The Problem of «Ijtihad and Taqlid» Among Muslims in the Period of the Russian Empire of the 17Th-19Th Centuries

Abstract

The article discusses the issues of ijtihad and taqlid, one of the most topical issues in the Islamic world. We will focus on how these two concepts were reflected among Muslims in the 17Th-19Th centuries under the Russian Empire, and where they originated and their current characteristics. Ijtihad is a concept in which human beings work as hard as they can, think, solve any problem rationally, and determine the rulings of issues that are not explicitly stated in the Qur’an and the hadiths, as if they were explicitly stated. Where there is the concept of ijtihad, the concept of taqleed must also be mentioned. Taqleed is the concept of imitating a leader, trying to imitate that person, repeating someone’s actions and following in his footsteps. First of all, we correctly analyze the nature of the concept of ijtihad and taqlid. Although almost two centuries have passed since the conflict between Jadidism and Qadimism began to take place as a social phenomenon, the conflict between Jadidism and Qadimism is still relevant in the public consciousness, including among Muslims. Finding solutions to some extent to the disputes between the concepts of modernization and conservatism in Islam will be essential to prevent some divisions in society and maintain social integrity.