Question:
If scholars have differed on an issue, can consensus (ijmāʿ) later be established on it?
Source: Fatāwā Amunpuri by Shaykh Ghulam Mustafa Zaheer Amunpuri
Answer:
Yes, the correct and stronger opinion is that if scholars differed on a matter initially, and later the scholars unanimously agreed upon it, then such a consensus (ijmāʿ) is valid and authoritative.
Scholarly Statement:
❀ Ḥāfiẓ al-Nawawī رحمه الله (676 AH):
الأصح أن الإجماع بعد الخلاف يصح، والله أعلم
“The more correct view is that consensus after disagreement is valid. And Allah knows best.”
(Sharḥ al-Nawawī, 7/26)
✅ Conclusion:
An ijmāʿ formed after earlier disagreement among scholars is valid and serves as binding evidence in Islamic law.
