Basis in Islam

• It has its basis in the Qur'an:

  ⭐ O believers! Obey Allah and obey the Messenger and those in authority among you. Should you disagree on anything, then refer it to Allah and His Messenger, if you ˹truly˺ believe in Allah and the Last Day. This is the best and fairest resolution. (Surah An-Nisa 4:59)

  ‘You are the best of the people evolved for the mankind enjoining what is right and forbidding what is evil’ (Al Imran 3:110).

• It has its basis in the Hadith:

  ‘My community will never agree upon an error.’

  • Importance:
    • Hadith gives legitimacy to the practice of ijma whereas another viewpoint could be that when a group of scholars well versed in the teachings of the Qur’an and Hadith reach a decision in the light of the primary sources of Islamic law their chances of reaching a wrong decision are rare.
    • Ijma of one generation can be revised by another which helps to keep Sharia laws in tune with the times. All valid answers are to be credited.

  “The hand of Allah is with the congregation (al-jama`a)“

Examples of Rulings derived from Ijma'

• The compilation of the Qur’an during Abu Bakr’s caliphate,
• the reestablishment of tarawih prayers in the caliphate of ‘Umar,
• the adhan of Jumm’ah during the time of ‘Uthman
• Ijma on the prohibition of marriage to one’s grandmother based on Quranic verse.
• During the battle of Uhud, the Prophet PBUH consulted his companions and followed the opinion of the majority and fought the battle out of the city though he was personally against it.

What is consensus of opinion (ijma’)?

• The word ijma’ itself means collecting or gathering or unanimity and is a secondary source of Islamic law.
• Ijma is a unanimous agreement of the jurists of the Community of a particular age on a certain issue.
• It is referred to when there is no clear teaching in the Qur’an or sunna but is always in harmony with the primary sources of Islamic law.

Basis of Ijma'

• Basis of ijma’ can be found not only in the ahadith but also in the Qur’an:

  ⭐ O believers! Obey Allah and obey the Messenger and those in authority among you. Should you disagree on anything, then refer it to Allah and His Messenger, if you ˹truly˺ believe in Allah and the Last Day. This is the best and fairest resolution. (Surah An-Nisa 4:59)

  ‘My community will never agree upon an error’

How many kinds of ijma’ there are;

• There are three broad kinds of ijma’,

1. Ijma of the Companions.
   • Binding and unchangeable.
2. Ijma of the Jurists.
   • Related to legal matters and can be defined as an agreement among a group of Muslims about an issue on which the Qur’an and sunna have not given a final word.
3. Ijma of the People.
   • General agreement of all Muslims in matters of belief