Ijtihad
Ijtihad (اجتهاد) is the process by which a qualified jurist (mujtahid) exerts maximum intellectual effort to derive legal rulings from the primary sources of Islam: the Qur’an, Sunnah, Ijma, and Qiyas. It is the foundational legal mechanism that transforms divine revelation into operative law in varying contexts.
Far from subjective opinion, ijtihad is governed by rigorous criteria within Usul al-Fiqh, and is bounded by epistemic humility, textual authority, and scholarly qualification.
📚 Pre-conditions of Ijtihad
A scholar must:
- Possess mastery of Arabic
- Be grounded in Qur’an and Hadith sciences
- Know the entire corpus of Fiqh principles and maxims
- Understand the classifications of Qati and Dhanni texts
- Apply Maqasid al-Shariah correctly and not ideologically
- Understand the customs (
urf), priorities, and realities of their society
Only such a scholar is eligible to perform ijtihad. Others must adhere to Taqlid or specialized consultation.
🧠 Modes of Ijtihad
- Qiyas — analogical reasoning
- Istislah — public interest
- Istihsan — juristic preference for equity
- Darurah — necessity as principle
- Sadd al-Dhara’i — blocking harmful means
Each mode is constrained by usuli parameters and epistemic weight of evidences.
🏛 Classical and Modern Discourse
- Classical debate: continuity of ijtihad vs “closure of the gate”
- Modern revival: calls to revive ijtihad are often detached from its actual prerequisites
- True renewal must be grounded in discipline, not ideology
🔥 Refutations and Misconceptions
- Ijtihad is Subjective Interpretation — rebuttal to secular hermeneutics
- Anyone Can Do Ijtihad Today — critique of lay reinterpretation
- Ijtihad Replaces Sharia with Reform — debunking liberal misuse
- Gate of Ijtihad was Closed Forever — refuting historical inaccuracy
- Ijtihad is Just Copying Western Legal Tools — decolonial rebuttal