Surah An-Nahl • Ayah 43

Only Human Messengers have been SentAd-Dahhak said, reporting from Ibn `Abbas: "When Allah sent Muhammad as a Messenger, the Arabs, or some of them, denied him and said, `Allah is too great to send a human being as a Messenger.' Then Allah revealed:أَكَانَ لِلنَّاسِ عَجَبًا أَنْ أَوْحَيْنَآ إِلَى رَجُلٍ مِّنْهُمْ أَنْ أَنذِرِ النَّاسَ(Is it a wonder to people that We have sent Our Inspiration to a man from among themselves (saying): "Warn mankind...") and He said,وَمَآ أَرْسَلْنَا مِن قَبْلِكَ إِلاَّ رِجَالاً نُّوحِى إِلَيْهِمْ فَاسْأَلُواْ أَهْلَ الذِّكْرِ إِن كُنْتُم لاَ تَعْلَمُونَ(And We sent not (as Our Messengers) before you (O Muhammad) any but men, whom We sent Revelation. So ask Ahl Adh-Dhikr, if you know not.). meaning, (ask) the people of the previous Books, were the Messengers that were sent to them humans or angels If they were angels, then you have the right to find this strange, but if they were human, then you have no grounds to deny that Muhammad ﷺ is a Messenger. Allah says:وَمَآ أَرْسَلْنَا مِن قَبْلِكَ إِلاَّ رِجَالاً نُّوحِى إِلَيْهِمْ مِّنْ أَهْلِ الْقُرَى(And We sent not before you (as Messengers) any but men to whom We revealed, from among the people of townships. ) 12:109 and not from among the people of heaven as you say." It was reported by Mujahid from Ibn `Abbas that what is meant by Ahl Adh-Dhikr is the People of the Book. This is as Allah says:أَوْ يَكُونَ لَكَ بَيْتٌ مِّن زُخْرُفٍ أَوْ تَرْقَى فِى السَّمَآءِ وَلَن نُّؤْمِنَ لِرُقِيِّكَ حَتَّى تُنَزِّلَ عَلَيْنَا كِتَابًا نَّقْرَءُهُ قُلْ سُبْحَـنَ رَبِّى هَلْ كُنتُ إَلاَّ بَشَرًا رَّسُولاً - وَمَا مَنَعَ النَّاسَ أَن يُؤْمِنُواْ إِذْ جَآءَهُمُ الْهُدَى إِلاَّ أَن قَالُواْ أَبَعَثَ اللَّهُ بَشَرًا رَّسُولاً(Say: "Glorified be my Lord! Am I anything but a man, sent as a Messenger" And nothing prevented men from believing when the guidance came to them, except that they said: "Has Allah sent a man as (His) Messenger") (17:93-94)وَمَآ أَرْسَلْنَا قَبْلَكَ مِنَ الْمُرْسَلِينَ إِلاَّ إِنَّهُمْ لَيَأْكُلُونَ الطَّعَامَ وَيَمْشُونَ فِى الاٌّسْوَاقِ(And We never sent before you (O Muhammad) any of the Messengers but verily, they ate food and walked in the markets.) (25:20)وَمَا جَعَلْنَـهُمْ جَسَداً لاَّ يَأْكُلُونَ الطَّعَامَ وَمَا كَانُواْ خَـلِدِينَ(And We did not create them (the Messengers, with) bodies that did not eat food, nor were they immortals.)(21:8)قُلْ مَا كُنتُ بِدْعاً مِّنَ الرُّسُلِ(Say (O Muhammad ): "I am not a new thing among the Messengers. ") 46:9,قُلْ إِنَّمَآ أَنَاْ بَشَرٌ مِّثْلُكُمْ يُوحَى إِلَىَّ(Say (O Muhammad): "I am only a man like you. It has been revealed to me.") 18:110 Then Allah informs those who doubt that a Messenger can be a human to ask those who have knowledge of the previous Scriptures about the Prophets who came before: were their Prophets humans or angels Then Allah mentions that He has sent them,بِالْبَيِّنَـتِ(with clear signs), meaning proof and evidence, andوَالزُّبُرِ(and Books Zubur), meaning Scriptures. Ibn `Abbas, Mujahid, Ad-Dahhak and others said: Zubur is the plural of Zabur, and the Arabs say, Zaburtul-Kitab meaning, "I wrote the book." Allah says:وَكُلُّ شَىْءٍ فَعَلُوهُ فِى الزُّبُرِ(And everything they have done is noted in (their) Records (of deeds) Zubur) (54:52)وَلَقَدْ كَتَبْنَا فِى الزَّبُورِ مِن بَعْدِ الذِّكْرِ أَنَّ الاٌّرْضَ يَرِثُهَا عِبَادِىَ الصَّـلِحُونَ(And indeed We have written in Az-Zabur after the Dhikr that My righteous servant shall inherit the land (i.e. the land of Paradise).) (21:105) Then Allah says:وَأَنزَلْنَا إِلَيْكَ الذِّكْرَ(And We have also revealed the Dhikr to you), meaning the Qur'an,لِتُبَيِّنَ لِلنَّاسِ مَا نُزِّلَ إِلَيْهِمْ(so that you may clearly explain to men what was revealed to them,) meaning, sent down from their Lord, because you know the meaning of what Allah has revealed to you, and because of your understanding and adherence to it, and because We know that you are the best of creation and the leader of the Children of Adam. So that you may explain in detail what has been mentioned in brief, and explain what is not clear.وَلَعَلَّهُمْ يَتَفَكَّرُونَ(so that perhaps they may reflect.) meaning, they should examine themselves and be guided by it, so that they may attain the victory of salvation in this world and the next.

انسان اور منصب رسالت پر اختلاف ٭٭سیدنا ابن عباس رضی اللہ عنہما فرماتے ہیں کہ ”جب اللہ تعالیٰ نے محمد رسول اللہ صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم کو رسول بنا کر بھیجا تو عرب نے صاف انکار کر دیا اور کہا کہ اللہ کی شان اس سے بہت اعلیٰ اور بالا ہے کہ وہ کسی انسان کو اپنا رسول بنائے جس کا ذکر قرآن میں بھی ہے۔‏“ فرماتا ہے آیت «أَكَانَ لِلنَّاسِ عَجَبًا أَنْ أَوْحَيْنَا إِلَىٰ رَجُلٍ مِّنْهُمْ» [10-یونس:2] ‏ الخ، ” کیا لوگوں کو اس بات پر تعجب معلوم ہوا کہ ہم نے کسی انسان کی طرف اپنی وحی نازل فرمائی کہ وہ لوگوں کو آ گاہ کر دے “۔ اور فرمایا ” ہم نے تجھ سے پہلے بھی جتنے رسول بھیجے سبھی انسان تھے جن پر ہماری وحی آتی تھی۔ تم پہلی آسمانی کتاب والوں سے پوچھ لو کہ وہ انسان تھے یا فرشتے؟ اگر وہ بھی انسان ہوں تو پھر اپنے اس قول سے باز آؤ ہاں اگر ثابت ہو کہ سلسلہ نبوت فرشتوں میں ہی رہا تو بیشک اس نبی کا انکار کرتے ہوئے تم اچھے لگو گے “۔ اور آیت میں «مِنْ أَهْلِ الْقُرَىٰ» [12-يوسف:109] ‏ کا لفظ بھی فرمایا یعنی ” وہ رسول بھی زمین کے باشندے تھے، آ سمان کی مخلوق نہ تھے “۔صفحہ نمبر4453سیدنا ابن عباس رضی اللہ عنہما فرماتے ہیں ”مراد اہل ذکر سے اہل کتاب ہیں۔‏“ مجاہد رحمتہ اللہ علیہ اور اعمش رحمتہ اللہ علیہ کا قول بھی یہی ہے۔ عبدالرحمٰن رحمتہ اللہ علیہ فرماتے ہیں ”ذکر سے مراد قرآن ہے۔‏“ جیسے آیت «اِنَّا نَحْنُ نَزَّلْنَا الذِّكْرَ وَاِنَّا لَهٗ لَحٰفِظُوْنَ» [15-الحجر:9] ‏ میں ہے یہ قول بجائے خود ٹھیک ہے لیکن اس آیت میں ذکر سے مراد قرآن لینا درست نہیں کیونکہ قرآن کے تو وہ لوگ منکر تھے۔ پھر قرآن والوں سے پوچھ کر ان کی تشفی کیسے ہو سکتی تھی؟ اسی طرح ابو جعفر باقر رحمۃ اللہ تعالیٰ عنہ سے مروی ہے کہ ”ہم اہل ذکر ہیں“ یعنی یہ امت یہ قول بھی اپنی جگہ ہے۔ درست ہے فی الواقع یہ امت تمام اگلی امتوں سے زیادہ علم والی ہے اور اہل بیت کے علماء اور علماء سے بدر جہا بڑھ کر ہیں۔ جب کہ وہ سنت مستقیمہ پر ثابت قدم ہوں۔ جیسے علی، ابن عباس، حسن، حسین، رضی اللہ عنہم محمد بن حنفیہ، علی بن حسین، زین العابدین، علی بن عبداللہ بن عباس، ابو جعفر باقر، محمد بن علی بن حسین اور ان کے صاحبزادے جعفر رحمہ اللہ اور ان جیسے اور بزرگ حضرات رحمہ اللہ علیہم۔ اللہ کی رحمت و رضا انہیں حاصل ہو۔ جو کہ اللہ کی رسی کو مضبوط تھامے ہوئے اور صراط مستقیم پر قدم جمائے ہوئے اور ہر حقدار کے حق بجا لانے والے اور ہر ایک کو اس کی سچی جگہ اتارنے والے، ہر ایک کی قدر و عزت کرنے والے تھے اور خود وہ اللہ کے تمام نیک بندوں کے دلوں میں اپنی مقبولیت رکھتے ہیں۔ یہ بیشک صحیح تو ہے لیکن اس آیت میں یہ مراد نہیں۔ یہاں بیان ہو رہا ہے کہ ” آپ صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم بھی انسان ہیں اور آپ صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم سے پہلے بھی انبیاء بنی آدم میں سے ہوتے رہے “۔ جیسے فرمان ہے آیت «أَوْ يَكُونَ لَكَ بَيْتٌ مِّن زُخْرُفٍ أَوْ تَرْقَىٰ فِي السَّمَاءِ وَلَن نُّؤْمِنَ لِرُقِيِّكَ حَتَّىٰ تُنَزِّلَ عَلَيْنَا كِتَابًا نَّقْرَؤُهُ قُلْ سُبْحَانَ رَبِّي هَلْ كُنتُ إِلَّا بَشَرًا رَّسُولًا وَمَا مَنَعَ النَّاسَ أَن يُؤْمِنُوا إِذْ جَاءَهُمُ الْهُدَىٰ إِلَّا أَن قَالُوا أَبَعَثَ اللَّـهُ بَشَرًا رَّسُولًا» [17-الإسراء:94-93] ‏ الخ ” کہہ دے کہ میرا رب پاک ہے میں صرف ایک انسان ہوں جو اللہ کا رسول ہوں۔ لوگ محض یہ بہانہ کر کے رسولوں کا انکار کر بیٹھے کہ کیسے ممکن ہے کہ اللہ تعالیٰ کسی انسان کو اپنی رسالت دے “۔ اور آیت میں ہے «وَمَا أَرْسَلْنَا قَبْلَكَ مِنَ الْمُرْسَلِينَ إِلَّا إِنَّهُمْ لَيَأْكُلُونَ الطَّعَامَ وَيَمْشُونَ فِي الْأَسْوَاقِ» [25-الفرقان:20] ‏ ” تجھ سے پہلے جتنے رسول ہم نے بھیجے سبھی کھانے پینے اور بازاروں میں چلنے پھرنے والے تھے “۔ اور آیت میں ہے «وَمَا جَعَلْنَاهُمْ جَسَدًا لَّا يَأْكُلُونَ الطَّعَامَ وَمَا كَانُوا خَالِدِينَ» [21-الأنبياء:8] ‏ ” ہم نے ان کے جسم ایسے نہیں بنائے تھے کہ وہ کھانے پینے سے بے نیاز ہوں یا یہ کہ مرنے والے ہی نہ ہوں “۔ اور جگہ ارشاد ہے آیت «قُلْ مَا كُنْتُ بِدْعًا مِّنَ الرُّسُلِ وَمَآ اَدْرِيْ مَا يُفْعَلُ بِيْ وَلَا بِكُمْ» [46-الأحقاف:9] ‏ ” میں کوئی شروع کا اور پہلا اور نیا رسول تو نہیں؟ “صفحہ نمبر4454ایک اور آیت میں ہے «قُلْ إِنَّمَا أَنَا بَشَرٌ مِّثْلُكُمْ يُوحَىٰ إِلَيَّ أَنَّمَا إِلَـٰهُكُمْ إِلَـٰهٌ وَاحِدٌ» [18-الکھف:110] ‏ ” میں تم جیسا انسان ہوں میری جانب وحی اتاری جاتی ہے “ الخ۔ پس یہاں بھی ارشاد ہوا کہ ” پہلی کتابوں والوں سے پوچھ لو کہ نبی انسان ہوتے تھے یا غیر انسان؟ “ پھر یہاں فرماتا ہے کہ ” رسول کو وہ دلیلیں دے کر حجتیں عطا فرما کر بھیجتا ہے کتابیں ان پر نازل فرماتا ہے صحیفے انہیں عطا فرماتا ہے “۔ «زُّبُرِ» سے مراد کتابیں ہیں۔ جیسے قرآن میں اور جگہ ہے «وَكُلُّ شَيْءٍ فَعَلُوهُ فِي الزُّبُرِ» [54-القمر:52] ‏ ” جو کچھ انہوں نے کیا کتابوں میں ہے “۔ اور آیت میں ہے «وَلَقَدْ كَتَبْنَا فِي الزَّبُورِ» [21-الأنبياء:105] ‏ ” ہم نے زبور میں لکھ دیا “ الخ۔ پھر فرماتا ہے ” ہم نے تیری طرف ذکر نازل فرمایا “ یعنی قرآن اس لیے کہ چونکہ تو اس کے معنی مطلب سے اچھی طرح واقف ہے اسے لوگوں کو سمجھا بجھا دے۔ حقیقتاً اے نبی آپ صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم ہی اس پر سب سے زیادہ حریص ہیں آپ صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم ہی اس کے سب سے بڑے عالم ہیں اور آپ صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم ہی اس کے سب سے زیادہ عامل ہیں۔ اس لیے کہ آپ صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم افضل الخلائق ہیں، اولاد آدم کے سردار ہیں۔ جو اجمال اس کتاب میں ہے اس کی تفصیل آپ صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم کے ذمے ہے، لوگوں پر جو مشکل ہو آپ صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم اسے سمجھا دیں تاکہ وہ سوچیں سمجھیں راہ پائیں اور پھر نجات اور دونوں جہاں کی بھلائی حاصل کریں۔صفحہ نمبر4455

آیت 43 وَمَآ اَرْسَلْنَا مِنْ قَبْلِكَ اِلَّا رِجَالًا نُّوْحِيْٓ اِلَيْهِمْ یعنی آپ پہلے نبی یا رسول نہیں ہیں بلکہ آپ سے پہلے ہم بہت سے رسول بھیج چکے ہیں۔ وہ سب کے سب آدمی ہی تھے اور ان کی طرف ہم اسی طرح وحی بھیجتے تھے جس طرح آج آپ کی طرف وحی آتی ہے۔ فَسْـــَٔـلُوْٓا اَهْلَ الذِّكْرِ اِنْ كُنْتُمْ لَا تَعْلَمُوْنَ یعنی اے اہل مکہ ! اگر تم لوگوں کو اس بارے میں کچھ شک ہے تو تمہارے پڑوس مدینہ میں وہ لوگ آباد ہیں جو سلسلۂ وحی و رسالت سے خوب واقف ہیں ان سے پوچھ لو کہ اب تک جو انبیاء و رسل اس دنیا میں آئے ہیں وہ سب کے سب انسان تھے یا فرشتے ؟

