What is Taqleed?

In the Shia Imamiyah school, Tagleed relates to the following of ‘mujtahid’ by a ‘non mujtahid’ in Islamic rulings and matters relating to ‘Furu-e-Deen’. A Mujtahid is an expert in Islamic jurisprudence (Fiqh) who has been verified as having the ability to derive laws and rulings from the two sources of Islam; the Quran and the Sunnah of Ahlulbait (a.s.). A non – mujtahid is then obviously someone who does not have this ability. Ijtihad is a completely scientific procesSayyidIt has its science and only the most erudite of scholars are able to achieve this statuSayyidIf a Muslim who himself is not a Mujtahid because he was not able to acquire sufficient Islamic knowledge, then he follows a Mujtahid upon whom he has full confidence.

In other words, in all religious matters he follows the judgement of that Mujtahid. This is only reasonable that in every day activity and in every profession there are specialists, and people approach them to satisfy their needSayyidFor the purpose of an operation one would not approach an architect or a businessman but a doctor who has specialized in such operationSayyidSimilarly in matters of religion one approaches an expert opinion and a correct guidance for his spiritual and religious issues.