Ijma:

When all judges in the Supreme Court unanimously agree to a point and pronounce judgement on that point, it becomes a precedent and a binding law. Similarly Ijma is a concept of law made by consensus of all Islamic Jurists or other persons of knowledge and skill.

Ijma means the consensus of the companions and followers of the prophet Muhammad. Abdul Rahim defines it as ‘the agreement of the jurists among the followers of the prophet in a particular age on particular question.’ Ijma is the doctrine of consensus and a source of harmony in Muslim community.

It is based on the belief that when all the most revered persons of the society having maximum knowledge of the Quran have together taken a decision, it should be for the benefit of the Muslim community.

After demise of the prophet, Islamic expansion took place and a large number of new situations and problems cropped up, which would not be decided with the reference of only Quran and Hadis. The jurists then took the recourse to the principle of Ijma, which is based on tradition. Ijma is the majority view of the Scholars. It became a communal legislation by the great authorities. This was based on equity, public interest and sound precedent.

A good illustration for the principle of Ijma is occurred right after the death of the prophet; no guidance was available on who would now be successor of the prophet as a leader of the community i.e. Caliph. The election of Abu Bakr to the post of the Caliph by the votes of the people was the first manifestation of Ijma.

The authority of Ijma for legal innovation is very limited and that is why it ranks lower than the Holy Quran.

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