Was there an Imam among the Companions?

There is a Hadith in Sahih Bukhari on the authority of Hadhrat ‘Akramah (May Allah be well pleased with him), that the people of Madinah asked Hadhrat Abdullah bin Abbas (May Allah be well pleased with him) about the woman who started menstruating after the Tawaf Afadha.  Hadhrat 'Abdullah bin 'Abbas (May Allah be well pleased with him) said that she can go without the Tawaf Wada’a.  The people of Madinah said: We will not abandon the opinion of Hadhrat Zaid bin Thabit to follow your opinion.

 

This shows that the people of Madinah used to follow Hadhrat Zaid particularly (Taqleed Shakhsi).  Hadhrat Ibn Abbas (May Allah be well pleased with him) did not chastise them that you have committed a mistake by taking Hadhrat Zaid as your Imam.  (Sahih Bukhari, Kitab Ul Haj)

 

There is a lengthy Hadith in Sahih Bukhari, Kitab Ul Faraaidh, the summary of which is that Hadhrat Abu Moosa Ash‘ari (May Allah be well pleased with him) was asked something.  He replied and said:  Ask Abdullah Bin Mas‘ud (May Allah be well pleased with him) also.  After asking Hadhrat Abdullah bin Mas‘ud people conveyed his reply to Hadhrat Abu Moosa Ash‘ari (May Allah be well pleased with him).  He said: Do not ask me anything as long as you have this erudite scholar among you.  This shows that he instructed the people to follow Hadhrat Abdullah bin Mas‘ud (May Allah be well pleased with him) in everything.  This is what is called Taqleed Shakhsi.

 

There is a Hadith in Jame’ Tirmidhi, Ibn Majah that the Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) said: After me, follow the 2, i.e.  Abu Bakr and ‘Umar (May Allah be well pleased with them).  Here it is not said that you ask the evidence of every ruling.  This is what is Taqleed Shakhsi.

 

Also, the Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) appointed and sent the Companions as teachers to many places.  Is this not Taqleed Shakhsi?  Therefore there are many examples of Taqleed Mutlaq and Taqleed Shakhsi in the eras of the Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) and the Companions and in the Best Era (Khair Ul Quroon) both the methods were used.  Then because of separation from the Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam), when the fear of Allah Most High and His Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) and the regard for the rules of the Shariah waned and selfishness took hold, then the scholars, jurisprudents, the men of Allah diagnosed this condition and entered Taqlees Shakhsi among the Compulsory (Wajib).