As we know the mind is not the source of the Shari’ah rather making it such would be a complete negation of the Shari’ah. Ijtihad is not using the intellect to derive rules, rather Ijtihad is focussing the usage of the intellect around two fundamental roles, understanding the reality of the subject matter at hand so as to fully comprehend the nature of the issue at hand, and in understanding the Islamic texts that are connected to the issue.

So in order to establish the Islamic method of establishing the Khilafah we are required to study the Islamic evidences and extract the rule. Imam Shafi’i stated in his renowned work Ar Risala page 75: “No one should give an opinion upon a specific issue by merely stating that it is permitted or prohibited, unless he has sure knowledge, and this knowledge is based on the Qur’an or the Sunnah or derived from Ijma’a or through Qiyas.” He went on to say on page 288 paragraph 493: “On alll matters touching the (life of a) Muslim there is either a binding decision or an indication as to the right answer. if there is a binding decision then it should be followed. If there is no indication then it is sought by Ijtihad.” Hence for every single human action there is a Hukm Shari and for every Hukm Shari there is Daleel from the Wahi (revelation), and so the Ahkam Shari’ah (divine rules) are derived from the detailed evidences via the process of Ijtihad.

Allah (swt) states in Surah al-Ma’idah,

“This day I have perfected for you your Deen and completed my favour upon you and have chosen Islam as your Deen.” (TMQ al-Ma’idah, verse 4)

Imam Suyuti mentions that all the Ahkam of Islam were revealed and so in that sense the Deen had become completed at this point (Al Itqan fe ‘Ulum ul Qur’an quoted by Sabuni in his Tibyan fee ‘Ulum ul Qur’an p18-19). Hence we have been given a perfected and completed Deen where no human problem has not been addressed in the form of Ahkam Shari’ah i.e. rules that Allah (swt) has laid down for the Muslims in order to live their lives. Hence the Shari’ah rules are the sole reference point of the believers in all that they do, including the methodology of establishing the Khilafah Allah (swt) states in the Qur’an,

“Whatever the Messenger (saw) gives you take it and whatever he forbids you leave it, fear Allah for verily Allah is most stern in His punishment.” (TMQ al-Hashr, verse 7)

So we can only adopt from the revelation of the Qur’an and the Sunnah and what indicates it, namely the Ijma’a of the Sahabah (ra) or what it points to, that is Qiyas (Analogy). Similarly we are prevented from adopting any rule or law from other than these sources in all of the affairs of life.

The Prophet (saw) stated,“Whosoever enacts an action not established upon our affair will have it rejected” (Narrated by ‘A’ishah (ra) in the Jami’u us Sahih of Imam Muslim)

So we are required to restrict ourselves to the Ahkam Shari’ah in all of our actions irrespective of whether in determining an obligation e.g. prayer, the appointing of a Khaleefah, fasting in Ramadhan etc., a prohibition e.g. Zina, lying, the prohibition of ruling by Kufr etc., a permission e.g. eating and drinking, utilising technology, experimentation in natural sciences etc. or any other classification of Shari’ah rule such as the favourable (Mandoub) or disliked (Makruh). All of these would require evidence from the Qur’an or the Sunnah to determine the view of Islam and Hukm of Allah on any issue.

Hence after having determined that the resumption of the Islamic way of life by establishing the Khilafah is the vital issue that faces the Ummah we are required to look to Islam to determine the actions that we are required to undertake in order to re-establish the Khilafah, thereby bringing Islam back to the affairs of life.

So we must realise that for every human action there is a Hukm Shari’i, i.e. divine rule. For every Hukm Shari’i there is an evidence from the Qur’an and the Sunnah or the Ijma’a of the Sahabah or indicated through Qiyas based upon the texts.

Ahkam Shari’ah deduced from the Daleel (evidences) that are definite When scrutinising the Qur’an and the Sunnah we would find that there are certain rules whose evidence is indisputable and there is no room for Ijtihad. They are found in the verses of Qur’an whose meaning is Qat’i (definitive) and those Ahadith of the Prophet (saw) which are indisputably known to be from the Prophet (saw) (Mutawatir) and whose meanings are also Qat’i. These are Qat’i evidences which can only be understood in one manner and the rejection of which would lead a person to Kufr. For example, matters of Aqeedah such as the belief in Jannah (Paradise) and Jahannam (Hellfire), and the belief in the Day of Judgement are indisputable and are definitive parts of the Deen that we must believe in.

Similarly certain Ahkam Shari’ah are definitive and indisputable, and the rejection of these would be Kufr (disbelief).

For example the Qur’an and Sunnah contain numerous evidences concerning the obligation of the establishment of the regular Salah (prayer). The rejection of this obligation would be Kufr. An example of a Daleel for this would be when Allah (swt) said in Surah al-Mu’minun, “Verily the believers have attained the Success (in the hereafter), those who guard there prayers.” (TMQ al-Mu’minun, verses 1-2)

Also the Hadith of the Prophet (saw) as narrated authentically in the Musnad of Imam Ahmed ibn Hanbal:

“The covenant between myself and yourself is the Salah whoever abandons prayer commits an action of disbelief” Hence the Hukm Shari’i is definitive on the obligation (Fard) of Salah.

