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Taqleed according to the Deobandis
Taqleed according to the Deobandis means, “The acceptance of the
statement of another without demanding proofs or evidence, on
the belief that the statement is made in accordance with fact and
proof.” In simple terms, Taqleed implies following one of the four
Imams in all matters of the religion, and believing the statement
of the Imam to be a proof in itself.
This notion of accepting a statement without proof is so essential
to the Deobandis that they are easily offended when asked for the
Hadeeth on which a particular ruling is based.
Moulana Ashraf Ali Thanvi said that amongst the manners of
asking a question to obtain the ruling of the Sharee’ah is that, “…
(When asking your scholar for a ruling) Ask only the mas’alah (the
rule or the law). Do not ask the daleel (the proof of the rule or the
basis on which the ruling is given). 612
Ashraf Ali Thanvi said, “The minds of people have become
corrupted. A man posed some questions and wrote: “State the
answers from the Hadeeth.” I responded: “I remember the
answers from Fiqh. I do not remember them from the Hadeeth,
hence excuse me.” (The translator of the book “Malfoozat” further
added, “The questions were thus not answered. This was the
remedy for the futile request”. 613
Is “Asking the Scholars” a proof for Taqleed?
The Deobandis justify the practice of Taqleed by claiming that
Taqleed is…
(1) Simply a matter of following transmitted knowledge.
(2) Asking the scholars believing that they are the most
knowledgeable of the religion.
612 Aadaabul-Muaasharat (Etiquette of Social life) by Ashraf Ali Thanvi,
p.61 (Adaab of Istifaa)
613 Malfoozaat (Statements and Anecdotes of Ashraf Ali Thanvi), p.54.
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