Understanding Taqlid by Mufti Muhammad Sajaad

2: The Evolution Of Taqlīd
VVThe Hanbali scholar Imam ‘Ala al-Din al-Mardawi in his
major Juristic compendium Al-Insaf, cites the statement of the
famous scholar Imam Al-Wazir ibn Hubaira (died 560 ah):
“Consensus has been established upon taqlīd of every one of
the Four Schools and that the truth does not lie outside of
them.” Vol.11 p.169 (Dar al-Kutub al-‘Ilmiyyah).
VVThe great authority in Usul Imam Āmidi writes in Al-Ihkam
fi Usul al-Ahkam:
“The layman and anyone who is not capable of ijtihād, even if he
has acquired mastery of some of the disciplines (Ulum) related
to ijtihād, is obligated (yalzimuh) with following the positions of
the Mujtahid Imams and taking his juristic opinions and this is
the view of the experts from the scholars of the principles (Al-
Muhaqqiqin minnal-Usulyyin). It was the Mutazila of Baghdad who
prohibited that except if the soundness of his ijtihād becomes
clear to him.” (vol.4, p.278)
VVImam Badr al-Din al-Zarkashi states in
Al-Bahr al-Muhit,
“There has been established a consensus amongst the Muslims
that the truth is restricted to these (four) schools. This being
the case it is not permitted to act upon an opinion from other
than them. Nor is it permitted for ijtihād to occur except
within them (i.e. employing their principles (that is the tools of
interpretation).” (vol.6 p.209)
VVImam Zahid al-Kawthari, Hanafi jurist and senior juridical
advisor to the last Shaikh al-Islam of the Ottoman Empire,
wrote in an article against the growing modern trend of non-
Madhabism, entitled Al-Lā Madhabiyya Qantara al-Lā Deeniyya
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