The Question of Ijtihad

The question of whether the door of ijtihad is open, closed, or ever did close, has been around for centuries. The answer to this question is crucial for our times. The research will present a chronological overview of the historical development of the concept of ijtihad, how it developed, became limited in certain circles, and if it ever ceased to be practiced. It can be concluded from the research that the doors of ijtihad were never closed, but were limited to a particular type of educational training. Those who completed this training proceeded on to become jurists. Those who could not, were requested to follow their leaders or engage in "taqlid." This study will show that this question arose from a power struggle between modernists and traditionalists regarding who had the power to interpret and make rulings for the Muslim community. It will further show how traditionalists are trying to maintain their power in order to preserve traditional Islam and how the modernists are trying to solve contemporary problems by opening the doors to interpretation for those who are not classically trained.

Grantor dc:publisher

Temple University. Libraries

Year dc:date.issued

2010

Author dc:creator

• Butt, Ayesha W.

Advisors dc:contributor.advisor

• Blankinship, Khalid Yahya
• Limberis, Vasiliki, 1954-

Committee member dc:contributor.committeemember

• Limberis, Vasiliki, 1954-

• Islamic Studies
• Regional Studies
• Controversy
• Ijtihad
• Modernism
• Mujtahids

Statement dc:rights

• IN COPYRIGHT- This Rights Statement can be used for an Item that is in copyright. Using this statement implies that the organization making this Item available has determined that the Item is in copyright and either is the rights-holder, has obtained permission from the rights-holder(s) to make their Work(s) available, or makes the Item available under an exception or limitation to copyright (including Fair Use) that entitles it to make the Item available.

Licence dc:rights.uri

• http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC/1.0/

Language dc:language.iso

eng

Dc Identifier Other

864884700

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:scholarshare.temple.edu:20.500.12613/890