2. Ijtihād
TheImamsof Ahlu’l-baythadforeseenthetimeoftheOcculation and
hadpreparedtheirfollowersforthesituationinwhichtheywillnotbein
directcontact with their Imam.This preparationwasdone bytraining
the Shi‘as in the science of Islamic laws, or in otherwords, in ijtihād.
(Ijtihādmeans “the processof derivingthe lawsof thesharī‘afrom its
sources.”) Ijtihād is an essential phenomenon for the survival of the
Islamic sharī‘a during the Occultation of the Imam (a.s.). Without the
systemofijtihād,wewouldnotbeabletoapplyIslamiclawsintherap-
idly changing circumstances of human society.
Ijtihādisnotonlypermissible,butessentialfromtheIslamicpointof
view.ItisanobligationinIslamtostudyeverythingthatisnecessaryfor
the spiritual development and material wellbeing of the Muslim com-
munity. However, this obligation is of the category which is known
aswājib kifā'i.[22]In the present instance, for example, Islamic society
needsexpertsinthemedicalsciences,inphysicsandchemistry,inengin-
eering, education; and as long as there is a lack of expertise in these
areas,itisanobligationonthecommunityasawholetoacquireit.This
meansthatagroupofMuslimsmustdevotethemselvestoresearchsoas
tobenefittheMuslimcommunity.Similarly,anIslamicsocietywithout
expertsinthesharī‘acannotproperlyconsideritselfIslamic,andsoitis
anobligation fora groupof personsfrom thissociety todevote them-
selvestothestudyof thereligioussciencestoprovideproperguidance
to all Muslims.
This is suchan important obligation that Allah has exempted those
who go to seek religious knowledge from the duty of jihād. He says:
“Itisnot(right)forthebelieverstogoforthalltogether(forjihād).So
whyshouldnotapartyfromeverysectionofthem(i.e.,thebelievers)go
forthtobecomelearnedin thereligion,and towarntheirpeople when
they return to them—so that haply they may beware.” (9:124)
Itis clearfrom manynarrationsthat theImams ofAhlu’l-bayt(a.s.)
usedtobepleasedwheneveranyoftheircompanionstaughtreligionor
gavelegalrulings(fatwa)toothers.Thereareseveraldocumentedcases
ofShi‘aswholivedfarfromMedinaaskingtheImamoftheirtimetoap-
point someone in their area to adjudicate between them in religious