Verses Condemning Taqlid

The Qur'an contains numerous verses that rebuke and condemn taqlid. Interestingly, most commentaries and other writings acknowledge that these verses are against taqlid, yet they do not see them as contradicting the current system of taqlid. For example, it is said that these verses only forbid taqlid in the faith fundamentals (usul al-din) and beliefs, whereas under each verse we will explain that, on the contrary, the context of the verses is about practical following and actions. Or it is said that these verses only forbid blind taqlid and taqlid of the ignorant, whereas it was already explained that taqlid is always blind, as discussed in There Is No Non-Blind Taqlid.

1. Verse 170 of Surah al-Baqarah
2. Verse 104 of Surah al-Ma'idah
3. Verse 28 of Surah al-A'raf
4. Verse 21 of Surah Luqman
5. Verse 23 of Surah al-Zukhruf
6. Verse 64 of Surah Al 'Imran

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