What is meant by the doors of Ijtihaad are closed?

Answer

The Doors of Ijtihaad being closed applies to the Usool (Principles) and Furoo' (particular/ detailed masaa-il) formulated by the Aimmah Mujtahideen. The issues which the Aimmah Mujtahideen had settled and finalized may not be subjected to ijtihaad. For example, the Aimmah Mujtahideen of all Math-habs have unanimously ruled that three Talaaqs uttered in one breath are three, not one as the deviant Salafis opine on the basis of their understanding of certain Hadith narrations.

The Doors of Ijtihaad having closed is not applicable to new developments, e.g. preforming Salaat on the moon or using scientific instruments/ calculations to determine the Islamic months or to decide the permissibility or impermissibility of performing Salaat in the air or for deciding the impermissibility of digital picture, etc., etc.

The rulings for all new developments will be based on the Principles evolved by the Aimmah Muhtahideen and also on similar particular mas'alahs already existing in the Shariah. Re-interpreting existing Principles and Particulars is haraam.

Someone asked Nabi Isaa (alayhis salaam): "Besides ♦ (alayhis salaam): "Tell me goodness do not speak."

of an action which will Rasulullah (sallallahu take me to Jannat." Nabi alayhi wasallam) said:

Isaa (alayhis salaam): ♦ "Besides goodness, "Don't speak." The man restrain your tongue ♦ said: "We are compelled from everything to speak." Nabi Isaa else. In this way will you defeat shaitaan."

"Allah has mercy on one who speaks only goodness. Besides goodness, he adopts silence."

"Most sins of man are the effects of his tongue."

The creation of Jinn was two thousand years before the creation of Hadhrat Aadam (Alayhis salaam). The earth was their abode of habitation. When the father of the Jinn species was created, from a blazing flame of fire, Allah Ta'ala instructed him to express a desire. He said: "I wish that we should see all things, but we should not be seen to enable us to live in concealment on earth, and even our aged ones should remain young (i.e. despite being aged they should remain young until the time of their death). His supplications were accepted. Hence, they are not visible to man. At the time of death, they are still young despite having lived for ages and when they die, they simply vanish.

After their creation, the Jinn remained on earth as obedient servants, engaging in much worship. With the passing of time they deviated and took to the path of transgression. They rebelled against their king whose name was Yusuf whom they killed.

Allah Ta'ala sent an army of four thousand Angels from the second heaven to punish the rebellious Jinn on earth. These Angels are also known as 'Jinn'. Among them was Iblees who had been appointed the commander of the army. He successfully defeated and eliminated the rebellious Jinn. The small number remaining was exiled to isolated islands. Then Iblees with his army occupied earth. Here he lived, loved and enjoyed his earthly life.