Alhassanain(p) Network for Heritage and Islamic Thought

Ijtihad: Its Meaning, Sources, Beginnings and the Practice of Ra'y

This book is corrected and edited by Al-Hassanain (p) Institue for Islamic Heritage and Thought

• Introduction
• Main Topics of Discussions
• The Term Ijtihad
• ‘Ijtihad' in the Utterances of the Prophet (S)
• ‘Ijtihad' In the Utterances of Some Sahabah
• ‘Ijtihad in the Utterances of the Imams (A)
• Ijtihad as a Technical Term
• Critique of the Above Definitions
• Second Definition of Ijtihad
• Critique of the Second Type of Definitions
• Third Definition of Ijtihad
• Critique of the Third Type of Definitions
• Fourth Definition of Ijtihad
• Critique of the Fourth Type of Definitions
• Further Clarification
• A Misconception
• Fifth Definition of Ijtihad
• Critique of the Fifth Definition
• Objections Against the Definition
• Note
• Two Different Conceptions of Ijtihad
• Ijtihad as an Independent Source in Sunni Fiqh
• Notes
• The Holy Qur'an as the First Source of Ijtihad
• The Sources of Ijtihad
• An Overview of the Ayat al 'Ahkam
• Initial Research Concerning the Ayat al‑Ahkam
• The Works on Qur'anic Fiqh
• A. Shi’i Works on Fiqh al‑Qur’an
• B. Zaydi Works on Fiqh al‑Qur’an
• C. Hanafi Works on Fiqh al‑Qur’an
• D. Maliki Works on Fiqh al‑Qur'an
• E. Shafi’i Works on Fiqh al‑Qur’an
• F. Hanbali Works on Fiqh al‑Qur'an
• G. Zahiri Works on Fiqh al‑Qur’an
• Legal Deduction from the Qur'an
• The Authority of Zawahhir al‑Qur'an
• Muhkamat and Mutashabihat
• Why Mutashabih Verses?
• The Qur'an on Muhkamat and Mutashabihat
• A‑Shayhh al‑Tusi's Remark
• Examples of Muhkamat and Mutashabihat
• The Hidden Meanings of Qur'anic Verses
• The Qur'an and Khabar al‑Wahid
• Arguments against the Permissibility of the Takhsis
• Qur'anic Exegesis Through Khabar al‑Wahid
• Role of Exegesis in Legal Deduction
• The Mode of Revelation
• Makki and Madani Verses
• The Different Readings
• a. The Reason Behind Variant Readings
• b. The Reliable Readings
• c. The Effect of the Readings on Legal Deduction
• The Comprehensive Character of the Qur'an
• Factors Responsible for Emergence of the Practice of Ra'y
• The Factors Which Generated New, Contingent Issues
• The Shi'i Encounter With New Problems
• Different Points of View Among Ahl al‑Sunnah
• Ra'y and Shi’i Ijtihad
• Arguments in Defence of Ra'y and Their Refutation
• 1. The Arguments Based on the Qur’an
• 2. Arguments Based on the Tradition
• Critique of the Tradition Narrated about Mu'adh
• Consequences of the Tradition About Mu'adh
• Critique of the Second Riwayah
• Critique of the Third Riwayah
• Critique of the Fourth Riwayah
• The Emergence of Ijtihad bi al‑Ray
• The View of al‑Dawalibi
• The Term Ta'wil During the Days of Tabi'un
• The Usage of Ta'wil by Tabi ‘un
• The Use of "Ijtihad" in Another Sense
• The New Denotation of Ijtihad
• Difference between the Two Conceptions and its Consequences
• Delimitation of the Meaning of Ijtihad by al‑Muhaqqiq al‑Hilli
• Notes
• The Beginnings of Shi’i Ijtihad
• The Qur’an as the Source of Law
• Difficulty of Utilizing the Sunnah
• The Need for Ijtihad amongst the Shi’ah
• The Difference between Shi'i and Sunni Ijtihad
• Ijtihad during the Era of the Imams (A)
• Conclusion
• Ijtihad, a Perennial Spring
• The Source of the Inadequacies
• The Qualifications Required for Ijitihad
• The Closure of the Gates of Ijtihad, a Conspiracy
• Difference of Viewpoints, a Bounty
• Ijtihad, Legislation and Tajdid
• A Clarification
• The Practice of Ijtihad
• The Development of the Theory of Ijtihad
• Note