The Role of Intelligent Technologies in Transforming the Methodology of Contemporary Ijtihad

Abstract

The rapid expansion of intelligent technologies and their increasing penetration into various domains of science, research, and decision-making have created the conditions for transforming many traditional methods of knowledge production. Islamic jurisprudence and ijtihad, as the principal means of deriving Islamic legal rulings, have likewise encountered new opportunities and challenges in the face of these developments. The central problem addressed in this study is the role of intelligent technologies in transforming the methodology of contemporary ijtihad and the extent to which these technologies can influence the process of deriving Islamic legal rulings. The study aims to identify the capacities of intelligent technologies for collecting, processing, and analyzing jurisprudential sources; assess their effects on the various stages of ijtihad; and clarify the position of the jurist in engaging with emerging intelligent tools. This research employed a descriptive–analytical method and drew upon library sources, works on Islamic jurisprudence and the principles of jurisprudence, and studies related to intelligent technologies. The findings indicate that intelligent technologies, through their capacity to process vast volumes of data, analyze texts, identify relationships among sources, and accelerate access to information, can significantly enhance the accuracy, efficiency, and comprehensiveness of the ijtihad process and facilitate the emergence of new models of data-driven ijtihad. Nevertheless, the absence of presential cognition, intentionality, volition, and the capacity to understand the objectives of Islamic law prevents these technologies from replacing the mujtahid; consequently, their role remains limited to that of auxiliary and decision-support tools. Therefore, the most appropriate model for contemporary ijtihad is based on constructive interaction between the jurist and intelligent technologies within the framework of collaborative ijtihad—a model that utilizes technological capacities while preserving the central role of human agency in the process of deriving Islamic legal rulings.