Another example of a definite rule would be the prohibition of Riba (usury/interest) that has been established without any room for misunderstanding in the Qur’an when Allah (swt) said:

“And Allah has permitted trade but forbidden usury.” (TMQ al-Baqarah, verse 275)

This amongst other evidences are clear and definitive in their import and can only mean the prohibition (Tahreem) of interest dealings in their totality, whether this occurred through personal banking, the taking of IMF loans or the supporting of the IMF through donations.

Other examples of Ahkam that are indisputable are matters such as the obligation of fasting in the month of Ramadhan, the prohibition of Kuffar having authority in the Islamic lands such as al-Quds, the obligation of restoring the rule of Allah and the obligation of Jihad. All of these Ahkam are indisputable since they have Daleel that are definitive.

There is no room in these matters for any differences of opinions or divergences of views.

Ahkam Shari’ah deduced from Daleel that are indefinite Ahkam Shari’ah are also derived from evidences where there is room for interpretation regarding meanings, connection with the problem at hand and validity. This is where we are required to scrutinise the evidences further, since Allah (swt) orders the Muslims,

“Then if you dispute in a matter return it to Allah and His Messenger (saw)” (TMQ al-Nisa’a, verse 59)

Hence, in matters where the Daleel (evidence) is interpretable in more than one manner the utmost must be done in understanding the relevant evidences and weighing them up in light of the Qur’an and the Sunnah i.e. weighing up all the related evidences pertaining to the matter under discussion.

This process is known as Ijtihad. The Prophet (saw) guided the Sahabah to make Ijtihad as the methodology to extract the Ahkam Shari’ah from their Daleel. It has been narrated that when the Prophet (saw) sent Mu’adh and Abu Musa Al-Ashari to Yemen, he (saw) said, ‘What are you going to rule by?’ They said, ‘If we don’t find the rule in the Qur’an and the Sunnah, we will compare a case to another and whatever is closer to the Haqq, we will act upon it.” This analogy made by the Sahabah (ra) and approved by the Prophet (saw) described the process of Ijtihad in deriving rules. Also, it was narrated about him (saw) that, “When he sent Mu’adh as a governor to Yemen, he (saw) said to him, ‘What are you going to rule by?’ Mu’adh said, ‘By the Qur’an of Allah.’ The Prophet (saaw) then asked, ‘If you don’t find (the rule)?’ He said, ‘By the Sunnah of the Messenger (saw) of Allah.’ The Prophet (saw) said, ‘If you don’t find (the rule)?’ Mu’adh said, ‘I exert my utmost and give my opinion.’ The Prophet (saw) said, ‘Alhamdu Lillah (Praise be to Allah) that He led the Messenger of Allah to that which Allah and His Messenger like.” This Hadeeth clearly permits Mu’adh to perform Ijtihad. Moreover, knowing the Hukm Shari’ (divine rule) is inexorably linked with Ijtihad to the extent that it is not possible to know the rules without it.

The Prophet (saw) said in one Hadeeth, “When the judge makes Ijtihad and he errs he gets one reward and if he hits the mark he gets two rewards” (Sahih al-Bukhari with a similar narration in Sahih Muslim)

So when the Mujtahid performs Ijtihad in order to extract a divine rule and exerts his utmost in understanding the evidences he will be rewarded whether he is correct or not. Hence in these areas it is natural for there to be differences of opinion as long as these different opinions are extracted by qualified Mujtahideen having exerted themselves in understanding the relevant evidences.

The following is an example to illustrate this point:

In a well known Hadith the Prophet (saw) is narrated to have stated, “There is no prayer (Laa Salaat) for the one who does recite the Fatiha of the Kitab in every single rakaa’a. “ The jurists have differed in their understanding in the purport of this narration. Some have stated that the Prophet (saw) negated the validity of Salah (Sihhatus Salah), prayer without reciting Surah Fatiha and therefore it necessary to read it in every single prayer including behind the Imam. As this is the obvious meaning of the text and can not be understood in any other manner except with another Daleel. This understanding has been attributed to Imam Shafi’i.

Others have said that the expression laa salaat meaning ‘no prayer’ is not a negation of validity (Sihhah) but rather a negation of perfection (Kamala) as in the hadeeth authenticated by Imam Nawawi in his Arbaeen, “Laa yuminoo.....”, “Not one of you has attained Iman until he loves for his brother what he loves for himself.” Therefore the following of the Imam takes precedence over the reciting the Fatiha and therefore should not be done behind the Imam but only recited when prayer by ones self. This opinion has been attributed to Imam Abu Hanifah.

A third view exists and this view has been attributed to Imam Malik, which is that when behind the Imam one should only recite the Fatiha in the raka’aat that the Imam is silent, but not recited when the Imam recites aloud i.e. the first two Raka’aat of Maghrib, Isha and Salatul Fajr.

This example should illustrate how Ijtihad is actually based upon the Qur’an and Sunnah and does not merely mean using the mind to derive a rule.

Similarly we are required to scrutinise the ideas that are put forward as methodologies and whether they are actually the relevant Islamic evidences or whether they are Ijtihadaat.