❖ Two Examples of Opposing Sunnah Due to Blind Imitation (Taqlid) ❖
Adapted from the original work of Ghulam Mustafa Zaheer Amani Puri (Hafizahullah), with enhanced structure and clarity.
"Taqlid is accepting someone's statement without knowing its proof, meaning, or correctness, yet still following it. This is prohibited in Shariʿah."
(Jāmiʿ Bayān al-ʿIlm wa Faḍlih, 2/787)
Abū ʿAbdullah al-Miṣrī al-Mālikī similarly states:
"Taqlid means following a view without proof, and it is impermissible in Islam."
(Jāmiʿ Bayān al-ʿIlm wa Faḍlih, 2/992)
Ibn al-Qayyim remarks:
"Partisans accept only that part of the Sunnah which aligns with their opinions and reject the rest, leading to corruption in religion."
(Iʿlām al-Muwaqqiʿīn, 1/60)
"Even when muqallids realize their imam’s opinion is weak, they still adhere to it, preferring weak proofs over authentic texts."
(Qawāʿid al-Aḥkām, 2/135)
"If we receive an authentic Hadith, and Allah has obligated us to follow it, why do we abandon it in favor of an imam’s view? Who is more unjust than such a person?"
(Ḥujjatullāh al-Bālighah, 1/156)
Hanafi Ruling (Contrary to Sunnah):
"Praying Witr on a mount is not permissible."
(Fatāwā al-Hindiyyah, 1/111)
Hanafi Justification:
Anwar Shah Kashmiri claimed Ibn ʿUmar confused Witr with Tahajjud—yet the Hadith clearly distinguishes them.
(Fayḍ al-Bārī, 3/194)
Ibn al-Qayyim’s Critique:
"Rejecting the Prophet’s practice due to fiqh-based reinterpretations is unjustifiable."
(Iʿlām al-Muwaqqiʿīn, 1/60)
“The slaughtering of the foetus is included in the slaughtering of its mother.”
(Musnad Aḥmad, 3/39)
Status:
Authenticated and accepted by Hadith scholars.
Ibn Ḥajar affirms it as aligned with the understanding of the Companions and Tabiʿīn.
(al-Talkhīṣ al-Ḥabīr, 4/157)
Hanafi Position (Opposing Sunnah):
The foetus must be slaughtered separately.
(al-Mabsūṭ, 12/6)
Consensus of the Ummah:
Rejection by Scholars:
Ibn al-Qayyim’s Warning:
"One cannot reject a clear Prophetic statement by appealing to legal reasoning."
(Iʿlām al-Muwaqqiʿīn, 2/334)
Witr on a mount and foetus slaughtered with the mother are established Sunnahs.
Hanafi rulings opposing these Sunnahs are examples of how taqlid can lead to rejection of authentic Hadith.
The true path is to follow the Prophet ﷺ, not to elevate anyone above his guidance.
Adapted from the original work of Ghulam Mustafa Zaheer Amani Puri (Hafizahullah), with enhanced structure and clarity.
◈ What is Taqlid (Blind Following)?
Imam Ibn ʿAbd al-Barr (368–463 AH) defines taqlid as:"Taqlid is accepting someone's statement without knowing its proof, meaning, or correctness, yet still following it. This is prohibited in Shariʿah."
(Jāmiʿ Bayān al-ʿIlm wa Faḍlih, 2/787)
Abū ʿAbdullah al-Miṣrī al-Mālikī similarly states:
"Taqlid means following a view without proof, and it is impermissible in Islam."
(Jāmiʿ Bayān al-ʿIlm wa Faḍlih, 2/992)
◈ The Position of Shariʿah on Taqlid
These definitions clarify that taqlid is against the spirit of Islam and is condemned. Scholars unanimously agree that taqlid, in light of Qur'an and Hadith, is a blameworthy act.◈ Taqlid and Ignorance
- Ibn ʿAbd al-Barr: "A muqallid is ignorant, and scholars do not differ on this."
(Jāmiʿ Bayān al-ʿIlm, 2/992) - Ibn al-Qayyim (691–751 AH): "There is consensus that taqlid is not knowledge but ignorance."
(Iʿlām al-Muwaqqiʿīn, 2/169)
◈ The Harms of Taqlid
- It obstructs intellectual progress and reforms.
- It was the reason why many denied prophets and rejected divine messages.
- It has caused division among Muslims and weakened scholarly integrity.
Ibn al-Qayyim remarks:
"Partisans accept only that part of the Sunnah which aligns with their opinions and reject the rest, leading to corruption in religion."
(Iʿlām al-Muwaqqiʿīn, 1/60)
◈ Intellectual Stagnation Due to Taqlid
ʿIzz al-Dīn ibn ʿAbd al-Salām says:"Even when muqallids realize their imam’s opinion is weak, they still adhere to it, preferring weak proofs over authentic texts."
(Qawāʿid al-Aḥkām, 2/135)
◈ Shah Waliullah al-Dihlawi’s Critique
He questions:"If we receive an authentic Hadith, and Allah has obligated us to follow it, why do we abandon it in favor of an imam’s view? Who is more unjust than such a person?"
(Ḥujjatullāh al-Bālighah, 1/156)
❖ Example 1: Praying Witr on a Mount (Sunnah Ignored Due to Taqlid)
Sunnah Evidence:- ʿAbdullah ibn ʿUmar (RA): "The Prophet ﷺ used to pray Witr while riding during travel."
(Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī: 1000, Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim: 700) - Saʿīd ibn Yasār also reported seeing Ibn ʿUmar do so, citing the Sunnah.
(Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī: 999)
Hanafi Ruling (Contrary to Sunnah):
"Praying Witr on a mount is not permissible."
(Fatāwā al-Hindiyyah, 1/111)
Hanafi Justification:
Anwar Shah Kashmiri claimed Ibn ʿUmar confused Witr with Tahajjud—yet the Hadith clearly distinguishes them.
(Fayḍ al-Bārī, 3/194)
Ibn al-Qayyim’s Critique:
"Rejecting the Prophet’s practice due to fiqh-based reinterpretations is unjustifiable."
(Iʿlām al-Muwaqqiʿīn, 1/60)
❖ Example 2: Foetus Slaughtered with Mother (Sunnah vs Hanafi View)
Hadith:“The slaughtering of the foetus is included in the slaughtering of its mother.”
(Musnad Aḥmad, 3/39)
Status:
Authenticated and accepted by Hadith scholars.
Ibn Ḥajar affirms it as aligned with the understanding of the Companions and Tabiʿīn.
(al-Talkhīṣ al-Ḥabīr, 4/157)
Hanafi Position (Opposing Sunnah):
The foetus must be slaughtered separately.
(al-Mabsūṭ, 12/6)
Consensus of the Ummah:
- Ibn al-Mundhir: "Consensus exists on the permissibility, except for Abū Ḥanīfah."
(Naṣb al-Rāyah, 4/192)
Rejection by Scholars:
- Ibn ʿAbd al-Barr and others label this Hanafi view as unsupported.
Ibn al-Qayyim’s Warning:
"One cannot reject a clear Prophetic statement by appealing to legal reasoning."
(Iʿlām al-Muwaqqiʿīn, 2/334)
◈ Summary
Witr on a mount and foetus slaughtered with the mother are established Sunnahs. Hanafi rulings opposing these Sunnahs are examples of how taqlid can lead to rejection of authentic Hadith. The true path is to follow the Prophet ﷺ, not to elevate anyone above his guidance.
