Ijma

• Meaning
– Ijma is the verbal noun of the Arabic word Ajmaa
it is used in two senses.
(i) Determination and resolution
(ii) Agreement upon a matter

• Definition
– “Ijma is defined as agreement of the jurists among
the followers of Islam in a particular age on a
question of law.”
• Ijma is the unanimous agreement of the
mujtahidun of any period following the
demise of the Prophet (SAW) on any matter
• ‘any matter’ implies ‫( شرعى‬juridical), ‘‫عقلى‬
(intellectual), ‘‫(عرفى‬customary) and ‫لغوى‬
(linguistic) matters
• Kinds of Ijma
(i) Express Ijma or Ijma Qawli
(ii) Tacit Ijma or Ijma Sakuti

• Who can perform Ijma

– See qualifications of Mujtahid
 Quran and Ijma
– O ye who believe! obey Allah, and obey the Messenger, and those
charged with authority among you. if ye differ In anything among
yourselves, refer it to Allah and His Messenger, if ye do believe In
Allah and the Last Day: that is best, and Most suitable for final
determination.
Al-NIsa, 4:59
‫ل َوأُو ِلي أاْل َ أم َِر ِم أن ُك أَم‬ ََ ‫سو‬ َّ ‫ّللا َوأ َ ِطيعُوا‬
ُ ‫الر‬ َََّ ‫َيا أَيُّ َها الَّذِينََ آ َ َمنُوا أ َ ِطيعُوا‬
– And whoever opposes the Messenger after guidance has
become clear to him and follows other than the way of the
believers - We will give him what he has taken and drive him
into Hell, and evil it is as a destination.
‫ل أال ُمؤأ ِمنِينََ نُ َوَِل َِه َما ت َ َولَّى‬ َِ ‫س ِبي‬
َ ‫أر‬ َ ‫ن َب أع َِد َما ت َ َبيَّنََ لَ َهُ أال ُه َدى ََو َيت َّ ِب أَع‬
ََ ‫غي‬ َ‫ل ِم أ‬
ََ ‫سو‬ُ ‫الر‬
َّ ‫ق‬ َ‫َو َم أ‬
َِ ِ‫ن يُشَاق‬
‫يرا‬
ً ‫ص‬ ِ ‫ت َم‬ َ‫سا َء أ‬ َ ‫ص ِل َِه َج َهنَّ ََم َو‬
‫َونُ أ‬
al-Nisa
(4:115)
 Kinds of Ijma
• Following are the kinds of Ijma
– (i) Express Ijma or Ijma Qawli
(ii) Tacit Ijma or Ijma Sakuti
• Who can perform Ijma
– See Qualifications of Mujtahid
Conditions for the validity of Ijma
i. By Mujtahids
ii. Unanimous opinion
iii. Performed by Muslims
iv. In a determinate period
v. Upon rule of law
 Ijma as a source of law
• Numerous legal issues may be resolved by
ijma
– Enforcement of ordains of Quran and Sunnah
– Interpretation of Sharia
– New legislation