Author: Sheikh al-Islam Muhammad bin Abdul Wahhab (may Allah have mercy on him)
Translation: Maulana Mukhtar Ahmad Nadvi (may Allah protect him)
One of the fundamental principles upon which the religion of the people of ignorance (Jahiliyah) was based is blind following (taqleed). This was the greatest practice of the disbelievers of both earlier and later times. Allah mentions this in the Qur'an:
"And similarly, We did not send a warner before you to any town but those who lived in luxury in it said: We found our forefathers on a certain way, and we are following in their footsteps."
"(The Prophet) said: Even though I bring to you a better guidance than that upon which you found your forefathers? They said: We do not believe in that with which you have been sent."
[Surah Az-Zukhruf, 43:23-24]
Allah commanded them:
"Follow what has been revealed to you from your Lord and do not follow other friends besides Him. Little do you remember!"
[Surah Al-A'raf, 7:3]
And He also said:
"When it is said to them: Follow what Allah has revealed, they say: Rather, we will follow that which we found our forefathers upon."
"(Would they still follow) even if their forefathers understood nothing and were not guided?"
[Surah Al-Baqarah, 2:170]
Numerous other verses explain that the people of ignorance (Jahiliyah) were trapped in the chains of blind following (taqleed). They neither accepted any reasoning nor engaged in any contemplation. As a result, they wandered in the valleys of ignorance. The same condition afflicted all those who followed in the footsteps of the people of ignorance, regardless of the era they lived in.
Translation: Maulana Mukhtar Ahmad Nadvi (may Allah protect him)
One of the fundamental principles upon which the religion of the people of ignorance (Jahiliyah) was based is blind following (taqleed). This was the greatest practice of the disbelievers of both earlier and later times. Allah mentions this in the Qur'an:
"And similarly, We did not send a warner before you to any town but those who lived in luxury in it said: We found our forefathers on a certain way, and we are following in their footsteps."
"(The Prophet) said: Even though I bring to you a better guidance than that upon which you found your forefathers? They said: We do not believe in that with which you have been sent."
[Surah Az-Zukhruf, 43:23-24]
Allah commanded them:
"Follow what has been revealed to you from your Lord and do not follow other friends besides Him. Little do you remember!"
[Surah Al-A'raf, 7:3]
And He also said:
"When it is said to them: Follow what Allah has revealed, they say: Rather, we will follow that which we found our forefathers upon."
"(Would they still follow) even if their forefathers understood nothing and were not guided?"
[Surah Al-Baqarah, 2:170]
Numerous other verses explain that the people of ignorance (Jahiliyah) were trapped in the chains of blind following (taqleed). They neither accepted any reasoning nor engaged in any contemplation. As a result, they wandered in the valleys of ignorance. The same condition afflicted all those who followed in the footsteps of the people of ignorance, regardless of the era they lived in.