Overview of common viewpoints regarding the following a marja' al-taqlid among contemporary Twelver Shi'is. Used in a workshop in 2015. May be of use to some of you.
Practical Research 1 Lesson 9 Scope and delimitation.pptx
The rationale of taqlid and the marja‘iyyah
1. The Rationale of Taqlid and
the Marja‘iyyah
Camp UK, 2015
Workshop leader: Amina Inloes
2. Key terms: What is…
A marja` (or marja` al-taqlid)?
A religious scholar who derives religious
rulings, is considered among the most
knowledgeable scholars alive, and who is
followed by others.
Taqlid?
Following the religious rulings and
guidance of a marja`
A mujtahid?
A religious scholar who is learned enough to
derive religious rulings for himself/herself
but who is not necessarily followed by
others.
Quiz: Marja`, taqlid, or
mujtahid?
A marja` (or marja` al-taqlid)?
A mujtahid?
Taqlid?
3. Basic rules for following a marja`?
What do you follow a marja` in?
• Religious laws/practices (furu`) – yes
• Beliefs (usul) - no
How do you choose a marja`?
• Follow the most knowledgable
• (Known to you, or to others who have
knowledge)
Can you follow a deceased marja`?
• No
• Unless you followed them while they
were alive, in which case you can
continue to follow them and consult
someone else on new issues
What are 2 options to following a
marja`?
• Ihtiyat (precaution)
• Becoming a mujtahid
How do you choose a marja`? What are 2 options to following a marja`?
Can you follow a deceased marja`? What do you follow a marja` in?
4. Beliefs versus practices
Why do you believe in God? Divine
justice? The prophets? The Imams?
The next life?
How do you know how to say salat?
When to fast? What you are allowed to
buy and sell? Whom you can marry?
5. Rationale: Qur’an
• “ Nor should the believers all go forth together: if a group of every expedition
remained behind, they could devote themselves to studies in religion, and
warn their people when they return to them, so they may be cautious.” (9:122)
ُك ْنِم َرَفَن ََل ْوَلَف ۚ ًةَّفاَك واُرِفْنَيِل َونُنِمْؤُمْال َانَك اَم َويِف واُهَّقَفَتَيِل ٌةَفِئاَط ْمُهْنِم ٍةَق ْرِف ِلااَذِإ ْمُهَم ْوَق واُرِذْنُيِل َو ِينِلد
َونُرَذْحَي ْمُهَّلَعَل ْمِهْيَلِإ واُعَجَر
• “So ask those who have [knowledge of] the religion] if you do not know.”
(21:7)
َونُمَلْعَت ََل ْمُتْنُك ْنِإ ِرْكِالذ َلْهَأ واُلَأْساَف
6. Bad following in the Qur’an
• When it is said to them, “Follow what Allah has sent down”, they say
“Rather we will follow what we found our forefathers
practicing. Wasn't it the case that their ancestors didn't understand
a thing and were void of guidance?
• Indeed, the vilest of living animals, in God's sight, are the deaf, the
dumb and those that do not use their intellect.”
• And if you obey most of those on the earth, they will mislead you
from the way of God. They follow but conjecture and they only
guess.
• Behold, they will dispute with each other in the Fire! The weak ones
will say to those who had been arrogant, “We but followed you. Can
you then take from us some share of the Fire?”
Is this the
same as
following a
marja`? Why or
why not?
7. Rationale: Hadith
• “If there is anyone among the fuqaha who is in control over his own self, protects his
religion, suppresses his evil desires and is obedient to the commands of his Master, then the
people should follow him” - narrated from Imam al-‘Askari (A)
دوهيقل أن فللعوام موَله ألمر ًامطيع لهواه ًامخالف لدينه ًاحافظ لنفسه ًاصائن الفقهاء من كان من اَّمفأبعض إَل يكون َل وذلك ،
همكل َل الشيعة فقهاء( .الشيعة وسائل)
• When Umar Ibn Hanzalah asked al-Sadiq (S) whom the Shia should refer to when they
dispute, he replied: “ They must seek out one of you who narrates our traditions, who is
versed in what is permissible and what is forbidden, who is well-acquainted with our laws
and ordinances, and accept him as judge and arbiter, for I appoint him as judge over you.”
جع قد فإني حكما به فلترضوا أحكامنا عرف و حرامنا و حاللنا في نظر و حديثنا روى قد منكم رجل إلى انظرواعليكم لته
على هو و هللا على راد علينا الراد و رد علينا و استخف هللا بحكم فإنما منه يقبل فلم بحكمنا حكم فإذا حاكماباهلل الشرك حد
جل و عز.
• “As far as newly occurring circumstances are concerned, you should turn (for guidance) to
the narrators of our hadiths, for they are my proof over you just as I am Allah's proof over
them.” – Narrated from Imam al-Zaman (A) at the beginning of the ghaybah sughra.
عليهم هللا حجة انا و عليكم حجتي فانهم حديثنا رواة الى فيها فارجعوا الواقعة الحوادث اما...
• System of representatives of the Imams (A)
9. Discussion questions
•What else does a marja` do besides derive fatwas?
•What benefits does the system of marja`iyyah offer?
•What challenges have the maraji‘ faced in the 20th
century?
•What can we do to try to solve some of the challenges
here?
10. Face-off!
Choose one or more of these real-life questions to debate.
Remember the rules for debate!
• Do we need a marja` in the West? Why or why not?
• Should the marja`s be forced to agree that one day is Eid? How would this be
done?
• You are part of a think tank which wants to develop an alternative to the
marja`iyyah – what system do you choose?
• You administer an Islamic chat board. A marja` issues a view that disagrees
with your view of what is Islamic, and some people start writing
inflammatory internet posts about them and curse them. Should you allow
this?
• How involved in politics should a marja` be? Should a marja` run the
11. Documentary
Taqleed: Following a Scholar
Facts:
• Take note of new points. Did you learn anything new about the
marja`iyyah?
• What rationale for the marja`iyyah do they present?
Critical thinking activity:
• What is the subtext of the video? That is, what messages about the nature of
the marja`iyyah or Islamic scholarship is it intentionally or unintentionally
communicating?
• If you were to make a sequel, are there other issues about the marja`iyyah
that you would include?
Notes de l'éditeur
Add audio
For level-appropriate group with background knowledge of and interest in the subject.