Iqbal & Ijtihad: The Reconstruction of Religious Thought in Islam

Abstract

Allama Iqbal was a person with ijtihadi thought. He presented Ijtihadi thought in a new way in the subcontinent. Allama Iqbal explained the meaning of ijtihad in different ways, sometimes he said that ijtihad is the name of principle of movement, somewhere he said that ijtihad refers to independent opinion and independent decision. Similarly, according to Allama, ijtihad was formulated to complete legislation. Allama Iqbal was not at all convinced that the door of ijtihad was closed, but according to Allama, by correcting the thoughts of ijtihad, Muslims can regain their lost position, Rather be critical. According to Allama, there is an urgent need to do ijtihad in the style of Shah Waliullah Muhaddith Dehlvi. Allama considered it necessary to reconstruct all matters through ijtihad. They praised the Turks for breaking the intellectual stagnation and doing ijtihad. But he was not completely convinced  ijtihad of Without limits. Allama Iqbal regarded collective ijtihad and parliamentary ijtihad with great importance.