Ijma

Question 1

Introductory Paragraph

Answer 1

• Ijma Is The 3rd Source Of Islamic Law(It Means Unified Or Consensus)
• In Modern Times It Refers To The Concord Of The Islamic Scholars Of An Era On A Ruling
• Only To Be Used When The Quran And Sunnah, Have No Clear Teaching
• Its Validity Is Confirmed By The Following Verse; “…And Consult Them In Affairs”
  Furthermore This Verse Indicates That The Community Has The Authority To Make Decisions
• The Prophet(PBUH) Says; “Gather Together The Righteous Of My Community And Decide The Matter By Their Counsel And Do Not Decide It By Any Man’s Opinion”
• There Are 2 Types; One Which Is A General Consensus In Matters Of Belief, And One Which Deals With Legal Matters And Other Undefined Issues

Question 2

People Who’s Ijma Is Accepted

Answer 2

• It Is A Matter Of Dispute As Some Say;

1) The Residents Of Madinah
2) The Prophet’s Companions, As They Are Very Knowledgable
3) Caliphs
4) Decadents Of The Holy Prophet
5) Scholars Of Any Generation

Question 3

Examples Of Ijma By The Prophet(SAW)

Answer 3

• The Prophet Always Used To Consult His Companions On Important Matters
• Before The Battle Of Uhud(Wether To Have It Inside Madinah Or Not)
• At The Battle Of Trench…

Question 4

Quranic Examples

Answer 4

• The Quran Says;
  “It Is Prescribed For You, When Death Approaches Any Of You, And He Leaves Some Wealth, Is That He Shall Bequeath It Equitably To Parents And Near Relatives”
• Ijma Was Used To Derive The Law That If A Father Dies Before His Son And The Son Also Passes Away The Wealth Goes To His Son
• The Quran Says; In Regards To Marriage
  “Forbidden To You Are: Your Mothers, Daughters, Sisters; Father’s Sisters, Mother’s Sisters. Brother’s Daughters, Sister’s Daughters; Foster Mothers, Foster Sisters; Your Wives’ Mothers, Your Stepdaughters Under Your Guardianship, Born Of Your Wives.”
• With Ijma Granddaughters And Grandmothers Were Also Added To The List

Question 5

Examples By The Caliphs

Answer 5

• Hazrat Abu Bakr(RA) Was Elected Through Ijma
• On The Suggestion Of Umar(RA) And The Companions’ Ijma The Quran Was Compiled
• Through Ijma It Was Decided That There Would Be 2 Junmah Azaans As The Noise Of The Markets Made The First One Inaudible, During Usman(RA)‘a Reign

Question 6

Conclusion

Answer 6

• These Examples Show That Ijma Is A Constitution Of The Divine Teaching For Legal And Practical Purposes
• Learned And Practicing People Who Were Well Aware Of The Teachings If The Quran And Sunnah Carried It Out To Ensure Authenticity And Validity