1 – Al-Ijtihaad is the exerting or expending of the Mujtahid’s effort (and capability) to deduce (Istinbaat) the practical Ahkaam Ash-Shar’iyah from its detailed evidences (directly).

As for Al-Iftaa’ (i.e. passing of the Fatwaa) then it means the Mufti informing about the Hukm Ash-Shar’iy for a Mas’alah (issue) whether that issue occurred or not.

2 – It is stipulated and made a condition in Al-Ijtihaad for the Mujtahid to be familiar with the Shar’iyah areas of knowledge and the linguistic areas of knowledge that are necessary for the deduction of the Hukm to be made.

As for Al-Iftaa’, then it is enough for the Mufti to know the Hukm Ash-Shar’iy for the issue that he has been asked about and even if he is not a Mujtahid in it.