Al It’ibaa’a And The Principles Of Fiqh Of The Righteous Predecessors By Sheikh Wasiullah Abbaas

Translation of some chapters from the book “Al It’ibaa’a And The Principles Of Fiqh Of The Righteous Predecessors” By Our Beloved Sheikh Wasiullah Abbaas

Chapter One: Definition of al It’ibaa’a

Definition of al It’ibaa’a’ Definition of al It’ibaa’a:

Al It’ibaa’a in the Arabic Language is a verbal noun, meaning one who follows something. It is said in Arabic ‘I followed his path’. It is also said: ‘A man who goes ahead and you go behind him or follow him. ‘It’ibaa’ul Quran’ means: Follow the Quran, in other words: imitate, emulate, follow it’s example and act upon what is in it.’[1]

The technical and religious meaning of Al It’ibaa’a is similar to the linguistic meaning: following, walking behind, emulating what the Prophet Muhammad came with and imitating it and acting upon it.

Al It’ibaa’a is the opposite of at Taqleed, which means: Acting upon a saying or action from someone whose sayings and actions are not authoritative sources or evidences in the religion.

What we mean by Al It’ibaa’a is: Imitation, adherence, following the Book of Allah and the Sunnah of His Messenger and the obligation of following them are upon whoever the Quran and Sunnah reach .

Al ‘It’ibaa’a’ also means: imitating and following the Sunnah of the rightly guided caliphs, based upon the Prophets saying:

‘Upon all of you is to adhere to my Sunnah and the Sunnah of the rightly guided caliphs.’[2]

It also means following the consensus of the companions and those who preceded them from amongst the scholars of Islam if their sayings are authentic. All of this is considered Al ‘It’ibaa’a because these are legislative evidences which are obligatory to follow.

Also ‘It’ibaa’a’ of the correct ‘Qiyas’ (analogical reasoning) which is authentic from the Quran and Sunnah is considered ‘It’ibaa’a’ and not ‘Taqleed’.

[1]  ‘Lisanul Arab’ 8/27-28

[2] {TN} Taken from the long hadeeth in Sunan at Tirmidhi 5/44, Book of Knowledge, Chapter: What came regarding implementing the Sunnah #2676, and at Tirmidhi said ‘Hasan Saheeh’. Sunan Abee Dawud pg.691, Book of the Sunnah, Chapter: Adhering to the Sunnah, #4607. Sunan ibn Majah pg.20, Introduction, Chapter: Following the Sunnah of the Rightly Guided Caliphs #42. Mustadrak al Haakim 1/95, and al Haakim said: ‘Saheeh and there is no defect in the narration, and Adh Dhahabi agreed with him’. And the narration is as they said-authentic.