Definition of the Mujtahid, and the Conditions That Must Be Met by the Mujtahid

Question:
The questioner asks about ijtihad, independent legal reasoning, saying: What are the conditions that must be met by the mujtahid, and what are the levels of ijtihad? May Allah reward you with good.

Answer:
The mujtahid is the one who has knowledge of what he is exercising independent legal reasoning in; sufficient knowledge of the rulings of buying and selling, the rulings of marriage, the rulings of divorce, and so on. In matters of creed, he speaks with knowledge and insight, and he is called a mujtahid. The one who has knowledge of the evidence from the Shari'ah is called a mujtahid. He exercises independent legal reasoning in determining the rulings based on the evidence from the Shari'ah; this is the mujtahid. This is in contrast to the one who does not know, but rather takes the words of the scholars; this one is called a muqallid. He takes the words of the scholars and speaks, and he is called a muqallid.
As for the one who knows the evidence, who says "Allah said" and "His Messenger said," who has knowledge and insight, this is the mujtahid. Yes.

The presenter : May Allah bless you, and may Allah reward you with the best reward.