The Ruling on Closing the Door of Ijtihad
Machine translationRead the Arabic original
Question:
What is your opinion, Honorable Shaykh, regarding those who say that the door of ijtihad (independent legal reasoning) has been closed for a long time, due to the unavailability of the conditions for ijtihad?
Answer:
Yes, this is a well-known statement, but it is subject to scrutiny. The door of ijtihad will not be closed. However, one who wishes to engage in ijtihad must possess the conditions for ijtihad. For the one who has the conditions for ijtihad, the door has not been closed; rather, the matter depends on the presence of those qualified for ijtihad. Imam Ahmad holds that the door of ijtihad remains open, and he cites as evidence the saying of the Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him) This is proof that ijtihad does not cease, and that there will always be people in the Ummah (the Muslim community) capable of ijtihad continuously. However, they may become few in number, and they may be few in number, and Allah knows best.
The bottom line is that the door of ijtihad is not closed. If someone is found who possesses the conditions, the door remains open until the Hour occurs. As for the one who is not skilled in ijtihad, he is not suitable, and it is not permissible for him to engage in ijtihad. Because some writers, some pretenders to knowledge, may hold a degree from some colleges and consider that they have reached the rank of ijtihad. This is a mistake; this person has not reached the rank of ijtihad. Look at this.
What is your opinion, Honorable Shaykh, regarding those who say that the door of ijtihad (independent legal reasoning) has been closed for a long time, due to the unavailability of the conditions for ijtihad?
Answer:
Yes, this is a well-known statement, but it is subject to scrutiny. The door of ijtihad will not be closed. However, one who wishes to engage in ijtihad must possess the conditions for ijtihad. For the one who has the conditions for ijtihad, the door has not been closed; rather, the matter depends on the presence of those qualified for ijtihad. Imam Ahmad holds that the door of ijtihad remains open, and he cites as evidence the saying of the Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him)
A group from my Ummah will remain upon the truth, supported, and those who abandon them or oppose them will not harm them until the command of Allah comes.
لا تزال طائفة من أمتي على الحق منصورة لا يضرهم من خذلهم ولا من خالفهم حتى يأتي أمر اللهThe bottom line is that the door of ijtihad is not closed. If someone is found who possesses the conditions, the door remains open until the Hour occurs. As for the one who is not skilled in ijtihad, he is not suitable, and it is not permissible for him to engage in ijtihad. Because some writers, some pretenders to knowledge, may hold a degree from some colleges and consider that they have reached the rank of ijtihad. This is a mistake; this person has not reached the rank of ijtihad. Look at this.
Source
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The Arabic text is a machine transcription of the audio recording.