or in general, as part of din by way of acknowledgment or practice. Taqlid and Ijtihad Taqlid and Ijtihad are two important concepts in Islamic law that govern how legal opinions are derived and applied. While there are different views on their relative importance, both Taqlid and Ijtihad have a role to play in ensuring that Islamic law is properly interpreted and applied in accordance with the sources of law. Taqlid is widely accepted in Islamic scholarship as a valid approach to legal interpretation and application, especially for laypeople who do not have the necessary knowledge or expertise to derive legal opinions from primary sources. On the other hand, Ijtihad is also widely recognized as an important means of adapting Islamic law to new contexts and challenges. Ijtihad involves independent legal reasoning, where a qualified scholar uses the sources of law to derive new legal opinions in situations where there is no clear precedent or guidance. This can involve analogical reasoning (qiyas), where the scholar draws analogies between existing legal rulings and new situations, or other forms of reasoning. There are different views on the relative importance of Taqlid and Ijtihad in Islamic law. Some scholars and schools of thought emphasize the importance of Taqlid, viewing it as an essential means of preserving the coherence and integrity of Islamic law. Others view Ijtihad as a necessary means of adapting Islamic law to new contexts and challenges, and believe that Taqlid should be applied with caution and flexibility. The Deobandi School of thought, for example, emphasizes the importance of Taqlid, especially strict adherence to the Hanafi School of jurisprudence. Deobandi scholars view Taqlid as an important means of ensuring that Islamic law is properly followed and interpreted, especially for those who do not possess the requisite knowledge and expertise to engage in Ijtihad. They also believe that Ijtihad is necessary for the evolution of Islamic law, but should be undertaken with caution and respect for the traditions of Islamic scholarship. Rashid Ahmad Gangohi, emphasized the obligation of Taqlid, citing the Quranic verse that states, "Ask the people of knowledge if you do not know." (16:43) He also distinguished between individual and non-individual Taqlid, where individual Taqlid involves following the opinion of one scholar in all matters of importance, and non-individual Taqlid involves inquiring of any scholar, whom one likes. Similarly, Ashraf Ali Thanwi, defined Ijtihad and Taqlid as follows. He stated