Abstract
Ibn Taimiya (d. 728/1328) is known as a detractor of the ijma'. The previous studies have concluded that Ibn Taimiya recognizes only the validitiy of the ijma' of the sahaba with textual evidences from the Qur'an and hadith. But the survey of his usage of the ijma' in one of his major works, the Minhdj as-sunna, shows that he refers to various kinds of ijma', such as that of scholars (‘ulama’), wisemen (‘uqala’) and others in addition to that of the sahaba all with affirmative judgement. This result does not conform to that of the previous studies. In order to understand integrally his thought, his texts from which the conclusion is drawn should be interpreted otherwise. The texts in which he discusses the ijma' of the sahaba and which are used by the previous scholars as the proof for their thesis are essentially of apologetic nature, and his aim is to demonstrate that the sahaba (and ahl al-hadith) are the sole legitimate heir of the impeccable Prophet, and accordingly that the sahaba as a whole is infallible. He does not discuss the ijma' in general, but the ijma' of the sahaba in particular. What Ibn Taimiya intends to prove is the infallibility of the sahaba, not of the ijma'. The discussion of the ijma' in general is out of his concern, for such a discussion is specific to the kaldm-oriented usul al-figh which he criticizes severely.
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