1. Ask A Question About Islam And Muslims
  2. Ask A Question About Islam And Muslims

Ask A Question About Islam And Muslims

26 Questions

What narrations of the Prophet (s) and the Ahlulbayt (a) can be used to prove the concept of Taqleed during the occultation of the Imam (a)?
Sayyed Mohammad Al-Musawi

In Quran we read ( So, ask those who know if you don't know ( Sura 21, verse 7).

'Many Hadeeths from the Prophet (SAWA) and Ahlul Bayt (AS) order Muslims to learn the religious rules from those who know and never act with out knowledge. The Prophet (SAWA) said: Ask those who know. ( Amaali al-Tousi). Imam Jafar Al-Sadiq (AS) said: People who don't ask the knowledgeable persons will perish. (Munyatul al Merced).

Muslim needs to know the right Islamic knowledge to follow it and be on the right path. Right knowledge can't come from lay people or from the parents or friends etc, but it must come from knowledgeable persons Ulamaa' who have spent their life in studying and researching the Islamic knowledge from Ahlul Bayt (AS). This following the evidence taken by Mujtahids is called Taqleed, without which your religious acts will be with out authentic evidence.

Wassalam.
I follow the Taqleed of one Marja and have access to his Tohzil e Masail. However, I encounter some questions outside the syllabus for which I do find answers in another Marja's Tohzil e Masail. What should I do in this situation?
Zaid Alsalami

Bismihi ta'ala

Alhamdulillah, all our esteemed Maraji' have official websites and easy channels of commication. Just make sure they are "official". Regarding scenarios or questions you might not find in his Tawdhih al-Masa`el, or Risalah 'Amaliyah, their websites usually have frequently asked questions, and you can also email, ring, or visit the office in person, or ask the Marja's wakeel.

And Allah knows best
Can you provide information on whether it is written in Quran and Hadith that a Mujtahid should be alive, or if this is a rule made by scholars? Additionally, could you explain the disadvantages of following a dead Mujtahid?
Sayyed Mohammad Al-Musawi

Quran says: Ask those who have the knowledge if you don't know. فاسألوا أهل الذكر إن كنتم لا تعلمون Sura Al-Anbiyaa, verse 7. Obviously we can not ask a dead scholar no matter how high was his knowledge.

Mujtahid must be alive to understand the exact situation of any matter then deduct the Islamic rule of it from Quran, Sunnah, Aql and Ijmaa'.

Sunni Muslims follow dead Shaikhs like Abu Hanifa, Shafi'ee, Malik and Ibn Hanbal. Even Salafi or Wahabi sects follow Ibn Taymiyyah. All of them died before many centuries and never witnessed nor knew about our current issues. Following dead scholar does not fulfill the need of guidance at all because full guidance needs full knowledge about the situation which is with a living eligible scholar not with a dead scholar.

All Hadeeths asking us to refer to the scholars never asked to refer to dead scholars but living scholars who can be asked and who can reply after understanding the situation.

'Wassalam.
I am new to Shia Islam, and I am unsure how to select the Marja of Taqlid to follow, particularly considering I reside in California, USA. Could you provide guidance on this matter?
Zaid Alsalami

Bismihi ta'ala

1. I would recommend you learn as much as you can about Islamic jurisprudence, and the method of selecting a Marja' Taqleed. This lesson will in shaa Allah help you: 

2. Once you have developed a good understanding of selecting a Marja' taqleed, you will know that it is important to follow the "most learnt", and most commonly followed. 

3. Should you have any further questions, speak to your local qualified scholar.

With prayers for your success