The Meaning of the Poet’s Statement: (Explanation of the Sixteenth Type of Evidence for the Exaltation of Allah, Which Is the Consensus of the Scholars on the Exaltation of Allah) and the Explanation of the Authority of Consensus; This Is Its Sixteenth
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The Shaykh : In this passage, the author (may Allah have mercy on him) explained that among the evidence that Allah the Exalted is High in His Essence, above all things,
"The consensus of the people of knowledge, which I mean is the proof of the ages"
because the consensus of the people of knowledge is a proof in every age. If they reach a consensus without any prior disagreement, their consensus is a proof for those who come after them. However, if they reach a consensus after having disagreed, this consensus is not a proof. If the Companions differed between two opinions and then the Tabi'un agreed on one of them, this consensus is not a proof because it was preceded by disagreement. But if they agreed on something and then disagreement arose after them, this disagreement is rejected because the proof was established by the prior consensus.
"The consensus of the people of knowledge, which I mean is the proof of the ages"
because the consensus of the people of knowledge is a proof in every age. If they reach a consensus without any prior disagreement, their consensus is a proof for those who come after them. However, if they reach a consensus after having disagreed, this consensus is not a proof. If the Companions differed between two opinions and then the Tabi'un agreed on one of them, this consensus is not a proof because it was preceded by disagreement. But if they agreed on something and then disagreement arose after them, this disagreement is rejected because the proof was established by the prior consensus.