I am a Shia Muslim reaching the age of Teklif, what should I do?
I am a 13, 14 or 15 years old Shia Muslim boy what should I do?
I am a 9 years old Shia Muslim girl, what is the most important thing I need to do?
Ask yourself … Am I following a Marji’ (Scholar)? Did I select my Marji’ based on finding the most knowledgeable?
If the answers is yes .. then I ask .. how confident or comfortable was I with my selection method?
We have 3 options .. (every one of us)..
1. Become a Mujtahid ourselves .. a bit difficult
2. Follow the most Knowledgeable Marji and trust his rulings
3. Change a Marji we are following, if you find legitimate evidence about another Marji’ being more knowledgeable
Q. Surely in order to find legitimate evidence one must be a mujtahid, hence you are unable to find evidence
A. you dont need to be Mujtahid .. you can ask 2 experts in Hawza
Q. Does that mean that we cannot decide for ourselves who is most learned? And each of the experts may have a different opinion, how do you know which ones to ask?
A. The decision is yours ultimately and no one can decide for you.. it does however have to be based on facts and opinions which you would need someone else for that expert opinions I should say.
We are not able to decide who is more knowledgeable in ilm Alrijal (science or subject of narrators), Alhadeeth (categorisation of hadeeth), or advanced Logic or Tafseer (which also includes time and circumstances surrounding the Ayaat of Quran in addition to interpretation) or Arabic grammar or Seera (Islamic history), etc.
However an expert who has reached a so called Bah-th Al-Kharij who is able to attend the Marji’s lessons and review his reasoning for his rulings and give a you an unbiased opinion
In the UK .. you can ask Sayed Fadhil Milani, Shaikh Mohsen Araki or Sayed Muneer al-khabbaz when he is also in the UK.
Q. I followed the status quo when I was a teenager, If I was new to Shiism I don’t know how I would decide. There are literally tens of Maraji. How do I choose?
A. Following the staus quo is not ideal .. we are encouraged to search and select. There are 3 ways to determine which Marji’ to follow.
Q. If i believed for one second that a single person is able to determine with 100% certainty that x is more knowledgeable than y then I would follow this person instead
A. Hence you need to do your own research
Football commentators can determine the best player and yet they may not be players
Q. I am sure they all have their own opinions
A. Yes .. the difference is Taqwa, Taqwa of the person you ask. you ask someone with Taqwa as well as knowledge. someone known to be pious, truthful and knowledgeable.
Hence one should listen to more than one opinion and form an informed decision. then you would feel confident about that Marji and his rulings subsequently.
The Marji cannot be a Marji if he has any issues with his Taqwa
Q. Yes, but he can still be influenced by other factors.. not being biased because of a sinister reason i mean?
A. Being influenced by objective/relevant factors, evidence and proof … is exactly what you want.
Ask an expert rather parents/friends/local Jama’a (congregational) prayer imam, etc.
Q. What I am trying to say is that, Is this question, “Who is most learned?”, the extent of the research we can do? We cannot delve into the research because we are not qualified enough?
A. Yes .. to find your Marji for Ahkam .. However your “Marji” in politics/economics/social/family matters/education/etc… is up to you
An expert can determine whose reasoning and knowledge is more encompassing and more effective in extracting Ahkam.
An excellent Statesman can be a Mariji but that may not be a deciding factor whether he is the most knowledgeable or able to extract the Ahkam
a Q and A 4 English 