Talk:Ijma

Cross-posting from Religious rights

From an anonymous poster on another aricle (Religious rights):

Consensus of Opinions or Ijma

Definition of Ijma:

It is an agreement of the jurists among the followers of Hazrat Muhammad (PBUH) in a particular age on a question of law.To find as to how an Ijma is a source of Islamic Law we will have to look into certain Islamic and Traditional texts

These are as under.

Proof Of Ijma from Traditions:

1. My followers will never agree upon what is wrong

2. It is incumbent upon you to follow the most numerous body.

3. The (protecting) hand of God is over the entire body and no account will be taken of those who separate themselves.

4. whoever separates himself (from the main body) will go hell.

5. He who opposes the people to the extent of a span will die the death of men who died in the days of ignorance.

Proof of Ijma from Quranic Texts or Verses:

1. He has shown them the right path .

2. Don not be like those who separated and divided after they had received clear proofs.

3. Today we have completed yours religion.

4. What lies outside the truth is an error

5. Obey God and obey the Prophet and those amongst you who have authority.

6. If you yourself don not know ,then question those who do.

7. You are the best of men,and it is your duty to order men to do what is right and to forbid them from practising what is wrong.

8. We have made yours followers of the middle courses that you may be witnesses of others.

9. He who breaks away from Prophet after has been shown the right path and follows the way of men other than Muslims,We shall give him what he has chosen and relegate him to hell.

Ijma as a valid source of Islamic Law

All the four Sunni schools are unanimous on this point that it is valid source of Islamic law.For this these schools not only rely upon the above said texts and ,but also because the the companions of Hazrat Muhammad (PBUH) also hold the same view.

The 1st occasion for Ijma arose immediately after the death of Hazrat Muhammad (PBUH) which was the selection of the Caliph of Islamic state.The election of Hazrat Abu Bakar Saddique as caliph was by two votes of the people and this was done on the principle of Ijma.

Arguments in support of Ijma:

Quran lays down the fundamental rules of law.But the numerous problems which were being faced daily by the Muslims felt the necessity of deducing law by way of consensus of opinion of jurists keeping in consonance the spirit of Quran and Hadith.Another reason for Ijma was due to the fact that Hazrat Muhammad (PBUH) being the last Prophet and no new prophet will come meaning thereby that the guidance of Hazart Muhammad (PBUH) after his death was no more available to companions of Prophet(Suhab e Karam)except Quran and his Traditions ,therefore which was not formed from Quran from Quran nor from Hadith ,then the legal proposition used by solved by the process . I reduction from them .And as only the scholars and learned are competent for such deductions their concurrent opinion gets the authority of Islamic Law.The Ijma of the companions stand on a higher authority than the Ijma of the other jurists.

Who can participate in Ijma:

Only a Muslim Jurist can participate in The Ijma. A unmuslims being a non believer can not participate in the Ijma. Similarly lunatics and minor are not competent for Ijma being immature and defective understanding.

Those who are not learned can not participate in Ijma where analogical deduction is required. How ever in matter of saying prayers daily five times, paying the poor rates , fasting during Ramzan or performing Hajj that the law has been established by entire body of Muslims. In other matter those masses are required to follow the scholars as God says” obey God and obey Prophet and those amongst you who are in authority (learned).

Conditions relating to constitution of Ijma:

All the four sunni schools are unanimous on this point that all the jurists of a particular age must be unanimous in respect of his opinion in a particular question for Ijma is required ( So that is should name the force of law especially that it should be in absolute form. But if the majority of the jurists consider that the remaining minority are not qualified to be jurists even then the opinion of the majority jurists can constitute an Ijma of absolute authority.

The Hanfi’s , Shafi’s and Malaki’s are of the opinion that if the number of those who are not in agreement with the majority then the opinion of the majority will constitute a valid Ijma and will have a bending authority though in their case it will not be a an Ijma of absolute authority meaning thereby that if a person disputes the authority of this valid Ijma then he will not become an infidel( non believer).

There are agreement in favor and against as to why unanimity is insisted for Ijma to by of absolute authority.

Presumptions of infallibility is only in case of entire body agreeing. To this the counter agreement is that the etxt means majority and the entire body

When Ijma is completed:

Hanfi’s and Malaki’s and most of the Shafi’s consider this Ijma to be completed as soon as the Jurists of that age when the question of Law arose agree after they had sufficient time to arrive at that decision.How ever some jurists ( Hanbli’s and some Shafi’s ) consider that ijma is completed only when all the concerned jurists have died and any one of them changing his opinion.

When an Ijma is decided by consensus of opinion of the jurists it can not be reported by a single jurist .if the some age or of subsequent age .However there is an exception to this rule .i-e before the formation of Ijma some jurists has expressed a different view or when a jurist who was a party to the Ijma has changed his view after the Ijma.

Example : if the companions have formed any Ijma ,some among them along with the (tabaien) can not change the Ijma unless before the formation of Ijma some of the companions of Prophet PBUH ( Suhab e Karam) had expressed a different view.

Proof Of Ijma:

The evidence required whether an Ijma has been constituted is called proof of ijma.the ijma is said to be universally known among the masses that an ijma has been constituted meaning thereby that it is well known among the masses that ijma has been constituted.All the four Sunni Schools hold the above said view. However apart from the above said evidence the Hanfi’s add that an Ijma an Ijma also proved by isolated information. However Imam Ghazali of the Shafi’s jurist and some Hanbli’s are of the view that Ijma based upon an isolated listening has got no authority.

Legal Effects of Ijma :

The effect of ijma is authoritative and binding . According to Hanfi’s it is so when Ijma to be absolute must be in accordance to the requirements of law and ensure certainty if belief and anyone disputing its authority would be guilty of thing a non-believer . However according to Shafi’s and Malaki’s a man is guilty in fidelity only when established by than authority and is universally accepted for example obligation for observing daily prayers , fasting during Ramzan and performance if Hajj and paying zakat avoiding intoxicating liquor , dealing in usury , lawfulness of marriage and sale.

Conditions :

1. The companions in the jurists have not expressed a different opinion before the per

2. The jurists or any one of them taking part in Ijma have not changed their opinions after the constitution of the Ijma

3. The Ijma must be prominent universally or atleast being well known.

4. The Ijma should have been regularly constituted.

Obviously this is very POV, but here might be some useful information for the ijma article. —Tkinias 01:54, 27 Mar 2004 (UTC)