Note 569 — Chapter VI

I render in this place by “rational dialectics” the word اجتهاد ijtihad, which signifies properly, according to Silvestre de Sacy, an opinion in religious matters, founded upon reasoning, and deduced from the Koran or the Sonna, by way of comparison or induction. It may therefore be interpreted, as in the sequel, by “ratiocination, discussion, contentious arguing, reasoning, etc., etc.” It signifies also “study, effort, war against infidels.”—(See also upon Istihad, As. Res., vol. X. p. 492.)