Q: The Salafi sect considers Ibn Taymiyyah as their leader.We, the Sunni Hanafi Deobandis obviously disagree with Ibn Taymiyyah on many issues. However, I have read that some of our elders considered Ibn Taymiyyah to be a Mujtahid in his own right. If I am not wrong, even Hazrat Thaanwi has written this. Is this correct that Ibn Taymiyyah was a Mujtahid and hence exempted from Taqleed of any of the four madhabs?
A: The preferred view was that he was a muqallid. Perhaps in certain issues he had made tafarrud.
And Allah Ta’ala (الله تعالى) knows best.
Answered by:
Mufti Ebrahim Salejee (Isipingo Beach)