Al-Waadih Fee Usool ul-Fiqh by Muhammad Hussein Abdullah

1 – Al-Ijmaa’ is the third Daleel after the Qur’aan and the Sunnah because it based upon a Daleel Shar’iy even though that Daleel did not reach us (directly) but rather only the Hukm deduced from it has reached us.

2 – The ‘Ulamaa of the Muslims have made Ijmaa’ (held a consensus)

upon Al-Ijmaa’ representing a Hujjah (proof and evidence) even if they have differed in respect to those who are the people of Ijmaa’ and whose agreement indicates and guides to the convening of AlIjmaa’ (a consensus).

3 – The Fuqahaa dedicated special attention and care to identify and acquire knowledge of the areas and contexts of Ijmaa’ amongst the Sahaabah (rah) so as to follow them within them. This is whilst every Mujtahid dedicated special care and attention do not go outside of that which the Sahaabah (rah) had agreed and held an Ijmaa’ upon.

4 - The Hukm that has been established by Al-Ijmaa’ is not abrogated because it came after the death of the Messenger of Allah (saw) and after the Wahi had ceased to descend.

5 – The Sahaabah (rah) have transmitted the Usool ud-Deen to us by their Ijmaa’ as they have transmitted to us the Qur’aan Al-Kareem and the Sunnah An-Nabawiyah which indicates and guides to the importance and significance of Al-Ijmaa’.

6 – Ahkaam have been established by way of Al-Ijmaa’ which have had a major impact and influence upon the life of the Muslims, the continuation of their State and the preservation of their Deen. Some of these Ahkaam are as follows:

A – The Ijmaa’ As-Sahaabah upon making a copy of the Qur’aan AlKareem in the time of the Khalifah ‘Uthmaan Ibn ‘Affaan (ra) and prior to that in the era of the Khalifah Abu Bakr As-Siddeeq (ra)

which facilitated and made it easy upon the Muslims to refer to the Masaahif (pl. of Mushaf) to safeguard their memorisation and preservation of the Qur’aan.

B – The Ijmaa’ of the Sahaabah upon Abu Bakr As-Siddeeq (ra)

assuming the post of the Khalifah (successor) to the Messenger of Allah (saw) and then after him ‘Umar and ‘Uthmaan (rah). This is what made clear the Shar’iy method for the Muslims, to pledge allegiance to a Khalifah in order to apply Islaam upon them internally and to carry it to mankind externally.

This is as the Sahaabah (rah) left the body of the Messenger of Allah (saw) lying in the house of ‘Aa’ishah (ra) for three days without burying him whilst they occupied themselves in choosing a Khalifah from amongst them and gave him the Bai’ah (pledge). (Translators note:

This opinion has been later revised to two nights). This represented an Ijmaa’ indicating that it is Haraam for the Muslims to remain two nights or three days without appointing a Khalifah for them and this is because they delayed the Waajib of burying the Messenger of Allah (saw) due to being sinful as a result of the absence of a Khalifah. (Translators note:

This has later been revised to the Ijmaa’ indicating the obligation to engage in the appointment of the Khalifah as soon as the position becomes vacant whilst the obligation to appoint the Khalifah within three days has been deduced from the Ijmaa’ upon the statement of ‘Umar (ra) when he gave a time limit of three days for a Khalifah to be appointed after him).