his teacher Imam Al-Muzani, may Allah have mercy on him: Whoever decides to follow taqlid (imitation) is asked: Do you have any evidence for this decision? If he replies: Yes, then he has invalidated taqlid because this decision was based on evidence, not on taqlid. And if he says: No, then he is asked: For what reason did you shed blood, made private parts lawful, and wasted wealth? Allah had declared all this forbidden upon you, but you made it lawful without evidence... etc.
Reference: (Al-Faqih wal-Mutafaqqih 2/69-70 with a good chain)
In this lengthy discourse, Imam Al-Muzani invalidated taqlid in a very excellent and easily understandable manner. رحمہ اللہReference: 93
Regarding the Maliki preacher Allama Abu Muhammad Abdul Azim bin Abdullah bin Abi Al-Hajjaj Ibn Al-Sheikh Al-Balawi, may Allah have mercy on him (died 666 AH), both Hafiz Zahbi and Khalil bin Aibak Al-Safadi said: [وله اختيارات لا يقلّد فيها أحدًا] and he had special issues in which he did not follow anyone.
Reference: (Tarikh al-Islam Vol. 49 p. 226, Al-Wafi bil Wafayat Vol. 19 p. 12)
Reference: 94
Sayuti narrated from Hafiz Ibn Hazm: [و من آخر ما أدركنا على ذلك شيخنا أبو عمر الطلمنكي فما كان يقلّد أحدًا و ذهب إلى قول الشافعي في بعض المسائل والآن محمد بن عوف لا يقلّد أحدًا و قال بقول الشافعي في بعض المسائل]
And finally, those whom we found, our teacher Abu Umar Al-Talmanqi did not follow anyone, and in some issues he gave fatwa according to the Shafi'i opinion, and Abu Muhammad bin Awf (?) did not follow anyone and in some issues he gave fatwa according to the Shafi'i opinion.
Reference: (Al-Radd 'ala man Akhlada ila al-Ard p. 138)
It is established that the trustworthy Imam Hafiz Abu Umar Ahmad bin Muhammad bin Abdullah Al-Ma'afri Al-Andalusi Al-Talmanqi, may Allah have mercy on him (died 429 AH), according to Hafiz Ibn Hazm, did not follow anyone. Regarding Imam Talmanqi, Hafiz Zahbi said: [الإمام المحقّق المحدّث الحافظ الأثري] Imam Muhaddith Hafiz Athari
Reference: (Siyar A'lam al-Nubala 17/567) (also see paragraph: 7)
Reference: 95
Many Hanafi and non-Hanafi jurists have narrated from Abu Bakr al-Qaffal, Abu Ali, and Qadi Husayn that they said: [لسنا مقلّدين للشافعي بل وافق رأينا رأيه]
We are not followers of the Shafi'i school, rather our opinion has coincided with theirs.
Reference: (See Al-Nafi' al-Kabir for those who consult Al-Jami' al-Saghir by Abdul Hayy al-Lakhnawi, p. 7; Taqrirat al-Rafi'i vol. 1 p. 11; Al-Taqrir wa al-Tahbir vol. 3 p. 353)
It is understood that (according to these scholars) Allama Abu Bakr Abdullah ibn Ahmad ibn Abdullah al-Qaffal al-Marwazi al-Khorasani al-Shafi'i, may Allah have mercy on him (died 417 AH), was not among the followers.
Reference: 96
From the previous reference, it is established that Qadi Abu Ali Husayn al-Marwazi al-Shafi'i, may Allah have mercy on him (died 462 AH), was not among the followers.
Reference: (See paragraph: 95)
Reference: 97
Abu Ali al-Hasan (al-Husayn) ibn Muhammad ibn Shu'ayb al-Sanji al-Marwazi al-Shafi'i, may Allah have mercy on him (died 432 AH), was not among the followers.
Reference: (See paragraph: 95)
It is understood that those scholars who are called Shafi'i, according to their own declaration and testimony, were not among the followers.
Reference: Also see Tabaqat al-Shafi'iyya al-Kubra by al-Subki (vol. 2 p. 78, translation by Muhammad ibn Ibrahim ibn al-Munthir al-Nisaburi) and paragraph: 11
Reference: 98
Sheikh al-Islam Hafiz Taqi al-Din Abu al-Abbas Ahmad ibn Abdul Halim al-Harrani, known as Ibn Taymiyyah, may Allah have mercy on him (died 728 AH), said: [إنما أتناول ما أتناول منها على معرفتي بمذهب أحمد ، لا عليَّ تقليدي له]
I take from Ahmad's creed only what I have knowledge of; I do not blindly follow him.
