A: The word 'mujtahid' literally means the one who strives.

A: The word 'mujtahid' literally means the one who strives. In Shi'a terminology it means an 'alim who having acquired all necessary disciplines of Arabic language, Islamic history, tafsir of the Qur'an, traditions of the 14 ma'sums, and other related branches of Islamic knowledge, strives hard to derive the rules of shari'ah from its approved sources. Usually there are hundreds of mujtahids at a given time.

But we do taqleed of only that mujtahid who we believe is "most knowledgeable" of all others. In our terminology, "most knowledgeable" is the one who has got the top-most expertise in deriving the rules of shari'ah from its approved sources. You must have now understood that every mujtahid is an 'alim but not every 'alim is a mujtahid. Even if you bring to me any religions problem, I will write to you the ruling of Ayatullah Sayyid 'Ali as-Seestani of Najaf (Iraq), whose taqleed I am doing. Q.

26: WHY DIFFERENCES BETWEEN MUJTAHIDS? We see great differences between the rulings of Ayatullah al-Khou'i and Ayatullah Gulpayagani on the subjects of Friday prayer and moon-sighting. My Shi 'a belief has taught me that "Awwaluna Muhammad wa akhiruna Muhammad, wa awsatuna Muhammad, wa kulluna Muhammad" --- This legacy has been intact with all our twelve Imams. After Imam Mehdi's ghaibat, there are naib-e-Imams.

And it shows that the legacy mentioned here has been cracking as each naib gives a different view on the above matters. Furthemore, in accordance to some verses of the Qur'an, the taqlid we staunchly believe is invalid. Hence to do taqlid is hot according to Islam. A: Here you have made the mistake of equalizing ghayr-ma'sum mujtahids to the ma'sum Imams. The tradition you have quoted is for the 14 ma'sums only.

As for Ijtihad and Taqlid, you should read the replies to questions 18 arid 19 in Your Questions Answered, vol .6 (pp. 24-30) which will dispel your misgivings. As for the differences among mujtahids' rulings, read below:;- The institution of Ijtihad is based on the direction given by the 6th Imam (a.s.) when he said: "On us [i.e. the Prophet and the Imams] is to give you the roots, for you is to develop branches." This continued for more than a century until the minor occupation began in 260 AH.

From 260 to 329. the Imam (a.s) appointed four "special deputies" one after another to serve as a link between the Imam (as.) and the believers.