Taqlid (Following a School of Law)
The practice of following a qualified scholar's legal opinions without necessarily knowing the evidence.
Taqlid literally means "imitation" and refers to the practice of following a qualified scholar's or school of law's legal opinions without necessarily knowing the detailed evidence behind each rule. For the vast majority of Muslims, taqlid is the practical way to live according to Islamic law.
In Sunni Islam, there is broad agreement that one who has not reached the level of ijtihad should follow one of the four recognized schools of law in practical matters such as prayer, fasting, and purification. Imam al-Nawawi and the majority of Sunni scholars consider taqlid necessary for laypeople.
In practice, taqlid means that a Hanafi Muslim prays with arms folded below the navel, while a Shafi'i Muslim prays with arms on the chest — both following their respective school's guidance. The four schools' imams, however, warned against blind taqlid and encouraged seeking knowledge and understanding. Imam Abu Hanifah said: "It is not permissible for anyone to follow our opinion if they do not know where we took it from."
Related terms
Qasr (Shortened Prayer)
The permission to shorten the four-rak'ah prayers to two rak'ah during travel.
Salat al-Wahsha (The Prayer of Loneliness)
A prayer performed on the first night after burial for the soul of the deceased.
Mashhad (Imam Reza's City)
The sacred city in Iran with Imam Reza's shrine, Iran's most visited pilgrimage destination.
Qabd (Folding the Arms in Prayer)
The practice of folding the arms over the chest or below the navel during the standing position in prayer.
Salah (Prayer)
The Islamic ritual prayer, performed five times daily.
Jam' bayn al-Salatayn (Combining Prayers)
The Shia practice of praying Dhuhr and Asr together, and Maghrib and Isha together.