Shiavault - a Vault of Shia Islamic Books The Faith of the Imamiyyah Shi'ah Prelude:Ijtihad and Taqlid Necessity of Seeking Knowledge We believe that since Almighty Allah has endowed us with the faculty of thinking and gifted us intellects, He has ordered us to ponder over His creation, to note with care the signs of His making, and to meditate on His wisdom and His excellently perfect planning in His signs in the horizons and in ourselves.
He has thus said (in the Holy Qur'an): سَنُرِيهِمْ آيَاتِنَا فِي الْآفَاقِ وَفِي أَنْفُسِهِمْ حَتَّىٰ يَتَبَيَّنَ لَهُمْ أَنَّهُ الْحَقُّ We shall show them Our signs on the horizons and in themselves, until it is clear to them that it is the Truth. (41/53) Almighty Allah has likewise shown His disapproval of those who blindly follow the ways of those who were before them.
Hence, He says in the Holy Qur'an: قَالُوا بَلْ نَتَّبِعُ مَا أَلْفَيْنَا عَلَيْهِ آبَاءَنَا ۗ أَوَلَوْ كَانَ آبَاؤُهُمْ لَا يَعْقِلُونَ شَيْئًا وَلَا يَهْتَدُونَ ..They say: ‘No, but we will do what we found our fathers doing.’ And, what if their fathers had no understanding of anything! (2/170) He has also shown His dislike for those who follow their personal whims and conjectures.
He, the Exalted, thus says: إِنْ يَتَّبِعُونَ إِلَّا الظَّنَّ …They follow naught but an opinion… (6/116) We believe that it is our intellect that forces us to reflect upon creation to know the Creator of the universe, as also to examine the claims and miracles of anyone who claims prophethood. Such being the case, it will no longer be acceptable to act upon the view of any person, even if that person has the gift of great knowledge or holds an esteemed position.
The Holy Qur’an has urged us to reflect upon creation, stick to science, and acquire knowledge. This urging has come to confirm the natural freedom of thought, which all sages agree upon, draw the attention to the human soul’s inclination to knowledge and thinking, and open and direct the mind towards the functions for which it was created. It is thus impossible for man to neglect the doctrinal affairs or to depend upon his mentors or any other persons concerning his beliefs.