Question:

What does Al-Kulaini report about imitation (Taqlid)?

Answer:

Muhammad Ibn Ya’qub Al-Kulaini writes: “Chapter 18 – Imitation (Taqlid) – 1 – A number of our companions reported from Ahmad Ibn Muhammad Ibn Khalid, who reported from Abdullah Ibn Yahya, who reported from Ibn Muskan, who reported from Abu Basir, that he asked Imam As-Sadiq (a.) about the verse: “They took their scholars and their monks to be Lords instead of God.” (9:31) He said: “By God, they did not call them to worship them, for if they had called them to do so, they would not have followed them in it, but they allowed them what was forbidden and forbade them what was allowed. Therefore they worshipped them in a way that made them unaware of it.”– 2 – Ali Ibn Ibn Muhammad reported of Sahl Ibn Ziyad, who reported from Ibrahim Ibn Muhammad Al-Hamdani, who reported from Muhammad Ibn Ubaidah that Imam Ar-Rida (a.) said to him: “O Muhammad, are you stronger in imitation (Taqlid) or those who postpone (Murji’ah)?” I said: “We imitate and they imitate.” He said: “I have not asked you for this.” But I didnt have any more comprehensive answer than the first answer, whereupon the Imam (a.) said: “Those who postpone (Murji’ah) appoint a man to whom obedience is not obligatory for them, and yet they imitate him. But you appoint a man to whom obedience is obligatory for you, and you do not imitate him. Therefore they are stronger in imitation (Taqlid) than you.” – 3 – Muhammad Ibn Isma’il reported Al-Fadl Ibn Shadhan, who reported from Hammad Ibn Isa, who reported from Rib’i Ibn Abdillah, who reported from Abu Basir, that Imam As-Sadiq (a.) mentioned the verse: “They took their scholars and their monks to be Lords instead of God.” (9:31) He said: “By God, neither did they fast for them, nor did they pray to them, but they permitted them to do what was forbidden, and forbid them to do what was permitted, after which they followed them.” [Al-Kafi, volume 1, page 42]

قال ثقة الإسلام الكليني رضي الله عنه: [ ١٨ – باب التقليد ] ١ – عدة من أصحابنا عن أحمد بن محمد بن خالد عن عبد الله بن يحيى عن ابن مسكان عن أبي بصير عن أبي عبد الله عليه السلام قال: قلت له اتخذوا أحبارهم و رهبانهم أربابا من دون الله؟ فقال: أما والله ما دعوهم إلى عبادة أنفسهم ولو دعوهم ما أجابوهم، ولكن أحلوا لهم حراما، وحرموا عليهم حلالا فعبدوهم من حيث لا يشعرون ٢ – علي بن محمد عن سهل بن زياد عن إبراهيم بن محمد الهمداني عن محمد بن عبيدة قال: قال لي أبو الحسن عليه السلام: يا محمد أنتم أشد تقليدا أم المرجئة؟ قال: قلت قلدنا وقلدوا، فقال: لم أسألك عن هذا، فلم يكن عندي جواب أكثر من الجواب الأول فقال أبو الحسن عليه السلام: إن المرجئة نصبت رجلا لم تفرض طاعته وقلدوه وأنتم نصبتم رجلا وفرضتم طاعته ثم لم تقلدوه فهم أشد منكم تقليدا ٣ – محمد بن إسماعيل عن الفضل بن شاذان عن حماد بن عيسى عن ربعي ابن عبد الله عن أبي بصير عن أبي عبد الله عليه السلام في قول الله عز وجل: اتخذوا أحبارهم ورهبانهم أربابا من دون الله فقال: والله ما صاموا لهم ولا صلوا لهم ولكن أحلوا لهم حراما وحرموا عليهم حلالا فاتبعوهم