Ijtihad and Taqlid: Independent Reasoning and Following Scholarship

Ijtihad (independent juristic reasoning) and taqlid (following a qualified scholar's opinion) are two complementary concepts in Islamic jurisprudence that together ensure the Shariah remains both principled and applicable across time and place. The Quran commands: "Ask the people of knowledge if you do not know" (Quran 16:43), establishing the principle that those without specialized knowledge should consult those who have it. At the same time, the Prophet (peace be upon him) praised those who strive to determine the correct ruling: "When a judge passes judgment and strives (ijtahada) and arrives at the correct ruling, he receives two rewards; and if he strives and errs, he receives one reward" (Sahih al-Bukhari).

Ijtihad: The Engine of Islamic Law

Ijtihad is the process by which a qualified scholar derives a ruling from the primary sources (Quran, Sunnah, ijma, and qiyas) when no explicit text addresses the issue. The mujtahid (one who performs ijtihad) must possess: mastery of Arabic at the level needed to understand the Quran and hadith; comprehensive knowledge of the Quran, including which verses abrogate others; deep knowledge of hadith, including the ability to evaluate chains of narration; understanding of the principles of jurisprudence (usul al-fiqh); knowledge of scholarly consensus (ijma) to avoid contradicting it; and the intellectual ability to apply analogical reasoning (qiyas) correctly. These requirements are extremely demanding, and scholars throughout history have disagreed on whether the "gate of ijtihad" is ever truly closed.

Taqlid: Following Qualified Scholars

For the vast majority of Muslims who do not possess the qualifications for ijtihad, taqlid means following the rulings of qualified scholars, typically within one of the four established madhabs (Hanafi, Maliki, Shafi'i, Hanbali). This is not blind following; it is the rational recognition that specialized knowledge requires years of training, and a layperson is not qualified to derive rulings directly from the Quran and hadith. Just as a patient follows a qualified doctor's advice without demanding to understand every medical mechanism, a Muslim follows a qualified scholar's juristic opinion while trusting in their scholarly methodology.

The Contemporary Balance

The modern Islamic landscape features ongoing discussion about the proper balance between ijtihad and taqlid. Some reformists call for fresh ijtihad on every issue, arguing that rigid adherence to medieval rulings fails to address modern realities. Traditionalists warn that untrained individuals performing "ijtihad" produce chaos and error, and that the madhabs represent centuries of refined legal reasoning that should not be casually discarded. The balanced view, held by most mainstream scholars, is that the madhabs provide reliable frameworks for most questions, while qualified scholars (those who meet the conditions of ijtihad) should address genuinely new issues through fresh analysis of the sources. The goal is faithful application of the Shariah in every era, not innovation in its fundamentals.