Is the door of Ijtihad closed to only the understanding of the Righteous Predecessors regarding religion, making it a ceiling that must not be exceeded, and thus it is impermissible for contemporary scholars to exercise Ijtihad in understanding Islam?

The door of ijtihad (independent reasoning) remains open as long as the Ummah adheres to the Quran and Sunnah, because the perfection of the religion and its applicability to every time and place necessitate this. Furthermore, people's needs and circumstances change and require clarification of the Sharia rulings concerning new developments. Ijtihad will not cease, but it must be conducted according to its rules, by those qualified for it, and in its proper place, so that it aligns with the methodology of the Salaf (pious predecessors) in understanding the Sharia and deriving evidence.