Reference: (A'lam al-Muwaqqi'in li Ibn al-Qayyim vol. 2 p. 241-242)
Hafiz Ibn Taymiyyah said: And if someone says that it is obligatory to follow so-and-so or so-and-so among the common people, then this statement is not from any Muslim.
Reference: (Majmu' al-Fatawa Ibn Taymiyyah vol. 22 p. 249)
And he said: It is not obligatory for any one Muslim to follow every statement of any one particular scholar among the scholars; except for the Messenger of Allah ﷺ, it is not obligatory for any Muslim to adhere to the creed of any one particular person in every matter and start following him in everything.
Reference: (Majmu' al-Fatawa vol. 20 p. 209, also see The Issue of Taqlid in Religion p. 40)
Regarding Hafiz Ibn Taymiyyah, his student Hafiz al-Dhahabi said: [المجتهد المفسر۔۔ إلخ] Mujtahid, mufassir
Reference: (Tadhkirat al-Huffaz vol. 4 p. 1496 hadith 1175)
Reference: 99
Hafiz Ibn Qayyim al-Jawziyyah, may Allah have mercy on him (died 751 AH), wrote a powerful book against Taqlid titled "__ARABIC_81" and said:
ARABIC_82__
And this innovation of (Taqlid) arose in the fourth century, which the Messenger of Allah ﷺ condemned with his (sacred) tongue.
Reference: (A'lam al-Muwaqqi'in vol. 2 p. 208, Mas'alah Taqlid fi al-Din p. 32)
According to Ahl al-Hadith, one should act upon the Quran, Hadith, and Ijma' in the light of the unanimous understanding of the pious predecessors, and Taqlid is not permissible. Since Hafiz Ibn al-Qayyim also adhered to and practiced this school, therefore Zafar Ahmad Thanvi Deobandi said in his particular Deobandi style: [لأنا رأينا أن ابن القيم الذي هو الأب لنوع هذه الفرقة] because we have seen that the father of this sect (i.e., Ahl al-Hadith) is Ibn al-Qayyim.
Reference: (A'la al-Sunan vol. 20 p. 8, title: Al-Din al-Qayyim, translated by Naqil) Also see the introduction before paragraph number 1.
Reference: 100
Hafiz Abu Abdullah Shams al-Din Muhammad bin Ahmad bin Uthman al-Dhahabi, may Allah have mercy on him (died 748 AH), openly opposed taqlid (imitation) in many places and said: [و كل إمام يؤخذ من قوله و يترك إلا إمام المتقين الصادق المصدوق الأمين المعصوم صلوات الله و سلامه عليه ، فيا لله العجب من عالم يقلد [دينه] إمامًا بعينه في [كل] ما قال مع علمه بما يرد على مذهب إمامه من النصوص النبوية فلا قوة إلا بالله]
And the statement of every Imam is taken and also abandoned, except for the Imam of the pious, the truthful, the trustworthy, the infallible (Muhammad ﷺ), upon whom be Allah’s blessings and peace. By Allah! It is astonishing that a scholar imitates a particular Imam in his religion, despite the fact that authentic hadiths refute the madhhab of his Imam. ولا قوة إلا بالله
Reference: (Tadhkirat al-Huffaz vol. 1 p. 16, translation of Sayyiduna Abdullah bin Mas’ud, may Allah be pleased with him)
At the end, Hafiz Dhahabi wrote (لاحول) ولا قوۃ الا باللہ, which is evidence that in his view taqlid is a satanic act; therefore, we pray to Allah to always protect us from this satanic act. Ameen.
Reference: Also see paragraph: 11
According to our claim and the condition of the word "taqlid" (imitation), we have presented references from one hundred (100) scholars of the Ummah who explicitly did not practice taqlid or were opposed to it. To our knowledge, no trustworthy, truthful, and correctly-believing authentic Imam has established the obligation of the prevalent taqlid or its practice, and no person in the world can present a reference from any authentic Imam proving the obligation of taqlid or its practice against this research.
