Ijma — Scholarly Consensus

Definition

Ijma (إجماع) means consensus and refers to the agreement of qualified Muslim scholars of a given era on a specific legal ruling. It is the third source of Islamic law after the Quran and Sunnah. The Prophet said: 'My ummah will not agree upon error' (Ibn Majah, Tirmidhi). When every qualified mujtahid of a generation reaches the same conclusion on a legal question, that conclusion becomes binding and cannot be overturned by later scholars.

Types of Ijma

Scholars distinguish between several types of consensus. Ijma qat'i (definitive consensus) is the agreement of the companions of the Prophet on a matter, which carries the strongest authority. Ijma sarih (explicit consensus) occurs when every scholar explicitly states the same ruling. Ijma sukuti (tacit consensus) occurs when some scholars state a ruling and the rest, aware of it, remain silent without objection. The strength and bindingness of each type is debated among the schools, with some accepting only explicit consensus and others accepting tacit consensus as well.

Scope

Matters of ijma are few but foundational. The obligation of the five daily prayers, the prohibition of alcohol, the inheritance shares specified in the Quran, and the validity of the Quran's text are all established by ijma. These rulings are so firmly established that no individual scholar can disagree with them. Ijma serves as a stabilizing force in Islamic law, ensuring that fundamental matters remain settled despite differences of opinion on secondary issues.

Challenges

The practical challenges of establishing ijma are significant. In the earliest period, scholars were concentrated in Madinah and major cities, making communication feasible. As the Muslim world expanded, verifying that every qualified scholar agreed became difficult. Some scholars, like Imam al-Shafi'i, limited authoritative ijma to the consensus of the companions. Others, like al-Ghazali, required the agreement of all scholars across the Muslim world. Despite these theoretical debates, the concept of ijma remains central to Islamic jurisprudence as a guard against extreme or aberrant opinions.