New
New
Year 9

Interpreting Shariah using ijtihad

I can explain the meaning of ijtihad and how it might be interpreted and applied by Muslims today.

New
New
Year 9

Interpreting Shariah using ijtihad

I can explain the meaning of ijtihad and how it might be interpreted and applied by Muslims today.

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Lesson details

Key learning points

  1. Muslim thinking has developed since Prophet Muhammad. A challenge has been to respond to ideas not in Qur'an or Hadith.
  2. The term ‘ijtihad’ comes from the word jihad, which means struggle, effort or fight.
  3. Ijtihad is the method of using the principles of the Qur'an and Hadith to identify the best action.
  4. Using ijtihad may result in different interpretations which lead to diversity of thought amongst different Muslims.

Keywords

  • Hadith - the recorded words of the Prophet Muhammad

  • Ijtihad - the human effort and reasoning used to work out the Shariah

  • Interpretation - the action of explaining the meaning of something

  • Shariah - a set of moral and religious laws that guide Muslims

Common misconception

All Muslims will come to the same conclusion about a moral or social issue.

Different scholars will interpret sources differently meaning there is a diversity of opinion about issues such as the Eid moon sighting, and wearing of trousers and beards.


To help you plan your year 9 religious education lesson on: Interpreting Shariah using ijtihad, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...

Connect ijtihad to real-life situations students can relate to e.g., social media, AI, climate change, or everyday moral dilemmas.
Teacher tip

Equipment

Content guidance

  • Depiction or discussion of violence or suffering

Supervision

Adult supervision recommended

Licence

This content is © Oak National Academy Limited (2025), licensed on Open Government Licence version 3.0 except where otherwise stated. See Oak's terms & conditions (Collection 2).

Lesson video

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Prior knowledge starter quiz

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5 Questions

Q1.
The two sources used to make Shariah are the Qur’an and the ...

Correct Answer: Hadith, hadith

Q2.
What is Shariah?

Correct answer: Islamic moral and legal guidance
a political party
a chapter in the Qur'an

Q3.
Actions that are allowed or encouraged are called ...

Correct Answer: halal, Halal

Q4.
What is the Hijra?

the death of Muhammad
Correct answer: the migration from Makkah to Madinah
a religious war

Q5.
Muslims believe full Shariah guidance began in ...

Correct Answer: Madinah

Assessment exit quiz

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5 Questions

Q1.
What challenge did Muslims face after Prophet Muhammad’s death?

They had too many prophets.
The Arabic language was forgotten.
Correct answer: The Shariah didn’t always answer new issues.

Q2.
What is ijtihad?

blind following
Correct answer: reasoned interpretation using Qur’an and Hadith
disagreeing with Islam

Q3.
Ijtihad may guide Muslim views on modern weapons like weapons.

Correct Answer: nuclear, Nuclear

Q4.
What is one result of ijtihad being used by different scholars?

Correct answer: diversity of opinions
one single answer
no decisions at all

Q5.
Some scholars rely on moon while others use calculations to determine the start of Eid.

Correct Answer: sightings, Sightings