The following Hadith reported from 'Adi Ibn Hatim is also used to refute the
arguments for Taqleed. 'Adi Ibn Hatim (ra) said that he came to the Prophet (sallalahu alaihi
wa sallam) wearing a gold cross around his neck. The Prophet (sallalahu alaihi wa sallam) said:
"O 'Adi! Throw away this idol from yourself."

Then the Prophet sallalahu alaihi wa sallam recited the verse:
"They (Jews and Christians) took their rabbis and their monks to be their lords besides Allah" (9:31)

He said:
"It was not that they worshipped these people, but rather whatever they made permissible
for them, they believed it to be permissible and whatever they forbade, they believed to be
unlawful. " (Tirmidhi)

This Hadith has no relation to the issue of following an
Imam. The People of the Book
regarded their priests and monks as lawmakers. They hold the pope as a legislator and
claim him to be infallible.

This is confirmed by the Encyclopedia Britannica:
"Thus, since the Pope holds the highest authority in beliefs and doctrines, his
authority is supreme and he himself is infallible. This status [of infallibility] is held by the
archdioceses collectively. The pope has the same power to legislate and to judge, as do
the collective archdioceses. Thus, the pope reserves the right to legislate" [127]

Those who follow the Imams and Mujtahids have never associated this kind of
authority, legislative power and infallibility to their scholars. Thus, there is absolutely no
comparison between the authority priests wielded over their parishioners and that which
Muslim scholars wield in disputed issues of Islamic law.

Notes:
[127] Encyclopedia Britannica: vol. 8, pages 222/3 (printed 1950)

» Posted by Seifeddine-M on 31st October 2010

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