Imam Khomeini however, did not reject reference to narrations and regarded obedience in obeying issues, paid special attention to the use of narrations based on the criteria and standards of the Book of God and sound human intellect.
In his view, rigidity and a holier-than-thou religiosity, particularly in deducing and understanding religion, hindered the revival of religion and understanding of genuine Islam.
In fact, it can be said that in his view Islam based on mere narrations coupled with an exaggerated display of religiosity was an American-oriented Islam that stood against the genuine Islam of Muhammad (PBUH). For instance in the negation of asceticism and religious rigidity, the Imam said:
"Today, a number of people posing as pious are undermining religion, Islam and the system in a way that seems to be having no other duty except self-destruction. The threat of rigid minds and foolish pseudo-pious people in theological seminaries is not small. They are the propagators of an American brand of Islam and the enemy of the Messenger of Allah."
One of the most important factors of petrifaction in ijtihad (independent reasoning) and decrees of religion and detachment from fundamentalism and disregard for the role of intellect in deduction of decrees, is the emergence of pseudo-clerics who, by reliance on the hadith and the outward aspects of religion, are ignorant of the truth, but who, from Imam's view, could bring about more damage than any other layer of the society.
'"No greater blow has Islam suffered at the hands of these holier-than-thou pseudo-clerics than any other social group. A glaring instance is the innocence and estrangement of the Commander of the Faithful, as is clear in the history."
From the viewpoint of Imam Khomeini, ijtihad (independent judgment on theology or law·for deducing correct opinion) is one of the most fundamental vital issues in the life of a believing individual and faithoriented society.
Every human being in the circle of existence and within the framework of religious laws and in a view of the four religious sources and arguments stands in need of ijtihad (independent judgment in inferring religious decrees from religious sources) or taqlid (imitation in religious matters).
What the Imam stressed was the jawaheri ijtihad or traditional ijtihad in which requirements of time and place are regarded. Therefore, Imam's theory in ijtihad is a theory that is called monhaj taqlidi and has been heeded by distinguished 'ulama such as Sheykh Mofid, Sheykh Tusi, Sahib al-Jawahir. In other words, however: "haza men makan."