Al-Iqtisad fi al-Taqlid wal-Ijtihad الإقتصاد في التقليد والاجتهاد

Al-Iqtisad fi al-Taqlid wal-Ijtihad (الاقتصاد في التقليد والاجتهاد), meaning “Moderation in Taqlid and Ijtihad,” is an influential work by the renowned Deobandi scholar Maulana Ashraf Ali Thanvi (d. 1362 AH / 1943 CE). Originally written in Urdu, this important treatise has been translated into Arabic by Ahmed Naqi and Mahmud Zaki and praised by Mufti Muhammad Taqi Usmani.

The book addresses one of the most debated issues in Islamic legal thought: the relationship between following a qualified school of law (Taqlid) and independent juristic reasoning (Ijtihad). Maulana Thanvi presents a balanced approach between rejecting the authority of the classical Sunni Madhhabs and adopting rigid, blind partisanship toward a particular school.

Through detailed scholarly discussion, the author explains the necessity of Taqlid for those who are not qualified for Ijtihad, the proper role of the four Sunni Madhhabs, the qualifications required for Mujtahids, and the importance of respecting valid scholarly differences.

This Arabic translation makes a valuable Hanafi and Deobandi contribution to Islamic legal theory accessible to a wider audience. It is an essential resource for students of Fiqh, Usul al-Fiqh, Madhhabs, and contemporary discussions on Taqlid and Ijtihad.