The Transition from Ijtihad to Modern Critique

Formulation of the Claim

Arkoun calls for a transition from classical ijtihad to a critique of Islamic reason.

Explanation

Arkoun holds that ijtihad, in its classical form, is no longer sufficient to confront the questions posed by modern Islamic thought. He therefore links epistemic renewal to a broader transition from juridical interpretation to questioning the very tools of thought themselves.

For him, this transition means opening the way to modern critique as a practice that addresses the mental and epistemic structure that produced traditional propositions. What is at stake is not replacing one ruling with another, but reconsidering the conditions under which understanding is produced within Islamic culture.

Its Place in the Book’s Argument

This atom belongs to Arkoun’s broader thesis, which distinguishes between partial reform and deep critical renewal. It converges with his call for a Critique of Islamic Reason as an entry point for understanding the historicity of concepts, the limits of traditional jurisprudence, and the place of ijtihad in the modern age.

Limits of the Claim

The atom should not be taken to imply a complete rupture with ijtihad or the cancellation of its historical value. Nor does it, by itself, provide the details of the alternative method or its applications in every field of religious knowledge.

Brief Evidence Passage

In the preceding pages, we spoke at length about various topics concerning Islamic thought. Everything discussed above clearly calls us to the necessity of moving beyond the traditional, classical concept of ijtihad and the pattern of rational practice associated with it, for it is no longer suitable for this age—or, let us say, it is no longer sufficient. Thus, this old ijtihad must be surpassed by means of the new critique enacted by modern reason, which I have called the Critique of Islamic Reason; it is far more powerful and radical than the ijtihad practiced by the ancient Muslim scholars. There is no doubt that the interpretive activity stirred by the Qur’an is an act of scientific knowledge at the highest level; our aim is not to disparage the ancients or diminish their worth and achievements, but

Nearby Links

• Islamic Thought: Critique and Ijtihad
• Where Is Contemporary Islamic Thought?