The Layman between Ijtihad and Taqlid among the Fundamentalists

Abstract

Abstract

This research, entitled “The Layman Between Ijtihad and Taqlid According to Usul Scholars,” examines the position of the layman who has not attained the level of ijtihad when faced with legal issues that require a ruling from qualified jurists. The study discusses the position of the layman when multiple muftis exist, his stance toward the diversity of opinions and fatwas, and the limits of his own reasoning in applying legal rulings.

The research also examines the issue of following a qualified jurist in both the fundamentals and branches of religion. Among the main findings of the study are the permissibility for a layman to consult any qualified mujtahid, even if he is not the most knowledgeable, and the permissibility of weighing between different fatwas when they differ. The study also confirms the permissibility of taqlid in both the fundamentals and branches of religion