Is prioritizing the statement of an imam over the Messenger, as a form of taqlid (following a scholar without knowing his evidence), disbelief?
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The questioner : May Allah reward you. Is the fanaticism for the imams, and prioritizing their statements over the statements of the Messenger, a matter that reaches the level of disbelief?
The Shaykh : No, it does not reach that level, because most of those who are fanatical about the imams are generally common people who lack knowledge, so it does not reach the level of disbelief. You will find that he is fanatical about this imam not because he prioritizes him over the Messenger, but because he says, "The imam is more knowledgeable than you. You, it is possible that hadiths are hidden from you that were not hidden from the imam. That is mostly what they argue with." One says, "Are you more knowledgeable than Ahmad ibn Hanbal?" And what do you say? If you say, "Yes," woe to you, you are a common person. And if you say, "No," he says, "Then you have admitted that you are less knowledgeable than him, so he is more knowledgeable than you."
The questioner : Their scholars are fanatical. Their scholars are fanatical.
The Shaykh : No, the scholars are fanatical. There is no doubt that they are upon misguidance, but the issue of exiting the religion is a serious error and is not a trivial matter.
The questioner : Al-Shawkani’s statement in his tafsir regarding the saying of Allah the Exalted:[At-Tawbah 9:31].
The Shaykh : No, no, because in that there is a type of ijtihad (independent legal reasoning). Even the fanatical scholars have a type of ijtihad, such as attributing an opinion to someone. Yes.
The Shaykh : No, it does not reach that level, because most of those who are fanatical about the imams are generally common people who lack knowledge, so it does not reach the level of disbelief. You will find that he is fanatical about this imam not because he prioritizes him over the Messenger, but because he says, "The imam is more knowledgeable than you. You, it is possible that hadiths are hidden from you that were not hidden from the imam. That is mostly what they argue with." One says, "Are you more knowledgeable than Ahmad ibn Hanbal?" And what do you say? If you say, "Yes," woe to you, you are a common person. And if you say, "No," he says, "Then you have admitted that you are less knowledgeable than him, so he is more knowledgeable than you."
The questioner : Their scholars are fanatical. Their scholars are fanatical.
The Shaykh : No, the scholars are fanatical. There is no doubt that they are upon misguidance, but the issue of exiting the religion is a serious error and is not a trivial matter.
The questioner : Al-Shawkani’s statement in his tafsir regarding the saying of Allah the Exalted:
They have taken their scholars and monks as lords
اتخذوا أحبارهم ورهبانهم أرباباThe Shaykh : No, no, because in that there is a type of ijtihad (independent legal reasoning). Even the fanatical scholars have a type of ijtihad, such as attributing an opinion to someone. Yes.