The definition of Taqleed is that the “Muqallaf” (Mature person) does all of his deeds based on the fatwa (laws) of the Mujtahid and that he takes his orders based on all aspects of life. Many of the current Mujtahids have chosen to carry the responsibility of serving as Maraje’. Most of them state in their Islamic Law books that to follow the most knowledgeable Mujtahid of the living scholars is compulsory upon every mature person. They draw this conclusion from multiple evidence points in special books of Jurisprudence (Fiqh). Based on that point, the person has to refer to other learned scholars that have reached the level of Ijtihad or that are very close to that very high position to know the most knowledgeable maraja, in order to follow him. However, it is not possible for the ordinary people to recognize the most knowledgeable Marja only by reading many books or listening to many lectures, even if they had beautiful sentences and nice meanings. This specifically has to be done by learned scholars in the respected field. Those scholars recognize the most knowledgeable by studying their books and the productions of all of the scholars, also by being present in their Islamic lectures, and by judging their way of research, understanding and conclusion of the resources of Islamic laws.
What has been publicized between people that “I follow so and so Marja because his laws fit with our time” or because “his laws are easier to do because we are living in a western world” or “he has it that Friday Congregational Prayers are obligatory and therefore he knows more about such matters than other Maraja” or vice versa, or “he is from my city” or “he is from my country” or “because he is Iranian” or “because he is Arab, he will have the ability to understand the text better, because the text has been in the Arabic language”. This is the most strange conclusion that one can draw, and the strange thing is that many arabs are unable to understand the language itself when it is communicated with and to them. Many non-arabs have become masters of Arabic eloquence and speech. This matter as it is apparently obvious for those whom have two eyes (wise person) will be based on studying, reading, investigating and researching. There have been so many scholars in Arabic language there are not Arab in background or language for example—Sayboweh, or a current example, the scholar in the arab language and literature, Dr Mustafa Jawad (may Allah swt bless him). Who was one of the very clear examples to prove this point.
It is obligatory for us to be very very careful in our religious matters, because our worship and deeds are absolutely dependant upon whom we follow. The way of thinking of the wise people, has emphasized us to follow the most knowledable and the narrations have proved this point. From that, it has been narrated from Salim bin Quais from Imam Hasan (as) in one of his sermons that he has stated: The Prophet of Allah swt (s) has said:
“There is no nation that has given its leadership to a man that there is someone more knowledable than him (within that nation), except that their matters (of leadership) would go destroyed” (Sheikh At-Toosi in his book al amali Majlis 21, page 566)
In the narration of Barki, from Rasool Allah swt that he has said
“Whoever leads a nation while they have someone more knowledgeable than him, or more learned in Jurispudence, the nation’s matters will be going backwards until the Day of Judgement” (The book Al Mahasin, Volume 1, Chapter 18, Page 93)
It has been narrated through Sheikh Al Moofid, in his book Khabarol Ikhtisas that the Prophet (s) has said:
“The leadership can not be valid except for its people, so anyone who invited people to himself and there was someone amongst them that is more knowledgeable than him Allah swt will not look at him on the Judgment Day” (page 251)
In the Sahiha (that means ‘correct’ narration) of ‘Ees Bin Qasim that he has said that I heard Abu A’bd Allah (as) (Imam Sadiq as) that has stated:
“It is upon us to be God conscious and fear him alone where there is no partner for him, and guard yourself. I swear by Allah swt that the man that has sheep and chooses a Shepard where there is someone that knows in his sheep better than the one that he has chosen, he has to remove him and bring that man that is more knowledgeable in his sheep to replace the one before.” (Volume 15, Chapter 13, Hadith 1, Page 50)
There are many other narrations that possibly can benefit us in supporting this point. From all of this the learned scholars have concluded that the most knowledgeable should be the one that the masses have to follow. We all know that a deed without Taqleed is void. Then if the Taqleed was wrong the deed will be without Taqleed. And the deed without Taqleed will not be accepted by Allah swt, except if his/her past deeds match/meet the laws of the person that his Taqleed is obligatory upon, Or met 100% the real law of Allah swt as we have mentioned previously. How can the person know the laws of his Al mighty? It is obligatory to be careful not to make Taqleed based on our desires, race, literature, political parties or nationalism, so that we avoid making the least knowledgeable as the most learned, and the non-Marja’ as a Marja.
May the Almighty Allah swt protect all of us from ignorance and following the wrong that will lead to a bad ending.