Insight into Prophetic Ijtihād:An Analysis of Muhammad’s Legal Thinking
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.7187/GJAT122019-5Keywords:
Ijtihād, Prophet Muhammad, Islamic law, Qur’ān and SunnāhAbstract
After the passing away of the Prophet Muhammad, there were different perspectives regarding ijtihād (independent reasoning) and how it relates to the role of Muhammad as a Rasul (Messenger) and a Nabi (Prophet) among the Muslims. The Muslims were divided into two contending groups: one believing that Muhammad never carried out the ijtihad, the fact that he was ma‘sum, while the other asserting that the he might actually have carried it out. This last was in reference to a number of verses in the Qur’ān that are considered mutashābih. This article attempts at analysing the legal thinking of the Prophet of Islam by providing an insight into Muhammad’s ijtihād with direct reference to Manhaj al-Fikr al-Tawasuthīyyah and Manhaj al-Fikr al-Ishlahīyyah. Our knowledge of the methods propounded in these two kitabs may help us in reconciling the two differing Muslim perspectives regarding the role of the Prophet Muhammad in ijtihad, prior to the post-prophetic consolidation of Islamic law.
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