Releasing the Intellects from Imitation
Islamhascalledforreleasingthemindsfrom thebondsofimitation.
Thesourceofsuchanimitationisignoranceandbigotry.TheQuranre-
proached the imitators whose words are expressed by His saying:
Thus,We did not send beforeyou any warnerin a town,butthose
who ledeasy livesinitsaid: surely,wefoundourfathersonacourse,
and surely, we are followers of their footsteps.
TheQuranalienatedthequestionofrestinguponthechiefsandlead-
erswhoaverttheguidance,andruledthatthosechiefs,alongwiththeir
imitators, will share the same punishment. God says:
Those who werefollowed shall renouncethose who followed them,
and they see the chastisement and their tiesare cut asunder.
Islam antagonizesany baseless trendthat depends uponunfounded
imitation andpursuance. This is an invitation to discipline the minds
and release the ideas from the bonds of imitation.