Definition
The disciplined effort of a qualified scholar to deduce a ruling from the texts of the Qur'an and Sunnah. Requires deep knowledge of Arabic, the Qur'an and its sciences, the Sunnah and its sciences, ijmā‘, and uṣūl al-fiqh.
Pronunciation: ij-ti-HĀD
Etymology & Root
From ج-ه-د (j-h-d), meaning 'to exert utmost effort.' Ijtihād is the scholar's exhaustive effort.
Usage in the Sunnah
'When the judge gives a ruling and exerts ijtihād and is correct, he has two rewards; if he gives a ruling and exerts ijtihād and errs, he has one reward.' (Bukhārī 7352)
Common Misconceptions
Ijtihād is not opinion-giving by the unqualified. Modern claims that 'every Muslim can do ijtihād' confuse personal study with the technical, demanding science.
Search across the corpus
Related Terms
More from Fiqh Terms
The principles by which fiqh rulings are derived.
Consensus of qualified scholars.
Permissible — neither commanded nor forbidden.
Forbidden in the Sharī‘ah.
The lesser pilgrimage — performed any time of year.
The complete revealed law of Allah.