Source: Fatāwā Amunpuri by Shaykh Ghulam Mustafa Zaheer Amunpuri
What is the ruling regarding the consensus (ijmaʿ) of the Ummah?
The consensus (ijmaʿ) of the Ummah is the truth, and it is one of the four primary sources of Shari’ah. Once the consensus of the people of truth is established on a ruling, it is impermissible to oppose it. The ruling of one who opposes ijmaʿ is the same as the ruling of one who opposes the explicit texts of the Qur’an and Sunnah, because just like them, ijmaʿ is also an infallible proof.
✔ Imam al-Ghazālī رحمه الله (505 AH):
“Its ruling is that following it is obligatory, opposing it is prohibited, and it is forbidden to say anything that would attribute the neglect of truth to the Ummah.”
(المستصفى: 154)
Conclusion:
Ijmaʿ is a binding and infallible proof in Islam. It is one of the four recognized sources of Shari’ah. Following it is obligatory, and opposing it is strictly forbidden, just as it is with the Qur’an and Sunnah.
◈ Question:
What is the ruling regarding the consensus (ijmaʿ) of the Ummah?
◈ Answer:
The consensus (ijmaʿ) of the Ummah is the truth, and it is one of the four primary sources of Shari’ah. Once the consensus of the people of truth is established on a ruling, it is impermissible to oppose it. The ruling of one who opposes ijmaʿ is the same as the ruling of one who opposes the explicit texts of the Qur’an and Sunnah, because just like them, ijmaʿ is also an infallible proof.
❀ Statement of the Scholars
✔ Imam al-Ghazālī رحمه الله (505 AH):
“Its ruling is that following it is obligatory, opposing it is prohibited, and it is forbidden to say anything that would attribute the neglect of truth to the Ummah.”
(المستصفى: 154)
Conclusion:Ijmaʿ is a binding and infallible proof in Islam. It is one of the four recognized sources of Shari’ah. Following it is obligatory, and opposing it is strictly forbidden, just as it is with the Qur’an and Sunnah.
