Imitative Belief (Taqlid) & Ostentation (Riya)

Imitative Belief (Taqlid)

  • Definition: Imitating people without proper knowledge or understanding.

  • Prohibition: It's impermissible to follow someone solely based on fame, celebrity, or propaganda without verifying their credibility as an Islamic scholar.

  • Understanding Existence of Allah: Imitation is unnecessary to understand Allah's existence, Oneness, Power, and Attributes. Intellectual contemplation is sufficient.

  • Ijtihad

    • Definition: Understanding vaguely defined information and reaching conclusions about circumstances not explicitly covered in the Qur'an or Hadith (Nass).
    • Nass: Refers to verses of the Qur'an and Hadith.
    • Mujtahid: A scholar qualified to perform Ijtihad.
    • Cessation of Mujtahids: No Mujtahid has arisen since 400 years after the Hijrah (Prophet Muhammad's migration from Mecca to Medina).
    • Completeness of Islamic Teachings: Allah and Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) explained all rules applicable to all lifestyles and future scientific/technical changes.
    • Role of Mujtahids: They understood and explained these teachings.
    • Mujaddids (Restorers): Later scholars who applied teachings to new circumstances and documented them in Tafsir (exegesis of the Qur'an) and Fiqh (Islamic jurisprudence). They will exist until the end of the world.

  • Opposition to Modifying Religion: Introducing new elements to "Nass" is considered an act against Islam.

  • Invalid Claims: Assertions like, “Scientific media have changed. We are facing new events. Religious men should gather and write new interpretations. New ijtihads should be performed” are considered the words of enemies of Islam (zindiqs).

  • Post-4th Century Scholars: Following scholars or Madhhabs beyond the four established ones after the fourth century of the Islamic calendar is not permissible.

  • Learning Islamic Knowledge: Should be in accordance with one of the four well-known Madhhabs from scholars before the fourth century, using Fiqh books unanimously advised by scholars.

  • Caution Against Unauthorized Sources: Avoid learning religious knowledge from books or speeches of those not authorized by true Islamic scholars.

  • Hadith Books: While important, they are not an easy source for teachings about worship acts ('ahkâm', teachings based on halâls and harâms).

    • Dependable Hadith Books: Sahîh al-Bukhârî, Sahîh al-Muslim, and the other four books of Hadith (Kutubal-Sitta).

  • Following the Sunnah: Adapt to the Sunnah (way guided by Prophet Muhammad PBUH and his Sahaba, conveyed by the Tâbi’în and the ijmâ’ (consensus) of Islamic scholars) in belief, worship, daily life, and business. Learn from their books.

  • Deviation from Salvation: Many Muslims have deviated from this path due to desires, and reason, or scientific teachings.

Ostentation (Riya)

  • Definition: Presenting something opposite to its true nature; pretension.

  • Meaning: Performing deeds for worldly gains while appearing pious and desiring the next world (âkhirat), using religion to obtain worldly riches or seeking favor by showing off worship.

  • Hypocrite (Munafiq): A person with religious knowledge whose actions and words intend hypocrisy.

  • Religious Fanatic: A person without religious knowledge whose actions and words intend hypocrisy.

  • Sham Scientist (Zindiq): An enemy of Islam who lacks scientific knowledge but pretends to have it to deceive Muslims and undermine their beliefs.

  • Hypocrisy permissible: Only in cases of ikrâh (duress) which is mulji’ (coercive, compulsory).

    • Ikrâh: Forcing someone to do something against their will. Ikrâh mulji’ involves threats of death or mutilation.

  • Coercion:

    • In cases of threat to kill or mutilate a part of the body
    • Light Coercion such as threats of jailing or beating does not make hypocrisy permissible

  • Ikhlâs: The opposite of hypocrisy; performing acts of worship solely to please Allah without worldly considerations.

  • Sincerity: A person with ikhlâs never intends to show off worship; if others see them, it does not detract from their ikhlâs.

  • Hadith: "Worship Allah as if you were seeing Him! Though you don’t see Him, He sees you!"

  • Degrees of Hypocrisy: Hypocrisy through worship is worse than general hypocrisy. Hypocrisy done without thinking of Allah's consent is the worst.

  • Actions Not Considered Hypocrisy:

    • Performing worships to ask assistance from Allah for worldly affairs (e.g., prayer for rain, istikhara prayers).
    • Getting paid as a religious leader (Imam), preacher, teacher, or for reciting Qur'an to alleviate worldly troubles.
    • Going on a pilgrimage (hajj) for commercial purposes.
    • If the intention of worship outweighs other intentions then one will also be rewarded for them.
    • Showing worships to encourage others or to teach them.
    • Fasting during Ramadan.
    • Starting namaz for Allah, then later becoming hypocritical.

  • Obligatory Prayers with Hypocrisy: Still acceptable (sahîh) and duty fulfilled, but no reward (thawâb) is earned.

  • Slaughtering Animals: It is not permissible (jâiz) to slaughter an animal solely for meat or with the intention for both Allah and a man.

  • Hadith Statements on Hypocrisy:

    • Performing salat prayers beautifully among others to boast, but not praying the same way alone, is insulting Allah.
    • Small shirk (shirk al-asgari) is hypocrisy (riyâ).
    • Those who pray with hypocrisy will be told on the Day of Gathering (Qiyâmat) that they will receive no reward and to seek reward from those they prayed for in the world.
    • Allah does not have partners and accepts prayers done with sincerity.

  • Worship with sincerity:

    • We are commanded to perform our worships only for the sake of Allâhu ta’âlâ.
    • Allâhu ta’âlâ will be pleased with anyone who believes in the oneness of Allâhu ta’âlâ and who performs his ‘salât’ and obligatory almsgiving ‘zakât’ with sincerity.
    • Rasûlullah ‘sall-Allâhu ’alaihi wa sal-lam’ said to Muâz bin Jabal before he sent him to Yemen as a governor: “Perform your prayers with sincerity. Any worship which is done with sincerity, ’, even if it is not much in quantity, would be sufficient for you on the Day of Gathering ‘Qiyâmat”.
    • Congratulations to those who perform their worships with sincerity!
    • Only those things that are done for the sake of Allâhu ta’âlâ are valuable.
    • Allâhu ta’âlâ is sufficient for human beings.