At-Taqlid dari segi bahasa ialah meletakkan sesuatu perkara pada leher dengan merangkumi perkara tersebut. Kemudian ia digunakan untuk menyerahkan atau mewakilkan perkara itu kepada seseorang, seolah-olah ia telah mengikat perkara tersebut pada lehernya.

At-Taqleed linguistically is the placing of the matter in the neck with an encompassment of it. Then it is used to entrust or delegate the matter to the person, as if it has tied the matter to his neck.

Seperti kata penyair:

It is like the poet said:

Mereka diserahi urusan kalian; pencapaian kalian adalah kerana Allah; (murah hati) Lengan, dengan urusan peperangan

They were entrusted to your affair _ your accomplishment is due to Allah _ generous The arm, with the matter of war

Dan makna At-Taqleed menurut Istilah:

And the meaning of At-Taqleed in accordance to the Istilaah (terminological convention):

Taqlid, menurut makna syarak, ialah bertindak mengikut pendapat orang lain tanpa hujah yang mengikat (Hujjah Mulzimah). Contohnya ialah orang awam (‘Aamiy) mengambil pendapat seorang mujtahid, atau seorang mujtahid mengambil pendapat mujtahid yang lain.

At-Taqleed, according to its Shar’a meaning, is to act in accordance to the opinion of another without a Hujjah Mulzimah (A binding proof). That is like the ‘Aamiy taking the opinion of the Mujtahid or the Mujtahid taking the opinion of another Mujtahid