http://www.timesonline.co.uk/a.....89,00.html

next week there will be a free set of steak knives for everyone in the front pew

may Allah give from that which is greater

Wasalaam

Here’s some quotes about ijma that I have:

“You have to follow the Congregation for verily Allah will not make the largest group of Muhammad’s Community agree on error.” Ibn Abi Shayba relates it with a sound chain.

“Allah’s hand is over the group, follow the largest mass, for verily whoever dissents from them departs to hell.” Narrated by al-Hakim and al-Tabari from Ibn `Abbas, and al-Lalika’i in al-Sunna and al-Hakim also narrated it from Ibn `Umar.

“Allah’s hand is over the group, follow the largest mass, for verily whoever dissents from them departs to hell.” Narrated by al-Hakim and al-Tabari from Ibn `Abbas, and al-Lalika’i in al-Sunna and al-Hakim also narrated it from Ibn `Umar.

“Verily Allah will not make Muhammad’s Community agree on error.” al-Hakim narrated it in the Mustadrak (1:116, 177) with a sound (sahih) chain.

“Verily Allah will not make my Community agree on error” Tirmidhi with a fair (hasan) chain.

“Verily Allah will not make my Community — or Muhammad’s Community — agree on error, and Allah’s hand is with the largest Congregation.” Tirmidhi said: “And the meaning of “jama`a” according to the people of knowledge is: the people of jurisprudence, learning, and hadith. Tirmidhi (gharib) #2256, Cairo ed. `Aridat al-ahwadhi (11:9)

“Whoever among you wants to be in the middle of Paradise, let him cling to the Congregation.”Tirmidhi related it and said it is sound (sahih).

“My Community shall never agree upon misguidance, therefore, if you see divergences, you must follow the greater mass or larger group.”Ibn Majah (2:1303 #3950) Ahmad narrates it mawquf through three sound chains to Abu Umama al-Bahili and Ibn Abi Awfa. Bayhaqi in al-Madkhal narrates something similar from Ibn `Abbas.

“My Community shall not agree upon misguidance. Therefore, you must stay with the Congregation, and Allah’s hand is over the Congregation.”Tabarani narrated it with two chains from Ibn `Umar, one of which is sound (sahih). See Haythami, Majma` al-zawa’id, chapter on the obligation to stay with the Congregation.

“Verily Allah has protected my Community from agreeing upon error.” Ibn Abi `Asim narrated it in the Sunna and Albani declared it hasan in his Silsila sahiha (3:319).

The Holy Prophet Muhammad (sallal laahu alaihi wasallam) said: “There was disagreement amongst Jews and they split into 72 groups. In exactly the same way, there will be disagreement and divisions in my Ummah. It will split into 73 groups. Apart from one of those groups, all the remaining 72 will be thrown into Hell.” When asked which group will be on the right path, the Holy Prophet Muhammad (sallal laahu alaihi wasallam) replied: “The group on the right path, which will enter Paradise, will be the group which follows my Sunnah and that of my Sahaba and this will be the largest group of Muslims.” (Tirmidi, Imam Ahmad, Abu Daud, Mishkat)

The Holy Prophet Muhammad (sallal laahu alaihi wasallam) said: “Allah will never allow my Ummah to unite upon misguidance and incorrect beliefs. Allah’s mercy, blessings and protection are with the largest group of Muslims. And he who deviates from this largest group of Muslims will be thrown into Hell.” (Tirmidi)

“Whoever leaves the Community or separates himself from it by the length of a span, dies the death of the Jahiliyya (period of ignorance prior to Islam)” Muslim (Imara #55) through Ibn `Abbas. Muslim relates it with slight variations through three more chains. Ibn Abi Shayba also relates it in his Musannaf.

Shaytan is a wolf like the wolf that preys on sheep, taking the isolated and the stray among them; therefore, avoid factionalism and keep to the Congregation and the collective and the masjid.”Ahmad relates it through Mu`adh and through Abu Dharr, the two chains being respectively fair [hasan] and sound [sahih] according to Haythami in Majma` al-zawa’id.

