Ijtihad (Independent Legal Reasoning)
The independent interpretive effort to derive legal rules from the Islamic sources.
Ijtihad literally means "effort" and refers to the qualified scholar's independent interpretive effort to derive legal rules from the Quran and Sunnah in matters where there is no clear and unambiguous text. It is one of the most important mechanisms for the development and adaptation of Islamic law.
The founders of the four Sunni schools of law were all mujtahid mutlaq (absolutely independent legal interpreters). The Prophet (peace be upon him) recognized ijtihad when he sent Mu'adh ibn Jabal to Yemen and asked him how he would judge. Mu'adh answered: "With the Book of Allah, then with the Sunnah of the Prophet, and then with my own ijtihad." The Prophet approved of this.
In prayer matters, ijtihad is relevant for topics such as calculating prayer times at high latitudes, using technology to determine the qibla direction, and new situations such as prayer in space or on an airplane. Imam al-Ghazali set strict conditions for the one who exercises ijtihad in his work "al-Mustasfa."
Related terms
Qunut (Supplication with Raised Hands)
A personal supplication (du'a) with raised hands, recited during the prayer.
Nahj al-Balagha (The Peak of Eloquence)
Imam Ali's collection of sermons and wise sayings, central to Shia prayer tradition.
Waqt (Prayer Time)
The specific time interval within which a prayer must be performed.
Tahajjud (Night Prayer)
The voluntary night prayer performed in the last third of the night.
Eid al-Fitr (Festival of Breaking the Fast)
The Islamic holiday that marks the end of Ramadan's fasting.
Asr (Afternoon Prayer)
The third daily prayer, performed in the afternoon.