By: Bayynat editor
Among the various questions that are sent to our website on a daily basis, whose answers are provided by a dedicated team of specialized experts and scholars, a series of questions have been compiled in order to give you answers and explanations regarding the issue of emulation.
Q: How could we know the most knowledgeable Marjaa (Religious Authority) whom we should emulate? Are there common rules on which all jurists agree?
A: The marjaa who should be emulated must be just, able to deduce the legitimate rulings, has already written many researches…etc. But, he should not be the most knowledgeable jurist since, in our opinion; there is no jurist who is most knowledgeable in reality, although as an obligatory precaution, some jurists consider that the Mujtahid should be knowledgeable. Thus, this is a problematic issue because it requires being familiar with the researches of all the existing Religious Authorities in our present time which is difficult to do. However, some base their judgment according to their subjective opinions which is by definition not scientific.
Q: Could the person who has committed sins and then turned to Allah in repentance and followed the right path be a scholar or a person who calls on people to perform good deeds?
A: Allah forgives those who repent and it is permissible for them to study religion and guide people to the proper path.
Q: What is the difference between Al-Maraja’ Ad-Dini (the religious authority) and Ayatoul Ellah El-Uzma?
A: It is commonly known to call the religious authority Ayatoul Ellah El-Uzma. Also, it is a term used to describe the person whom the believers emulate.
Q: Do all religious authorities deem it obligatory to emulate the most erudite religious authority, or do they consider it a precaution?
A: Some religious authorities rule that it is obligatory to emulate the most erudite religious authority, others consider it as a precaution, while a third party rule it as non-obligatory. In our opinion, it is non-obligatory to emulate the most erudite religious authority. We also consider that there is no real existence of the most erudite religious authority. Thus, it is enough to resort to the just Mujtahid (jurist) who has a long experience in making researches, teaching and deducing Fatwas.
Q: Is it permissible to emulate a woman?
A: There is no proof of prohibiting the act of emulating a woman, although prohibiting such emulation is considered as a precaution.
Q: Is it obligatory for the Mukallaf to follow the most erudite religious authority?
A: It is unrealistic to have a religious authority that is most erudite, since the criteria of the most erudite one are vague and it is difficult to agree on one religious authority per se. Therefore, we do not consider such condition among the capacities that the religious authority should enjoy. But to be followed, the Faqih must enjoy the significant experience in interpreting the Sharia laws.
Q: A person who emulates Your Eminence would like to adopt Tabeed in some issues, and thus resort to a living authority; while he heard that you consider such act as impermissible. What is your opinion regarding this issue?
A: We consider it impermissible to adopt Tabeed as an obligatory precaution, unless in critical situations and urgent needs. Thus, in this case one can rely on the living authority that meets the conditions.
Q: Since you do not rule it as obligatory to emulate the most erudite religious authority, is it permissible for the one who emulates Your Eminence to resort to a religious authority other than you regarding any issue even if it is not considered as a precaution?
A: We do not consider it obligatory to follow the most erudite religious authority because there is no proof for that in reality. Thus, there is no existence for a most erudite religious authority among all Faqihs. But it is obligatory precaution to emulate one authority that meet the conditions, and not to adopt Tabeed unless in critical cases and urgent needs.
Q: What does Tabeed mean in your point of view? What is your opinion regarding it?
A: It means to adopt the Fatwas of the religious authorities who meet the conditions without confining oneself to a certain one. As to us, we deem it impermissible as an obligatory precaution, unless in critical situations and urgent needs.
Q: Do you consider Tabeed as permissible in all cases?
A: Tabeed is considered impermissible as an obligatory precaution, unless in necessary cases.
Q: I am one of your followers, but I find that there is fatwa of a religious authority other than Your Eminence and this Fatwa solves my problem. Is it permissible for me to adopt Tabeed in this case?
A: It is permissible to adopt Tabeed, in necessary cases even if they are determined by traditions or Urf (convention), by resorting to a religious authority who meets the conditions while emulating a living one. And Allah knows best.
Q: Is it permissible for me to change my Taqleed and follow Your Eminence, knowing that I am emulating one of the living Religious Authorities?
A: It is permissible for you to do so, since it is permissible to change your Taqleed and follow the Taqleed of a Religious Authority whose Taqleed is right and legitimate and meets all conditions.
Q: If a person follows a dead Mujtahid (religious authority), and he would like to change his Taqleed and follow the Taqleed of your Eminence, is it permissible for him to do so?
A: It is permissible for him to change his Taqleed and follow the Taqleed of the Religious Authority, Sayyed Muhammad Hussein Fadlullah, since it is right and legitimate to emulate His Eminence, God willing.
Q: What is meant by “profaning the believer’s sanctity”?
A: To profane the believer’s sanctity means to tarnish the reputation of a believer and put him under suspicion or in a degraded condition that makes people carp at him and utter a slander about his act.