Taqlid and Ijtihad in the growth of Islamic jurisprudence

Since the early days of Islam, Islamic jurisprudence, or fiqh, has undergone significant development. This evolution has been driven by various methods and techniques employed by scholars to derive rulings from Islam’s primary sources the Qur’an and the Sunnah. Among these methods, the concepts of taqlid (following past scholarly opinions) and ijtihad (independent reasoning) have played vital roles in shaping the structure and direction of Islamic law throughout history. Ijtihad refers to the sincere and rigorous effort of qualified scholars to derive legal rulings in matters where there are no clear texts in the Qur’an or Sunnah. During the early Islamic period, ijtihad served as the main tool for addressing new and emerging issues in society. Through this method, Islamic law was able to grow and adapt to contemporary realities while remaining faithful to its core religious principles (Rahimin Affandi Abdul Rahim, 2009). In contrast, taqlid means adhering to the rulings of past scholars without conducting new research or independent reasoning. As legal discussions became more complex and the general public no longer had the capacity to engage in full-fledged ijtihad, taqlid became a common practice. Though sometimes viewed as an obstacle to legal reform, taqlid has helped preserve stability and continuity in Islamic law. Islamic scholars often debate the relationship between taqlid and ijtihad, especially when there is tension between preserving tradition and initiating reform. At times, ijtihad has taken precedence over taqlid due to factors like the decline of scholarly institutions or political pressure (Abdullah, 2015). To truly understand the evolution of Islamic law over time, one must grasp the significance of taqlid and ijtihad. These two concepts represent different ways of thinking about legal authority, while also highlighting the need to preserve scholarly tradition and engage in critical reasoning to address modern challenges. Studying both ideas offers deeper insight into how Islamic law has developed from its classical foundations to its modern day applications.