ولو كان بعضهم لبعض ظهيرًا. والحمد لله
Warning:
The fact that this research contains one hundred references does not at all mean that the scholars whose mention or names are not included in this subject practiced taqlid; rather, there is a consensus of the early centuries on the prohibition of taqlid.
Reference: (See Al-Radd 'ala man Akhlada ila al-Ard, pp. 131-132, and The Issue of Taqlid in Religion, pp. 34-35)
Besides them, there were many other scholars from whom the explicit prohibition and rejection of this (taqlid) by the word "taqlid" is established. For example:
[1] Jalaluddin Suyuti (died 911 AH) wrote a magnificent book against Taqlid: [الرد على من أخلد إلى الأرض وجهل أن الاجتهاد في كل عصر فرض] and in it he tied the phrase '__ARABIC_89' and quoted Hafiz Ibn Hazm in support: ARABIC_90__ Taqlid is forbidden.
Reference: (p. 131)
Suyuti said in another book: It is obligatory (Fard) to say that whoever affiliates himself to any Imam other than the Messenger of Allah ﷺ, whether he holds friendship or enmity for that affiliation, that person is an innovator (Bid'ati), outside the fold of Ahl al-Sunnah wal Jama'ah, whether the affiliation is in principles or branches.
Reference: (Al-Kanz al-Madfoon wal-Falak al-Mashhoon p. 149, The Issue of Taqlid in Religion pp. 40-41)
[2] Zaili Hanafi (!) said: [فالمقلد ذهل والمقلد جهل] Therefore, the follower (Muqallid) errs and the follower commits ignorance.
Reference: (Nasb al-Rayah vol. 1 p. 219)
[3] Ayni Hanafi (!) said: [فالمقلد ذهل والمقلد جهل و آفة كل شيء من التقليد]
Therefore, the follower errs and the follower commits ignorance and every calamity is due to Taqlid.
Reference: (Al-Binayah Sharh al-Hidayah vol. 1 p. 317)
[4] Tahawi Hanafi (!) is reported to have said: [وهل يقلّد إلا عصبي أو غبي] Taqlid is only done by one who is bigoted or foolish.
Reference: (Lisan al-Mizan: vol. 1 p. 280)
[5] Abu Hafs Ibn Al-Mulqan (died 804 AH) said:[و غالب ذلك إنما يقع (من) التقليد و نحن (براء منه) بحمد الله و منه]
And generally such matters occur due to imitation, and we are free from this (imitation), with the praise and favor of Allah.
Reference: (Al-Badr Al-Munir fi Takhrij Al-Ahadith wal-Athar Al-Waqi'ah fi Al-Sharh Al-Kabir Vol. 1 p. 293)
[6] Abu Zaid Qadi Ubaidullah Al-Dubusi (Hanafi) said: The summary of imitation is that the imitator equates himself with animals and livestock. If the imitator has made himself like an animal because he is devoid of intellect and awareness, then he should seek (mental) treatment.
Reference: (Taqwim Al-Adillah fi Usool Al-Fiqh p. 390, Monthly Al-Hadith, Issue: 22 p. 16)
[7] The great scholar Sheikh Muhammad Fakhr bin Muhammad Yahya bin Muhammad Amin Al-Abbasi Al-Salafi Al-Haibabadi, may Allah have mercy on him: (died 1164 AH) did not imitate but acted upon the evidences of the Book and Sunnah and exercised ijtihad himself.
Reference: (See Nuzhat Al-Khawatir Vol. 6 p. 350 Hadith 636)
He (Fakhr al-Ilahabadi, may Allah have mercy on him) said: According to the majority, it is not permissible to follow any particular sect; rather, Ijtihad is obligatory. The innovation of Taqlid arose in the fourth century Hijri.
Reference: (Risalah Najatiyah pp. 41-42, The Issue of Taqlid in Religion p. 41)
A scholar will perform Ijtihad based on the Book, Sunnah, consensus, and the practices of the pious predecessors, while the Ijtihad of the ignorant is to ask a scholar of sound belief about issues of the Book and Sunnah and act upon them, and this is not Taqlid.
[8] Abu Bakr or Abu Abdullah Muhammad bin Ahmad bin Abdullah, known as: Ibn Khawiz Mindad al-Basri al-Maliki (died at the end of the fourth century Hijri) said: [التقليد معناه في الشرع الرجوع إلى قول لا حجة لقائله عليه و ذلك ممنوع منه في الشريعة و الإتباع ما ثبت عليه حجة]
In Shariah, Taqlid means to refer to the statement of someone for whom there is no evidence, and doing so is prohibited in Shariah, while Ittiba (following) is that which is established by evidence.
