Islamic Law - The Importance of Talid

The legal scholar who performs ichdi had has real knowledge, whereas the ordinary person is doomed to ignorance. The elitism stands even when we take into account that jurists recognized other levels between the pure muctahid and the pure mokalid. As sheite legal thought developed, it also made a place for ichtihad within the guide lines laid down by the imams. So we find sheite scholars too contrasting the knowledgeable scholar with the typical believer who may and indeed should engage in talid.