Contemporary ijtihad : an analysis of individual and collective approaches

Abstract

This study examines Ijtihad in its contemporary manifestation with the premise that there is a need to delimit the boundaries and framework of this process to reduce dispute and allow for more focus on more strategic aspects of Ijtihad. The earlier parts of this study focus on prevalent views on the main principles, components and elements of Ijtihad while analyzing possible changes and modifications to the theory and practice of Ijtihad. The earlier chapters of this study seek a synthesis of existing research on the various issues on Ijtihad especially on the more contentious aspects of it. In achieving this, the researcher adopts a comparative analytic method with emphasis on more recent scholarship on the matter. Equipped with this perspective and framework, the researcher proceeds on an analytical comparison of leading contemporary individuals and collective practitioners of Ijtihad. At this stage, the aim is to achieve a comparative appraisal of different trends and proposing measures for improvements. The main findings of this study are that a substantial amount of the controversies surrounding Ijtihad goes back to terminological differences and that the divide between contending trends may be narrowed down to reasonable degrees. Utilizing these findings the researcher went on to highlight ideal approaches and suggest improvements for contemporary Ijtihad in general and to the selected samples covered in this study. In addition, this study has also proved that competing trends emerged partly due to inconsistency with the established theory of Ijtihad. These findings should contribute to clarify and reduce disputes that distract from strategic areas of Ijtihad and point to the way forward for the Ijtihad process in its various dimensions.