Reference: (Jami' Bayan al-'Ilm wa Fadlih vol. 2 p. 231)
Warning:
This statement was quoted by Hafiz Ibn Abdul Barr and no one has refuted it, therefore it is clear that this is not among the rare statements of Ibn Khawiz Mindad.
Reference: Also see Lisan al-Mizan (Vol. 5, p. 292)
[9] Among contemporaries, the famous Yemeni Sheikh Muqbil bin Hadi al-Wadi'i, may Allah have mercy on him, said: Imitation is forbidden; it is not permissible for any Muslim to imitate (someone) in the religion of Allah.
Reference: (Tuhfat al-Mujeeb 'ala As'ilat al-Hadir wal-Gharib, p. 205; The Issue of Imitation in Religion, p. 43)
[10] The Chief Justice of Saudi Arabia, Sheikh Abdul Aziz bin Abdullah bin Baz, may Allah have mercy on him, said: I am not بحمد اللہ biased but I judge according to the Book and Sunnah; the basis of my fatwas is قال اللہ اور قال الرسول, not the imitation of the Hanbalis or others.
Reference: (Al-Iqna', p. 92; The Issue of Imitation in Religion, p. 43)
[11] For Ibn al-Jawzi's stance on non-imitation, see his book: المشکل من حدیث الصحیحین
Reference: (Vol. 1, p. 833) and Monthly Al-Hadith, Issue: 37
The Barelvi Pir Sultan Bahu said: The key is entirely congregation, and imitation is disunity and confusion; indeed, the followers of imitation are worse than ignorant and animals.
Reference: (Tawfiq al-Hidayat p. 20, Progressive Books Lahore edition)
Sultan Bahu further said: "The people of monotheism possess guidance, grace, and research. The followers of imitation possess worldly matters, complaints, and are polytheists."
Reference: (Tawfiq al-Hidayat p. 167)
Compared to the scholars mentioned in one hundred references and the later mentioned ones, the scholars of the Deobandi and Barelvi sects say that imitation (taqlid) is obligatory and that the scholars of previous eras were followers (muqallideen).!!!
[1] Muhammad Qasim Nanotvi Deobandi said: Secondly, I am a follower of Imam Abu Hanifa, so whatever statement you present in opposition must be from the Imam himself. It will not be a proof against me if the Shami wrote this or the author of Dar al-Mukhtar said that, as I am not their follower.
Reference: (Sawanih Qasmi Vol. 2 p. 22)
[2] Mahmood Hasan Deobandi said about an issue: The truth and justice is that in this issue, Shafi'i has preference and we are followers; it is obligatory for us to follow our Imam Abu Hanifa. واللہ اعلم
Reference: (Taqreer Tirmidhi p. 36, Mas'ala-e-Taqleed in Deen p. 24)
[3] Ahmad Raza Khan Barelvi wrote in a treatise: [أجلى الأعلام أن الفتوى مطلقًا على قول الإمام]
Meaning the fatwa will absolutely be based on the statement of Imam Abu Hanifa.
While lying and deceiving about taqleed, Ahmad Raza Khan Barelvi said: In the specific issue of taqleed, according to their religion, the 1100 years of Imams of Deen, complete scholars, and saints, may Allah be pleased with them all, are all considered polytheists, God forbid.
Reference: (Fatawa Razawiyya vol. 11 p. 387)
[4] Ahmad Yar Naeemi Barelvi said: That our arguments are not these narrations. Our main argument is the statement of Imam Azam Abu Hanifa, may Allah be pleased with him.
Reference: (Jaa al-Haq vol. 2 p. 91, Qunoot Nazila second chapter)
It is stated that in eleven hundred years, there is no evidence, either verbal or practical, from any trustworthy and correct-belief scholar supporting the obligation or permissibility of your prevalent imitation. I challenge all of the Deoband and Bareilly groups to present, in response to the one hundred (100) authentic references mentioned in this research article, only ten (10) references from the correct-belief pious predecessors of the best generations, in which it is written that it is obligatory for Muslims, whether scholars or common people, to imitate only one of the four Imams (Imam Abu Hanifa, Imam Malik, Imam Shafi'i, Imam Ahmad) and that imitation of the other three is forbidden, and that it is not permissible for the follower to abandon the sayings of his Imam and act upon the Quran and Hadith. If such references exist, please present them!
