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Ijtihad is an Islamic legal term that refers to the independent reasoning of a qualified Islamic scholar to deduce Islamic law from its sources. These sources primarily include the Quran and the Sunnah, the traditions and practices of the Prophet Muhammad. Ijtihad is employed when a legal issue is not explicitly addressed in the primary texts, or when an interpretation is needed for a contemporary situation.

The practice of ijtihad is considered a crucial mechanism for the development and adaptation of Islamic jurisprudence to evolving social, economic, and political contexts. Scholars who engage in ijtihad are known as mujtahids. There are differing opinions among Islamic scholars regarding the conditions and requirements for a scholar to be considered a mujtahid, but generally, it involves a deep understanding of Arabic language, Quranic exegesis, hadith sciences, principles of jurisprudence (usul al-fiqh), and the rulings of previous scholars.

The results of ijtihad are not considered infallible and can differ among scholars. This diversity of opinion is seen by many as a mercy and a sign of the richness of Islamic legal thought. The exercise of ijtihad is generally divided into two types: ijtihad mutlaq, which is the independent formulation of entire legal schools, and ijtihad muqayyad, which is reasoning within an established legal school. The debate over the extent and validity of ijtihad has continued throughout Islamic history, with periods of its greater and lesser prevalence.