Contextual Qur’anic Interpretation And Islamic Tradition Of Ijtihad

Abstract

The modern thinkers of the holy Qur??n hold the view that the holy Qur??n was sent down to the earth in a context which drive the interpreters to contextualize the Qur??nic message from time to time to find out its relevance to the changing demands of a particular age. Islamic Modernism was a movement initiated for the reconciliation of Islamic principles with the emerging modern trends and continuously changing scenarios. The developments in the contemporary era demand the understanding of the broader perspectives and concerns of the holy Qur??n to elucidate the universality of the Qur??nic message. In Islamic legislation, Ijtih?d plays a central role, and it is the basic tool for religious re-interpretation of contextual issues. It is an essential means for providing a balance between text and context by maintaining a harmony between reason and revelation. Throughout the modern period, there were calls to revive the Islamic tradition of Ijtih?d and the contextual interpretation of Qur’?nic verses. In this regard, this research study will discuss the conceptual framework of Ijtih?d and Ijtih?d in a contemporary context. The views of several renowned early modernist and neo-modernist scholars about the Islamic tradition of Ijtih?d will be highlighted to understand how the contextual approach to Qur??nic interpretation has reawakened the Islamic tradition of Ijtih?d.