And if there is no such evidence, and certainly not, rather the references I mentioned have shattered this self-made idol of blind imitation into pieces, so do not create false intimidation by taking the name of eleven hundred years of scholars. The consensus of all the righteous predecessors of the best of centuries and the opposition and rejection of imitation by the majority of later righteous predecessors is proof that this issue is completely against the righteous predecessors. If the prevalent imitation is called obligatory, then along with opposing the Book, Sunnah, and consensus, it also necessitates opposing and rejecting the fourteen hundred years of righteous predecessors, which is fundamentally false. وما علينا إلا البلاغ
Finally, the names of scholars who did not practice imitation are presented in alphabetical order:
Note: The sentence number of the article is written in front of the name.
Ibrahim bin Khalid Al-Kalbi (17)
Ibrahim bin Muhammad bin Al-Harith (71)
Ibn Abi Shaybah (74)
Ibn Al-Qayyim (99)
Ibn Al-Mulqan (100/5)
Ibn Al-Mundhir (11)
Ibn Baz (100/10)
Ibn Taymiyyah (98)
Ibn Jarir Al-Tabari (14)
Ibn Hazm (28)
Ibn Khuzaymah (20)
Ibn Khawz Mandad (100/8)
Ibn Shaheen (21)
Ibn Abdul Barr (29)
Ibn Alayh (50)
Ibn Majah (25)
Abu Al-Numan (86)
Abu Al-Walid Tayalisi (45)
Abu Ayub Al-Hashimi (70)
Abu Bakr bin Abi Shaybah (74)
Abu Thawr Al-Kalbi (17)
Abu Hanifa (6)
Abu Khaithamah (69)
Abu Dawood Sajistani (22)
Abu Dawood Tayalisi (44)
Abu Asim Al-Nabil (57)
Abu Amir Al-Aqdi (62)
Abu Ubaid (68)
Abu Ali Al-Sanji (97)
Abu Umar Talmanki (94)
Abu Kurayb Al-Hamdani (83)
Abu Nu'aym Al-Kufi (79)
Abu Ya'la Al-Mawsili (26)
Abu Yusuf Al-Khalifa (30)
Ahmad bin Hanbal (5)
Ahmad bin Shu'ayb Al-Nasa'i (24)
Ahmad bin Ali bin Al-Muthanna (26)
Ahmad bin Amr bin Abdul Khaliq Al-Bazzar (27)
Ahmad bin Kamil Al-Qadi (15)
Azhar bin Saeed Al-Samman (54)
Ishaq bin Rahwayh (67)
Ismail bin Ibrahim Ibn Alayh (50)
Ismail bin Yahya Al-Muzani (92)
Bukhari (18)
Bazzar (27)
Bishr bin Al-Mufaddal (33)
Bishr bin Umar (56)
Baqi bin Mukhlad (7)
Bandar (81)
Buwaiti (91)
Tirmidhi (23)
Hajjaj bin Munhal (61)
Hasan bin Sa'd Al-Qurtubi (12)
Hasan bin Muhammad Al-Za'faraani (84)
Hasan bin Musa Al-Ashib (9)
Hafs bin Ghiyath (42)
Hamid bin Abdul Rahman (38)
Hamidi (40)
Khalid bin Al-Harith (34)
Dabusi (6/100)
Dhahabi (100)
Dhahli (73)
Zubair bin Harb (69)
Zil'i (2/100)
Saeed bin Mansur (76)
Sulaiman bin Ash'ath: Abu Dawood (22)
Sulaiman bin Harb (85)
Sulaiman bin Dawood Al-Hashimi (70)
Suyuti (1/100)
Shafi'i (4)
Dhahak bin Mukhlad (57)
Tahawi (4/100)
Talmanki (94)
Arim (86)
Abdul Rahman bin Mahdi (32)
Abdul Razzaq bin Hammam (35)
Abdul Samad bin Abdul Warith (52)
Abdul Aziz bin Abi Hazim (89)
Abdul Aziz bin Abdullah bin Baz (10/100)
Abdul Azim bin Abdullah bin Abi Al-Hajjaj Al-Balawi (93)
Abdullah bin Al-Mubarak (41)
Abdullah bin Zubair Al-Humaydi (40)
