Is it a condition for the establishment of scholarly consensus that its basis be known?
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The questioner : All right, Shaykh, regarding scholarly consensus, is it a condition that the basis of the consensus be known for it to serve as a proof?
If one of the scholars says, "The scholars have reached a consensus," is it a condition that we know its evidence or basis?
The Shaykh : It is not possible to establish this consensus. Consensus is what is known from the religion by necessity, so it does not require transmission through a chain of narration.
The questioner : It is known from the religion by necessity! It does not require us to know whether there is a text from the Messenger of Allah to know the consensus?
The Shaykh : No. What the Muslims agreed upon without any disagreement among them throughout the ages and eras is what can be called consensus. As for consensus on jurisprudential opinions where it is impossible to imagine the Muslim community gathering in one place and agreeing on that opinion, its occurrence is impossible, and therefore its transmission and narration is even more impossible.
If one of the scholars says, "The scholars have reached a consensus," is it a condition that we know its evidence or basis?
The Shaykh : It is not possible to establish this consensus. Consensus is what is known from the religion by necessity, so it does not require transmission through a chain of narration.
The questioner : It is known from the religion by necessity! It does not require us to know whether there is a text from the Messenger of Allah to know the consensus?
The Shaykh : No. What the Muslims agreed upon without any disagreement among them throughout the ages and eras is what can be called consensus. As for consensus on jurisprudential opinions where it is impossible to imagine the Muslim community gathering in one place and agreeing on that opinion, its occurrence is impossible, and therefore its transmission and narration is even more impossible.