Course Synopsis: Introduction to Ijtihād
During the time of the Prophet (ṣallā Allāhu ʿalayhi wa ālihi wa sallam) and the Imams of the Ahl al-Bayt (ʿalayhim al-salām), they were the divinely appointed authorities to whom the Muslim community was required to refer in all matters of Islam—including legal rulings. Although the Shīʿah community had access to these infallible sources, this access became increasingly limited, especially during the lifetimes of the later Imams. After the Ghaybah (occultation) of the Twelfth Imam (ʿajjal Allāhu farajahu), this access ceased entirely.
In this new phase, the community was tasked with referring to the recorded teachings and sayings of the infallibles. However, deriving Islamic rulings and guidance from these sources without direct access to the Imams posed significant challenges—challenges that scholars have grappled with throughout the centuries. The method of systematically deriving Islamic law from these sources eventually came to be known as Ijtihād.
This course consists of 35 lessons and serves as an introduction to the science of Ijtihād. It is aimed at those who are interested in gaining a foundational understanding of this important field, even if they are not seminary students. It also seeks to clarify common misconceptions surrounding Ijtihād.
A few important points to note:
- The initial plan was to base the course on the textbook Madkhal-e-Ilm-e-Fiqh. However, as the course progressed, it was decided not to rely on a single textbook. Instead, discussions were drawn from a variety of scholarly resources.
- Another initial objective was to cover both Ijtihād and Taqlīd within the same course. However, due to time constraints, it was decided that Taqlīd would be addressed in a separate course (potentially in-person), as it includes its own unique discussions—although there is some overlap with Ijtihād.
- It was also mentioned during the course that we would conclude with a comprehensive timeline detailing the development of various schools of Islamic law and key jurists. Due to the course length, this section has been postponed, and we pray that Allāh (subḥānahu wa taʿālā) grants us the opportunity to complete it in the future.
Course Outline – Titles of the 35 Lessons Listed Below:
