ভূমিকা

Shiavault - a Vault of Shia Islamic Books A Summary of Rulings The Rules of Taqleed and Tahaarah Issue 1: It is not allowed for any Muslim to follow another in the Roots of Religion (Usool Ad-Deen). Rather, it is imperative that he knows it and has faith in it based on evidence and proof according to his own understanding and capability.

Regarding the Branches of Religion (Furoo' Ad-Deen), in other words, the rulings and practical instructions, if a person is a Jurist/Mujtahid (in other words, capable of deriving the divine rulings and obtaining them by himself) he can act according to his opinion and his derivation of rulings. If he is not a Jurist/Mujtahid, it is obligatory upon him to follow a Jurist and act according to his opinion and legal decrees.

Just as people do when they refer to informed and competent individuals in all of their affairs in which they have no competence and they follow their opinions. It is also allowed to act with precaution, in other words, that one acts in all of his affairs such that he gains certainty that he is taking care of his legal duties. Issue 2: It is conditional that the Jurist whom a person follows is a man; mature; sane; Shi'ah Ithna 'Ashari; of pure birth (in that he is not an illegitimate child).

Likewise, it is conditional (that the Jurist) be just and living (according to obligatory precaution). The just person is he who is endowed with the inner state of fearing Allah, preventing himself from committing major sins and from persisting in minor sins. Issue 3: In matters which the Jurists differ in the opinions, it is obligatory to follow the most learned.

Issue 4: There are four ways of comprehending the opinion of the Jurist and his verdicts: • First : Hearing (the verdict) from the Jurist directly or seeing his writing. • Second : Seeing his practical report which is possible to rely upon. • Third : Hearing from he whose word and report is reliable. • Fourth : Notoriety among people in manner obliging dependence and reliability in it.

Issue 5: When the Jurist whom a person is following dies, it is allowed to remain in his following (Taqleed), rather, if he was the most learned, it is obligatory (to do so). A condition being that the person already acted upon the Jurist's verdicts in (the Mujtahid's) lifetime or had taken his verdict in order to act upon them in the minimum.