People used to ask the Prophet about the good and I used to ask him about the evil… I said: “O Messenger of Allah, describe them to us [the callers at the door of the fire]. He said: They are of our complexion and they speak our very language.” I said: “What do you order me to do if that day reaches me?” He said: “You must keep to the Congregation of Muslims and to their leader.” Bukhari and Muslim on the authority of Hudhayfa ibn al-Yaman.

“Allah’s hand is over the group.” Tirmidhi (hasan).

al-Munawi said: “Allah’s hand is over the group means His protection and preservation for them, signifying that the collectivity of the people of Islam are in Allah’s fold, so be also in Allah’s shelter, in the midst of them, and do not separate yourselves from them. Whoever diverges from the overwhelming majority concerning what is lawful and unlawful and on which the Community does not differ has slipped off the path of guidance and this will lead him to hell.”

“Allah’s hand is over the group, and whoever dissents from them departs to hell.” Tirmidhi (gharib) from Ibn `Umar, al-Hakim both from Ibn `Umar and Ibn `Abbas, and Ibn Jarir from Ibn `Umar.

“That which the Muslims consider good, Allah considers good.” Ahmad in the Musnad (#3599) relates it from the words of Ibn Mas`ud (mawquf) with a sound chain.

Source: http://www.islam.com/reply.asp.....;mn=746804

I have taken some time and read over your superb blog, and I am delighted to find another point of light.

as to your question, its well beyond my ability to answer. I would however make some observations.

Before posting this article I asked a sheikh to check it (Sheikh Tawfeeq Chaudry at Al Khauter, the sister group to Al Magrib). Indeed it was his lecture, part of which included the observation that Ijma is the most definitive proof that on can bring to bear on any question of fiqh, that was the inspiration for the essay.

My point in this article was subtly different, and that was that since the time of the first 4 caliphas, orthodoxy in Islam has never been enforced, in fact in some instances such as the one I quoted, heterodox ideas about the very nature of Allah have been pushed at the point of a sword. Each time however the Ummah has chosen the correct path, and it is this consensus that I seek to appreciate.

Allah (SWT) placed his deen in the hands of his faithful directly, and he has preserved it, by making it open to all and democratizing knowledge in the process. This has preserved the ummah on correct deen but also revolutionized humankind’s relationship with knowledge.

In the last 100 years there has been a movement amongst Muslims that holds that a small “purified” elite within the religion are the only ones capable of rescuing the Ummah. Given the history that I have just documented, I find this proposition to be absurd, and without any basis in our history.

So the consensus that I have discussed includes the Ijma used in fiqh, but also includes the consensus on every other facet of deen from aqeedah, to liturgy to dress etc..

Brother Thabet brought up an interesting and vaild question, I know it is beyond the scope of this blog but it is also interesting to note that Ibn Hazm (in Usul ul-Ahkaam), ash-Shawkwaani (in Irshaad ul-Fuhul), and ‘Abd ul-Wahhab Khallaaf (in Usul ul-Fiqh), expressed that it is not possible to justify Ijmaa’ for other than the most obvious matters in Islaam.

It is said that there is ijma on an issue when all the mujtahideen (scholars who are qualified to engage in itjihad or independent juristic reasoning) of an era agree on the issue. As for who decides who are the mujtahideen of an era, then, as Imam Dhahabi wrote in Siyar a’lam an-Nubala, such scholars are like the khalifah in that everyone (in this case, the other scholars) point to him and affirm he is a scholar. Scholarship in Islam is, to some extent, like scholarship in a secular Western sense: only people with PhDs can ‘accept’ a candidate PhD student and award him a doctorate. Likewise, only other scholars can make someone else a scholar. And Allah knows best.

Amir

Thank you so much, for your comment.

There is consensus about “Ijma” although there are also other opinions, but that is beyond the scope of this piece and well above my qualification (as a taxi driver). I suggest that you approach the shuiyk for an opinion.

As for how we make a decision on matters. there is a simple formula

1. if something is clearly OK, do it (e.g. running out of a burning building), here any procrastination is from shaytan

2. if something is clearly haram (e.g. entering a strip club), don’t do it.

3. If something is doubtful (e.g. buying a television set), stay away from it.

If you need further counsel, ask a sheikh of suitable academic and personal standing who is local to your are and who you can consult with directly.

JZK & Wasalaam