Ijtihad

Ijtihad (Independent Legal Reasoning)

The striving of scholars to derive rulings from the Qur’an and Sunnah

Introduction

Ijtihad, derived from the Arabic root jahada (“to strive” or “to exert effort”), refers to the process of independent legal reasoning in Islamic jurisprudence. It is the method by which scholars derive rulings from the primary sources of Islam—the Qur’an and the Sunnah—especially in cases where there is no explicit textual evidence.

Evidence for Ijtihad

From the Qur’an:

• “Those who listen to the word, then follow the best of it; those are the ones Allah has guided, and those are people of understanding.” Qur’an 39:18

From the Sunnah:

• When the Prophet ﷺ sent Mu‘adh ibn Jabal to Yemen, he asked how he would judge. Mu‘adh replied: “I will refer to the Book of Allah; if I do not find the ruling there, I will refer to the Sunnah; if I do not find it there, I will exercise my own judgment (ijtihad).” The Prophet ﷺ approved this approach. Sunan Abu Dawood 3592

Ijtihad ensures that Islamic law remains dynamic, comprehensive, and adaptable to new challenges, while always remaining rooted in the revelation.

Conditions for Ijtihad

For ijtihad to be valid, a scholar must:

• Possess mastery of the Arabic language.
• Have comprehensive knowledge of the Qur’an and Sunnah.
• Understand fiqh and the principles of jurisprudence.
• Be aware of contemporary issues to issue relevant rulings.
• Display sincerity, integrity, and intellectual caution.

Types of Ijtihad

• Absolute Ijtihad (Ijtihad Mutlaq): Performed by highly qualified scholars who derive rulings directly from Qur’an and Sunnah without being bound to a madhhab.
• Restricted Ijtihad (Ijtihad Muqayyad): Performed within a particular school of thought, following its principles while addressing new issues.
• Collective Ijtihad (Ijtihad Jama‘i): Conducted by councils or assemblies of scholars to address complex and modern matters.

Application of Ijtihad

• Fiqh Development: Adapting Islamic rulings to new circumstances while preserving core principles.
• Modern Issues: Bioethics, finance, technology, and other contemporary fields require fresh ijtihad.
• Social and Cultural Matters: Addressing evolving practices and norms to ensure the timeless relevance of Islamic law.

Addressing Misconceptions

• Not unrestricted: Ijtihad is not free personal opinion; it requires strict adherence to scholarly methodology.
• Not for everyone: Only qualified scholars with deep expertise may perform ijtihad.
• Not separate from revelation: Ijtihad must always remain rooted in the Qur’an and Sunnah; it cannot contradict them.

References

Primary Sources

Qur’an

1. Az-Zumar 39:18: Encouragement to follow the best understanding.

Hadith

2. Sunan Abi Dawud 3592: The approval of ijtihad in the case of Mu‘adh ibn Jabal.

Secondary Sources

3. Imam al-Shaafa‘i, al-Risaalah: Foundation for rulings based on Qur’an, Sunnah, ijma‘, and qiyaas.
4. Ibn Taymiyyah, Majmoo‘ al-Fatawa: Explanation of Qur’an, Sunnah, and consensus as one source.
5. Dr. ‘Abd al-Kareem Zaydaan, Al-Madkhil li Diraasat al-Sharee‘ah al-Islamiyyah: Classification of original and secondary sources of Islamic law.