CommentaryAccording to Ruh al-Ma’ ani, it was after the revelation of the first verse cited above that the Mushrikin of Makkah sent their emissaries to the Jews of Madinah to find out if it was true that all earlier prophets had always been from the genus of men.Though, included under the Qur'anic expression: أَهْلَ الذِّكْرِ‌ (Ahludh-Dhikr) were the people of the Book and believers all together, but it was obvious that the Mushrikin (disbelievers) were to be satisfied only by the statement of non-Muslims - because they themselves were not satisfied with what the Holy Prophet ﷺ was telling them. So, how could they accept the statement of other Muslims?The word: ذِکر (dhikr) in the combination of: أَهْلَ الذِّكْرِ‌ [ Ahludh-Dhikr : translated here as 'the people (having the knowledge) of the Message'] is used to carry more than one meaning. One of these is or knowledge. It is in this sense that the Holy Qur’ an has identified the Torah too as Dhikr: وَلَقَدْ كَتَبْنَا فِي الزَّبُورِ‌ مِن بَعْدِ الذِّكْرِ‌ 'And verily We have written in the Zabur (Scripture, Psalms), after the Dhikr (the Message, Torah) ' - 21:105. Similar to this is the statement which follows next: أَنزَلْنَا إِلَيْكَ الذِّكْرَ‌ We sent down the Message (The Qur'an) to you - 16:44]. Here, the word: الذِّكْرِ‌ (Adh-Dhikr) means the Qur'an. Therefore, 'ahludh-dhikr' literally means 'the people of knowledge' (as refined in the cited translation). And who are those referred to as Ahlul-` Ilm or 'the people of knowledge' at this place? As apparent in this case, they refer to the scholars among the people of the Book, the Jews and Christians. This is the view of Sayyidna Ibn ` Abbas ؓ ، Hasan and As-Suddiyy and others. Then, there are scholars who have taken 'Adh-Dhikr' at this place as well in the sense of AI-Qur'an, and thus explained 'Ahludh-Dhikr' in the sense of Ahlul-Qur'an. However, the clearest position taken in this matter is that of Rummani, Zajjaj and Azhari. They say:المراد باھل الذکر علماء اخبار الامم السالفۃ کَایٔنا من کان فالذکر بمعنی الحفظ کانّہ قیل اسألوا المطلعین الخبارا لام یعلموکم بذلک'Ahludh-Dhikr' means authentic historians of past peoples based on this investigative position, this definition includes therein the people of the Book, the Jews and Christians, and the people of the Qur’ an, the Muslims as well.The word: الْبَيِّنَاتِ (al-bayyinat) in verse 44 means clear signs and miracles, the later being more aptly applicable here. The word: زُّبُر‌ (zubur) is the plural form of: زُّبُرہ‌ (zubarah) which means large pieces of iron as in: آتُونِي زُبَرَ‌ الْحَدِيدِ (give me pieces of the iron - 18:96). Because of the relevance of putting pieces together, writing is called: زَبَر (zabar), and a written book is known as: الزِّبر (az-zibr) with its plural as: الزَّبُورِ‌ (az-zabur). In short, at this point, it means the Book of Allah which includes Torah, Injil, Zabur and Qur’ an.Non-Mujtahids must follow Mujtahid Imams: The Essence of TaqlidThough, the sentence: [ So, ask the people (having the knowledge) of the Message, if you do not know - 43] has appeared at this place in relation with a particular subject, but its words are general and are inclusive of all other matters of concern. Therefore, given the way Qur’ an has with words, this is really an important rule of procedure based on reason and revelation both, that is, those who do not know injunctions revealed for them ask those who do, and act accordingly. It is as simple as that. So, it is the duty of those who do not know that they should act in accordance with what they are told by those who do. This is what Taqlid (to follow in trust) is. Not only that it is an explicit command of the Qur’ an, there is just no other way the mass practice of religion can be achieved, even if it was to be argued rationally. This rule has been in practice throughout the Muslim community right from the age of the noble Sahabah