Abdullah bin Mas'ud (1)
Abdullah bin Numayr (66)
Abdullah bin Wahb (8)
Abdul Malik bin Abdul Aziz bin Abi Salmah Al-Majshun (87)
Abdul Malik bin Amr: Abu Amir (62)
Abdul Warith bin Saeed (51)
Abdul Wahab bin Abdul Majid (63)
Uthman bin Abi Shaybah (75)
Affan bin Muslim (55)
Umar bin Ahmad bin Uthman (21)
Ayni (3/100)
Ghandar (47)
Fakhr Al-Ha'ibadi (7/100)
Faryabi (64)
Fizari (71)
Fadl bin Dukain (79)
Qasim bin Salam (68)
Qasim bin Muhammad Al-Qurtubi (10)
Qadi Husayn Marwazi (96)
Qutaybah bin Saeed (77)
Qattan: Yahya bin Saeed (31)
Qaffal Marwazi (95)
Malik bin Anas (3)
Muhammad bin Ibrahim bin Al-Mundhir (11)
Muhammad bin Abi 'Adi (46)
Muhammad bin Ishaq bin Khuzaymah (20)
Muhammad bin Alaa bin Karib (83)
Muhammad bin Al-Muthanna (80)
Muhammad bin Bashar (81)
Muhammad bin Jarir bin Yazid (14)
Muhammad bin Ja'far: Ghandar (47)
Muhammad bin Dawood Al-Zahiri (16)
Muhammad bin Abdullah bin Numayr (82)
Muhammad bin Isa Al-Tirmidhi (23)
Muhammad bin Fadl Al-Sadusi (86)
Muhammad bin Yahya Al-Dhahli (73)
Muhammad bin Yazid: Ibn Majah (25)
Muhammad bin Yusuf Al-Faryabi (64)
Mukhlad bin Al-Husayn (72)
Muzani (92)
Musaddad bin Musarhad (78)
Muslim bin Ibrahim Al-Farahidi (60)
Muslim bin Al-Hajjaj (19)
Mus'ab bin Imran (13)
Mutrif bin Abdullah Al-Yasari (90)
Mu'adh bin Jabal (2)
Mu'tamir bin Sulaiman Al-Taymi (58)
Mughira bin Abdul Rahman (88)
Muqbil bin Hadi Al-Yamani (9/100)
Nasa'i (24)
Nadr bin Shumail (59)
Waki' bin Al-Jarrah (36)
Walid bin Muslim (39)
Wahb bin Jarir (53)
Wahib bin Khalid (65)
Yahya bin Adam (37)
Yahya bin Zakariya bin Abi Zaidah (43)
Yahya bin Saeed Al-Qattan (31)
Yahya bin Yahya Nisapuri (48)
Yazid bin Zari' (49)
Ya'qub bin Yusuf Al-Marrakushi (30)
Yusuf bin Yahya Al-Buwaiti (91)
[1] Allama Suyuti (died 911 AH) says: [و الذي يجب أن يقال : كل من انتسب إلى إمام غير رسول الله ﷺ يوالي على ذلك ويعادي عليه فهو مبتدع خارج عن السنة والجماعة سواء كان في الأصول أو الفروع]
It is obligatory (wajib) to say that whoever attributes themselves to any imam other than the Messenger of Allah ﷺ, and maintains friendship or enmity based on that (attribution), that person is an innovator (bid'ati), and is outside the fold of Ahl al-Sunnah wal-Jama'ah, whether this (attribution) is in principles or branches.
Reference: (Al-Kanz al-Madfoon wal-Falak al-Mashhoon p. 149)
[2] Imam al-Hakam ibn Utaybah, may Allah have mercy on him (died 115 AH), says: [ليس أحد من خلق الله إلا يؤخذ من قوله ويترك إلا النبي صلى الله عليه وسلم]
Apart from the Noble Prophet ﷺ (may my father and mother be sacrificed for him and my soul), there is no person among Allah’s creation whose words must be accepted and not rejected. Only you ﷺ are that (blessed and pure) personality whose every word will be accepted.
Reference: (Jami' Bayan al-'Ilm wa Fadlih 2/91, second edition 2/112, third edition 2/181, and its chain of narration is Hasan Ladhdhatah)
