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Shiavault - a Vault of Shia Islamic Books Shi’ite Islam: Orthodoxy Or Heterodoxy? Second Amended and Amplified Edition Chapter 3: al-Ijma‘ or Scholarly Consensus, An Accepted Method for Controlling Heresy?

Orientalists who follow the Christianizing interpretation of Islamic thought have attempted to present the doctrine of ijmā‘ as an accepted means of controlling “heresy” in Islām.[^1] According to Gibb, the doctrine of ijmā‘ can be viewed from the perspective of Christian orthodoxy and can be likened to the case of the council. Despite their external differences, a certain analogy can be made between the concept of “consensus” of the Christian Church and the Islamic concept of ijmā‘ .

In some cases the results of both procedures were quite similar. For example, it was only after ijmā‘ was acknowledged as a source of law and doctrine that a definitive proof of “heresy” became possible. Any attempt to interpret Scripture in a way that negated the validity of a given and accepted solution was by consensus, a bid‘ah , an act of “innovation” and “heresy” (Gibb 90).

Gibb’s main thesis is that the concept of “council” in Islām forms part of a secular organism that mends Islamic doctrine. It does so in light of a sovereign authority, thus fulfilling the work of purging and purifying matters of faith that can be assimilated into the work of ecclesiastic canonists. He understands the concept of “council” as a juristic entity, like a council of bishops.

In order to protect the theological doctrine of the “Church,” the Islamic Caliphate relied upon the doctrine of ijmā‘ as the basis for the orthodox refutation of “heretical” Shī‘ite ideas. When Gibb speaks of ijmā‘ in terms of councils or ecclesiastic consensus, the distinguished Orientalist maintains himself firmly within a Christianizing interpretation of Islām.

The word “council” is derived from the Latin concilium which comes from cum , “with,” and calare , “to call” and “to proclaim,” hence the sense of convocation and assembly. The word “council” is a Latin term which defines, much like the Greek root of Church [lit. ekklesia , from ek and kalo ] a flock or congregation of faithful Christians under the guidance and direction of their pastors.

It applies to a group of individuals with the same character in a double sense: active like convocation of bishops, and passive like a congregation of the same in an organization, a society or a collegial body.