Rejecting the idea of Ijma being a proof or a source of Law

[Jaysh]

[Imam] Shawkani's views on ijma...

...his rejection of ijma (the consensus of mujtahids after the death of the Prophet in a given age on a given matter)....Shawkani does not consider ijma to be a source of law. For one thing, he says, there is no textual proof for it being a principle at all. Furthermore, it would be impossible to ascertain the opinion of all Muslims because of the vastness of the Islamic lands and the multitude of scholars who existed throughout the ages. He claims that few among them left written evidence of their opinions and even among those who did it remains an impossible task to adduce their opinions on a given matter. Finally, because of the dominance of the established schools of law, which were controlled by muqallidoon, many scholars did not dare express their true opinion for fear of retaliation. Below is one of his statements on the matter:

Whoever claims to have the ijma of the Muslim scholars of his age on a given religious issue has made a gross claim...the feasibility of this [to know that there is ijma] is impossible!

Even if one assumes that it is possible to have such agreement, without investigation and knowledge of the opinions of each man or group of men. The truth is that this is impossible. This is because the consensus of all the scholars of all the regions on an issue is impossible given the [existence of] different schools, temperaments, differences in understanding, contradictory dispositions and the love of contradiction.

This is the case with regard to a scholar speaking about the consensus of his generation. If he is claiming an ijma about a generation that he did not know after the age of Companions then the claim too, is impossible...

The one who claims that ijma constitutes proof is not correct, for such [a claim] constitutes mere conjecture (zann) on the part of an individual from the community of Muslims. No believer can worship God on the basis of this...

In my works, when I report a consensus from others I do this in order to prove my point to the one who accepts that Ijma constitutes proof.

Revival and Reform in Islam: The ... - Google Book Search

[Jaysh]

I am convinced.

I've always thought these same thoughts, i.e. how there is no proof for ijma, how could a scholar even know that there is an ijma, etc.

[Jaysh]

I know someone is going to come in now and say there is ijma that there ijma!

[Chisti]

It is interesting that you accept Imam Shawkani's view on this, but not his views on tawassul ...

Also, it is interesting that the author you quote has more to say about Imam Shawkani and his differences with the salafi approach whom he calls "wahahbi". The author says that Imam Shawkani is closer to Ibn Taymiyya in his views on tawassul and against the "wahahbi" views ...

Revival and Reform in Islam: The ... - Google Book Search

Imam Shawkani considered visiting the tombs of the pious and beseeching God through the good works of the dead highly recommended. From what I know of him, it seems like he is more close to the deobandi thought of today minus his views on taqlid etc.

[jinnzaman]

There are different levels of ijma. The most basic and agreed upon is ijma as-sahabah. Then there's the ijma between the mujtahid mutlaqs, etc.