to this day without any division or difference. Even those who disavow Taqlid do not reject the kind of Taqlid under which those who are not ` Alim (knowledgable in religion) should take Fatwa from the ` Ulama' and act accordingly. And it is obvious that, even if the ` Ulama' were to give proof of their view from the Qur'an and Sun-nah to masses of people who are unaware, they would still accept these arguments and proofs on the authority of, and trust and confidence in the same ` Ulama'. They themselves do not have the ability to understand and assess arguments and proofs presented. And Taqlid is nothing but that one who does not know places his trust and confidence in some-one who knows and accepts the injunction in question as the injunction of the Shari’ ah, and acts accordingly. This is one Taqlid the justification of which - in fact, the necessity of which, leaves no room for any difference.However, as for ` Ulama' who themselves have the ability to under-stand Qur'an and Hadith and know the places where consensus (Ijma`) exists, they are free to act, in the case of such injunctions as have been clearly and explicitly mentioned in Qur'an and Hadith - and in which there exists no difference among the learned Sahabah and Tabi` in as well - in these they can act directly according to Qur'an, Hadith and Ijma`. In these matters, ` Ulama' need not follow (Taqlid) any Mujtahid. But, there are particular injunctions and rulings which have not been explicitly spelt out in Qur'an and Sunnah, or wherein there appears to be some contradiction in the 'ayat (verses) of the Qur'an and the riwayat (narrations) of Hadith, or in which there has come up some difference among the Sahabah and Tabi'in in determining the meaning of Qur’ an and Sunnah - such rulings and injunctions are the object of Ijtihad. In the terminology of Islamic Fiqh (jurisprudence), these are called issues and problems in which Ijtihad is possible. The rule which governs this is that an ` Alien who does not possess the class and rank of Ijtihad, he too must follow one of the Mujtahid Imams in these issues. Just relying on personal opinion, preferring one verse or narration and going by it while dismissing another verse or narration as less weightier is something not permissible for him.Similarly, there are particular injunctions not mentioned explicitly in the Qur’ an and Sunnah. To deduce these out employing the principles provided by the Qur'an and Sunnah, and to arrive at and determine their precise Islamic legal operative order (al-hukm ash-shari, is the functional prerogative of only those Mujtahids of the Muslim Ummah who occupy the highest station of expertise in the Arabic language, its lexicography, idioms and modalities (turuq) of usage, and who possess an additional mastery over all fields of knowledge related to Qur'an and Sunnah, and above all, who are credited with a conduct of life marked by exemplary piety and god-fearingness. Such people are no less than the great Imam Abu Hanifah, Shafi` i, Malik, Ahmad ibn Hanbal, or Awza` i, jurist Abu Al-Laith رحمۃ اللہ علیہم and others like them. These were people Allah Ta’ ala had specially blessed. They lived closer to the age of prophethood, and that of the Sahabah and the Tabi'in. Under the canopy of this barakah, Allah Ta’ ala had bestowed upon them a very special taste of understanding the principles and objectives of the Shari’ ah and an equally special expertise of extracting textually non-prescribed (ghayr mansus) laws from the laws already prescribed in the sacred texts (mansus) by using the methodology of analogical deduction (qiyas). Now, in such issues and problem where Ijtihad efforts have been exhausted at the highest con-ceivable level, it is necessary even for the ` Ulama' at large that they must follow one of the Mujtahid Imams. Going by any new opinion contrary to that of the Mujtahid Imams is error.This is why great men of learning, ` Ulama', Muhaddithin and Fuqaha' like Imam al-Ghazali, Razi, Tirmidhi, Tahawi, Ma'zini, Ibn Humam, Ibn Qudamah and hundreds and thousands of early and later men of learning of the same standard, despite their high expertise in fields of Arabicism and Islamic Religious Law, have always remained voluntarily restricted to following Mujtahid Imams invariably. They never considered it permissible to give a Fatwa following their own opinion, contrary to all Mujtahid Imams.Nonetheless, these blessed souls did have that standard ranking in learning and piety that they assessed the sayings of the Mujtahid Imams on the anvil of proofs from the Qur’ an and Sunnah, after which they would go by the saying of the Imam which they found, out of the sayings of the Mujtahid Imams, closest to the Qur'an and Sunnah. But, they never thought it to be permissible either to depart from the approach taken by Mujtahid Imams or to hold some opinion contrary to all of them. The essential reality of Taqlid is no more than what has been stated here.After that, came a gradual decline in the standards of knowledge and what was originally based on Taqwa and godliness came to be contaminated with personal interests and preferences. Under such conditions, given the kind of liberty that people could go by the saying of any one Imam in a religious problem of their choice and opt for the saying of some other Imam in some other problem they choose, the inevitable outcome would be that people would start following their worldly desires in the name of following the Shari'ah by opting for the saying of an Imam which is more conducive to the fulfillment of their worldly desire. This is, as obvious, no following of a religion or Shari'ah. In fact, this would be the following of one's own interests and desires - which is Haram by the consensus of the entire Muslim Ummah. In Muwafqat, Allamah Shatibi has dealt with this subject in great details. And Ibn Taymiyyah too, de-spite his opposition to Taqlid at large, has rated this type of following in his Fatawa as being Haram by the consensus of the Muslim Ummah.Therefore, later day jurists of Islam considered it necessary that all those who act according to the precepts of the Shari'ah should be made to follow only one of the Mujtahid Imams. From here began what was to be known as 'personal following' (Taqlid Shakhsi) which, in reality, is a functional operative order to keep the system of religion in tact so that people do not succumb to following their own desires under the cover of religion. This is precisely what Sayyidna ` Uthman al-Ghani ؓ did with the total agreement of the noble Sahabah when he restricted the seven versions (سبعَہ احرف) of the Quran to only one version - though all seven versions were reading of the Quran and were revealed through angel Jibra'il as wished by the Holy Prophet ﷺ . But, when the Holy Qur'an spread all over non-Arab countries, the danger that it might be altered or interpolated because of its seven readings became acute. So, it was by a