They also follow the prohibited things...

They also follow the prohibited things, false beliefs and bad ethics under the attractive titles, without understanding them. Although the evil of this type of following is clearly evident. Regarding this type of Taqlid, it is said: They say: We found our fathers on a course, and surely we are guided by their footsteps (1). The Qur’an has severely refuted this logic and denounced those people.

(2) A learned following an ignorant person It is clear that this type of Taqlid is worse than the first and it is more dangerous because it is expected from a learned person that he should act according to his knowledge in order to carry out his responsibilities. The worst kind of Taqlid is that a learned person doesn’t use his knowledge and follows others blindly.

(3) A Learned following another Learned person One learned person who is well versed in one field and has authority over it should not do the Taqlid of another who also has the same level of knowledge, but he should act according to his knowledge, that is why the Jurisprudents say that when a person reaches the stage of ijtihad, he should then practice according to it. That is the reason why it is generally mentioned on the certificate of Ijtihad: Taqlid is Haraam for him.

And it is necessary that he should practice according to his knowledge, although there is no problem if he exchanges his views on religious matters with other scholars. The aim is that a learned should make a rule and then protect it and should not accept the principles of others without study. (4) An ignorant person following a learned person This type of Taqlid is accepted by the intellect and nature of man and this type of Taqlid is demanded by them.

This is as logical as constructing a building, we require a mason and for stitching clothes, we require a tailor and when we are ill, we go to a doctor. In short, intellect and nature direct us towards the person who is an expert in his field. This is the same logic, which directs the people toward jurisprudents for religious instructions and spiritual laws, who are experts in understanding the commands of Allah.

Those jurisprudents that with their special talent and knowledge have worked hard for years, and reached the high level of Ijtihad. It means they have the ability to derive the original matter of the spiritual commands and convey it to ordinary people.