Why some Muslims don't follow one of four imaam?

What is Taqlid or Ittiba ?%0D%0ATaqlid or Ittiba' is Wajib (compulsory) upon Muslims%0D%0ATaqlid or Ittiba' is W%E2jib (compulsory) upon Muslims. Yet there are many%0D%0AMuslims in the present age who have hardly heard of the words Taqlid or%0D%0AIttiba'. Others who may have heard about it, do not fully comprehend its%0D%0Ameaning. This has led to people even rejecting Taqlid - thereby rejecting a%0D%0AW%E2jib. As a general rule, man is suspicious and afraid of that which he does%0D%0Anot know. Therefore a proper understanding of the issue of Taql%EEd or Ittib%E2%0D%0Awould dispel the ignorance surrounding it, Insh%E2 Allah.%0D%0ATaqlid is a part of everyday life%0D%0ATaql%EEd or Ittib%E2 in essence, simply refers to the practice of an%0D%0Aunqualified, lay person (in a specific field of specialisation) submitting%0D%0Ato and accepting the authority of an expert in that field, without demanding%0D%0Aproof and justification for every view, opinion or verdict expressed by such%0D%0Aan expert authority. This is a natural state of human existence, practised%0D%0Aby millions of people worldwide in every facet of life. The simplest and%0D%0Amost tangible example of Taql%EEd or Ittib%E2 is that of a child learning his%0D%0Abasic alphabets at school. Every child learning his alphabets is%0D%0Aunconsciously practising Taql%EEd. A learner driver taking instructions from a%0D%0Adriving instructor is practising Taql%EEd. People going to a specialist doctor%0D%0Afor medical treatment and following his instructions is another glaring%0D%0Aexample of Taql%EEd or Ittib%E2. A lay person soliciting a legal opinion from an%0D%0Aadvocate or following the advice of a tax consultant is another common case%0D%0Aof Taql%EEd. A client at an engineering firm, asking for the engineer's advice%0D%0Aon complex engineering calculations is yet another instance of Taql%EEd or%0D%0AIttib%E2 in action. The millions of 'facts' in the myriad of sciences such as%0D%0Aastronomy, archaeology, etc. are all distinct examples of Taql%EEd or Ittib%E2%0D%0AWho ever questions the 'fact' or asks for proof that the sun is really 93%0D%0Amillion miles away from the earth! It is taken for granted that this is the%0D%0Afindings of the 'experts' in these fields and everyone simply accepts it as%0D%0Asuch. School teachers teach these to their pupils as 'gospel truth' and%0D%0Achildren learn and memorise these 'facts' with the hope of succeeding in%0D%0Atheir exams. There are countless such examples of Taql%EEd or Ittib%E2 in%0D%0Aeveryday existence. It is quite clear from the above, that Taql%EEd or Ittib%E2%0D%0Ais a natural way of life, and is not specific to Islam or Islamic Fiqh%0D%0Aalone.%0D%0ATaqlid is the easy option for ordinary people%0D%0AIn the context of Islamic Fiqh or Law, Taql%EEd or Ittib%E2 simply refers to%0D%0Aaccepting and following the verdicts of expert scholars of Islamic Fiqh in%0D%0Atheir exposition and interpretation of Islamic Law, without demanding from%0D%0Athem an in-depth explanation of the intricate processes required in arriving%0D%0Aat such a verdict, called Ijtihad. It simply means that ordinary folk do not%0D%0Ahave to do Ijtih%E2d, i.e. the intricate and complicated procedures involved%0D%0Ain deriving Islamic rulings that scholars exercise when issuing a Fatw%E2%0D%0A(legal verdict). The duty of ordinary people is to trustingly accept the%0D%0Aauthority of the learned scholars in this matter and act upon their%0D%0Averdicts.%0D%0AIn this sense, Taql%EEd is a great blessing for common people, for it is%0D%0Abeyond their capacity to understand the extremely complex and complicated%0D%0Amechanics of Ijtih%E2d. The ability to do Ijtih%E2d requires many long years of%0D%0Astudy and erudition and a great deal of exertion (Ijtih%E2d means to exert one%0D%0Aself) in acquiring a mastery of various Islamic sciences, among other%0D%0Avarying requirements.%0D%0AMisunderstandings regarding Taqlid%0D%0ARecently, misunderstandings have arisen regarding the issue of Taql%EEd. It%0D%0Ahas become a theme of major debate in many parts of the world among Muslims.%0D%0AThis debate has naturally resulted in arguments being promulgated by both%0D%0Athe protagonists and the antagonists of Taql%EEd.%0D%0AThe best way of removing such misunderstanding is to view the original%0D%0Asources of Islam - the Qur%E2n and Had%EEth and the teachings of the learned%0D%0Aelders of Islam on this subject. After a study of this subject, the correct%0D%0Ainterpretation and understanding of Taql%EEd and Ittib%E2 would emerge. This%0D%0Awould lead to a better understanding and analysis of the arguments and%0D%0Acounter-arguments of protagonists and antagonists. (Elsewhere in this issue,%0D%0Acheck the article on Taql%EEd and Ittib%E2 in the light of Qur'an and Hadith)%0D%0A%0D%0AAnd Allah Ta`ala Knows Best%0D%0A%0D%0AWas salaam%0D%0AMufti Ebrahim Desai%0D%0AFATWA DEPT.%0D%0A