Scientists-theologians, regardless of which religion they profess, are engaged in the interpretation of sources, discuss about certain dogmas, explain to simple mortals the provisions of compulsory reading books. In Islam, in order to avoid the ambiguity of the interpretations of the Koran and the Sunnah, Ijma is used. Ijma is the unanimity of the Mujahtids of one generation regarding Sharia norms.
The concept
It makes sense to talk about Ijma when all the scientists of one community come to a common opinion. If even one Mujtahid speaks out against him, then Ijma is absent as such.
Ijma is the consent of the scholars-theologians who profess Islam. The opinions of mere mortals are not taken into account. Also, the result of the discussion of the Koran by another community is not significant.
Since ijma is an inference, it can be considered evidence, but not the absolute truth presented by Allah and his prophet Muhammad. Ijma does not include reaching agreement on other, non-Shariah norms. The Qur'an, Sunnah, Ijma are the main sources of Sharia. The kiyas, which will be discussed below, also applies to the interpretations used by theologians.
The Purpose of Ijma
The main books of all Muslims are the Qur'an and Sunnah. The sources indicate in detail what the lifestyle of the faithful should be like, what can and cannot be done by a practicing Islam, what to do in certain situations. However, Allah and his prophet Muhammad give general recommendations (although many provisions are specified in the Sunnah), and in life there are enough particulars, therefore, detailed explanations are required. For this, there is ijma.
Kinds
Theologians distinguish two types of Ijma: final and prospective. In the first case, this refers to the situation with which all Muslims without exception agree (five-fold obligatory prayer, a ban on adultery , etc.). If a person does not agree with these arguments, then his faith is not so strong.
A unanimous opinion should not go against Sharia’s dogmas. Ijma, contrary to the Qur'an, is unreliable, unconvincingly proved, canceled or still contains disagreements.
Conditions
A general conclusion about a particular norm should be confirmed. Evidence is based on the statements of famous scientists or the content of competent sources.
With the adoption of Ijma, all previous disagreements on this issue are prohibited. It is allowed to cancel the previous position taken by the mughtahids. Then a new opinion appears.
In order for the decision made by the sages of the community to take effect, you do not need to wait for the end of the century. The achievement of consensus between scholars makes the fulfillment of the order mandatory for Muslims from the moment the rule enters into force. Ijma is what applies to all the faithful, regardless of status.
There is no consensus among theologians on whether to consider silence as Ijm. Someone believes that the absence of censure, negative statements is a kind of agreement, therefore, it can be considered as ijma. Other mughtahids consider the absence of replicas only proof of the speaker’s correctness. Still others do not attach any significance to silence, while others claim that ijma has a right to exist if a generation of scientists left this world before any of the wise men in the community managed to express their disagreement.
Degrees
Since they come to a single point in different ways, the degrees of Ijma can be as follows:
- verbal: the point of view on the issue under consideration is expressed through speech, the words “allowed”, “required” or “forbidden” are used;
- silently: members of the community do not agree and do not object, which, as indicated above, is not considered Ijma by some theologians;
- achieved without disagreement after the ascetics;
- established as a result of the exclusion of various points of view after the ascetics.
Theologians themselves do not establish norms that are absent in the Qur'an and the Sunnah. Mujtahids only interpret the main sources of Sharia from the point of view of religious dogmas and legal norms. In Islam, these concepts are almost identical, since it is believed that the legal sphere (like other aspects of Muslim life) is regulated by Allah and the Messenger.
Ijma and Kiyas
Kiyas is a judgment by analogy. If the main sources do not have specific instructions regarding certain actions, then the rules are formulated on the basis of other provisions.
Kiyas includes four components:
- norm for drawing an analogy;
- the rule on which the analogy is established;
- the provisions of the first provision applicable to the second;
- unity of provisions according to the Sharia.
For example, the Koran forbids drinking wine, but says nothing about beer. But beer also contains alcohol. Thanks to kiyasa, the ban also applies to a foamy drink. The initial norm is the exclusion of wine, the analogy is the use of beer, the common norm is a ban, and the unity of provisions is the likelihood of alcohol intoxication.
The Qur'an, Ijma, Sunna, Kiyas are the basis of the life of Muslims. The Qur'an is a law-making entity, as it contains the direct statements of Allah. In the Sunnah, everything is emanating from the Prophet, whose speeches are equated with the words of Allah. Also, the word "Sunnah" is interpreted as incomplete compliance with the requirements of Sharia.