.
.Muqallid   مقَلَّدَ  Folger, Nachahmer, der dem Verständnis eines Mudschtahids folgt ohne dass er es unbedingt selbst verstehen muss.

 

 
   

Der Muslim, der auf Grund seiner Unwissenheit verpflichtet ist den Wissenden zu folgen (heute alle) ohne selbst unbedingt verstehen zu müssen. Wer einer der rechtsschulen folgt, der wird Muqallid genannt, denn er praktiziert Taqliid. In der Praxis folgt der Muqallid also einem Madhhab (Rehtsschule). Fast alle Muslime sollten sich daher als Muqalliduun (Pl.von Muqallid) verpflichtet fühlen, doch bilden sich immer mehr ein, das sie doch nicht "blind folgen" könnten, sondern vielmehr selbst fähig sind zu entscheiden was richtig und was falsch ist, ohne jedoch die Voraussetzungen für solche Entscheidungen (Idschtihad) zu erfüllen. Sie sagen, wir folgen nur dem Qur'aan und der Sunnah und doch keiner Rechtschule (dass sei eine Bidah) und bemerken nicht, dass sie ohne Hilfe einer Rechtschule gar nicht in der Lage sind, Allah - Preis sein Ihm - und Seinem Gesandten - der Friede und Segen Allahs seien auf ihm - zu folgen, denn allein das authentische Empfinden der arabischen Sprache aus der Zeit von Rasulullah ist selbst nach langem Studium nicht mehr möglich und das ist nur ein Beispiel für eine Reihe andere Voraussetzungen zur Befähigung zu grundlegendem Idschtihad.

 

 

Difference between Mujtahid & Muqallid

Everyone can claim to form an opinion immaterial whether it is correct or not. But that person whose opinion is acceptable and relied upon in Shariat is known as a mujtahid (one who practices ijtihaad) and a mustambit (One who has the ability to derive masaa'II [efforts, endeavours, attempts?] from the Nusoos)?
One whose opinion is not acceptable and relied upon in Shariat is known as a muqallid (one who accepts the interpretation of a mujtahid in these masaa'II). In both these type of masaa'II (the third and fourth) it is necessary for a mujtahid to practice ijtihaad and for a muqallids to make taqleed.

 

If a mujtahid has to err then too he will be rewarded. If his ijtihaad is correct then he will get double the reward as stated in Bukhari Shareef. Vol. 2 Page 1092.

 

Why should Taqleed be made of one of the four Imams only ?

One question arises here that there were many Mujiahids among the Sahaaba (one who saw RasulluIIah (SallAllahu Alayhi Wasallam) with Imaan and then died with Imaan, Tabeien (one who saw a Sahaabi in the state of Imaan and then died with Imaan) and Tabé Tabeien (one who saw a Tabeie with lmaan and died with lmaan) then why should we make Taqleed of one of the four Imams only namely:

Imam Abu Hanifa (rahmatullah alay) (born 80- AH)

Imam Malik (rahmatullah Alayhi) (born 95-AH)

Imam Shafi(rahmatullah alayhi)(Born 150 AH.)

And Imam Ahmed bin Hambal (rahmatullah alay) (born 164 AH.)

 

What is wrong if we make Taqleed of one of the Sahaaba (Radiallahu anhum) as many virtues of the Sahaaba (RadiAllahu Anhum) have been related in the Ahaadith.

 

The reply to this question is that the Sahaaba (RadiAllahu Anhum) ore definitely far more superior to the four Imams. Taqleed is made of the four Imams, not because they are superior to the Sahaaba (RadiAllahu Anhum) but because it is necessary for us to have knowledge of those masaa'II in which Taqleed is made. And today the detail with which the masaa'II of the matha'hib of the four Imams has been formulated in a regulated and compiled form, the math'hab of any Sahaabi, Tabeie or Tabé Tabeie Is not found. Masaa'II from Kitabut Tahaarat till Kltaabul Faraaiz (laws of inheritance) have been collected in the matha'hib of the four Imams covering all the aspects of life in principle and in detail whether it be beliefs, Ibaadaat, dealings or community life.

 

In short every mas'ala regarding all the aspects of life has been registered. Answers to all questions could be obtained either in a specific form or in a deduced form based on principles, thereby obligating the need to refer to an external source. This, all-embracing quality by an act of Allah Ta'ala is found existing in only the four Matha'hib.

 

How can we then leave making Taqleed of one of the four Imams and make taqleed of someone else?

 

Allah Ta'ala had given in detail the knowledge of the Quraan-e-Kareem and Ahaadith to the four Imams. They were also given the necessary qualifications and ability to make ijtihaad.

 

They had knowledge of all the Ahaadith of Rasulullah (sallAllahu Alayhi Wasallam) that spread throughout the world through the Sahaaba Kiraam.

 

It is possible that one Imam may not have knowledge of a certain Hadiith and another Imam has knowledge of it, but it is not possible that none of the four Imams had knowledge of a particular Hadiith. Shah Waliullah Muhaddith Dehalwi (rahmatullah alay) writes on page six in his commentary on Muwaata Imaam Malik: “The four Imams are such that their knowledge has encompassed the whole world. And they are Imam Abu Hanifa (rahmatullah alay), Imam Malik (rahmatullah alay), Imam Shafi (rahmatullah alay), and Imam Ahmed bin Hambal (rahmatullah alay)

http://members.tripod.com/alislaah4/taqleed/id20.htm