total agreement of the Sahabah that Muslims were instructed to write and recite the Qur'an in one version only. Sayyidna ` Uthman al-Ghani ؓ arranged to have all copies of the Quran written according to this one version which he dispatched to various parts of the world. The entire Muslim Ummah follows this Quran even to this day. This never means that other versions were not true or authentic. The fact is that this one version was taken to in the interest of a better management of religious affairs and so that the Quran stays protected against any possible alterations or interpolations.1 Similarly, all Mujtahid Imams are true. When one of them is chosen to be followed, it never means that other Imams are not worthy of being followed. Far from it, it is only a functional arrangement. One decides for himself in terms of his conveni-ence he has in following a particular Imam. But, while doing so, he also considers other Imams as worthy of the same respect.1. All this discussion is based on the theory of Allamah Ibn Jarir (رح) about the "Seven Versions" (سَبعَۃ احراف). For a detailed treatment of the subject, please see my introduction at the beginning of volume I. (Muhammad Taqi Usmani)This is totally similar to a situation where it is considered necessary that only one of the many physicians present in town be chosen and assigned particularly for the treatment of a sick person. The reason is that it is not advisable for the patient that he goes about following his personal opinion in using the prescription of one physician at some time and that of another physician at some other time. Such a method of seeking solutions to one's medical problem is patently fatal. It should be understood that the choice of a specific physician made by the patient for his treatment never means that other physicians are no experts, or lack the capability of proper treatment.The reality of the different juristic schools Hanafi, Shafi’ i, Maliki and Hanbali that emerged in the Muslim Ummah was no more than what has been stated. As for giving it the touch of sectarianism and factionalism or increasing the heat of mutual confrontation and dissention is concerned, it is no valid mission of the revealed religion, nor have the discerning and far-sighted ` Ulama' ever considered it good. That which happened was that scholarly debate and research by some ` Ulama' became coloured with polemics which later reached the level of blames and satirical remarks. Then came ignorance-based confrontation which brought people to the outer limit where this state of affairs became the very indicator of being religious!فالی اللہ المشتکی ولا حول ولا قوۃ اللہ باللہ العلی العظیمSo, before Allah is the complaint and there is no strength and there is no power except with Allah, the High, the Great.Note of CautionWhat has been written here on the religious question of Taqlid and Ijtihad is only a very brief summary of the subject, which is sufficient for Muslims at large. As for scholarly research and details of the subject, they are present in books of Usul al-Fiqh. Worth mentioning are: (1) Kitab al-Muwafqat by Allamah Shatibi, v. IV, Bab Al-Ijtihad; (2) Kitab Ihkam al-Ahkam by Allamah Saifuddin al-'Amidi, v. III, al-Qa` idah ath-thalitha fi al-mujtahidin; (3) Hujjatullahil-Balighah and ` Iqd al-Jid by Hadrat Shah Waliyyullah Ad-Dihlawi; and (4) Kitab al-Iqtisad fi at-Taqlid wa al-Ijtihad by Hadrat Maulana Ashraf All Thanavi. Interested scholars may wish to refer back to them.