Issues of Ijtihad

who, recognizing Joseph’s exceptional capabilities, invited him to join his administration as a powerful partner. Joseph accepted the king’s offer and took up an official position within his government. Formally, this was the office of minister for food and agriculture. In practice, however, it amounted to the position of deputy ruler, because in the ancient agrarian age, almost all economic and administrative activities of a country were based on agriculture. In this sense, the position given to Joseph was effectively the most strategic and influential office in the state. If modern Muslims had moved beyond imitation (taqlid) of traditional fiqh and engaged with the Quran through independent reasoning (ijtihad), they would have recognized this incident as a profound prophetic example. It demonstrates how the principle of power-sharing can be effectively utilized, even within non-Islamic systems, and assures Muslims that such participation aligns fully with the prophetic tradition. Utilization of Modern Opportunities Muslims in the present age suffer from a unique deprivation, one that perhaps no other nation or group shares to the same extent. This deprivation lies in their failure to capitalize on the vast opportunities afforded by the modern era. One of the most significant opportunities available in contemporary times is what we now call “freedom.” The