Taqleed of an Imam and Yahya Bin Said Al-Qattaan

Yahyaa Bin Said Al-Qattaan was a very great 'A'lim and a famous scholar of Hadith. His main field was verification of Hadith. Famous Ulama and scholars of Hadith of Deen such as Imam Ahmad Bin Hambal, Yahyaa Bin Ma'in and Ali Bin Al Madeeni (Rahmatoullaahi 'A'laihim) studied this field under him. Despite his vast knowledge, he used to give Fatwa and explanation regarding Deen according to the opinion and research of Imam Abu Hanifah (Rahmatoullaahi 'alayh).

A matter of reflection

If a person like Yahya Bin Said Al-Qattaan also (who was the teacher of great Ulama) had to follow an Imam, then who are we not to follow? If it is true that only a stupid person does Taqleed as some who claim to be ‘intelligent’ want to make believe - then how should we label Yahya Bin Said Al-Qattaan? Many Hadith which are found in all books of Hadith, have been reported by him. This means that scholars of Hadith such as Imam Bukhari (Rahmatoullaahi 'alayh), Imam Muslim (Rahmatoullaahi 'alayh), Tirmizi, Abu Daawud, Nasai, Ibn Majah and others, have all recognised the worth of Yahya Bin Said Al-Qattaan.

Allah Ta’ala said:

"Maseeh (Hazrat Isa (Alaihis Salaam)) is never ashamed to be a slave of Allah, neither are the favoured angels ..." (S4/V172)

That is, those who are naught are the ones who do not want to submit to Allah Ta’ala. Similarly, we see that great scholars have never felt dishonoured to follow an Imam. It is only those who have merely learned few books haphazardly, who are averse. And as a principle, it should be noted that it has always been that fools and stupid ones are the ones who are the most arrogant and the most proud. The Ulama such as Allaamah An-Nawawi, Allaamah Ibn Hajar Al-Asqalani and Allaamah Badruddeen Al-Aini (Rahmatoullaahi 'A'laihim) have understood the depth of the knowledge of the 4 Aimmah a little, through their knowledge. That is why they had to lay down their weapons to follow these Imam. If a person does not understand this, it is due to his lack of knowledge, not to say his ignorance.

Similarly, Waki Bin Jarraah, Yahya Bin Ma'in and Laith Bin Sa'd have also followed the research of Imam Abu Hanifah (Rahmatoullaahi 'alayh).

[English version of "Suive Imam et Yahya Bin Said Al-Qattaan" – Al Jamiat – Vol.2 No.7]