BENEFIT 167: It is not necessary for the one transmitting an ijma' to hear from everyone he transmits it from

Sheikh Yusuf Al-Jazaa'iri hafidahullah said: "Abdullah ibn Shaqiq was a prominent Tabi'ee who encountered many of the senior companions, let alone others. He reported from them that: 'The companions did not consider abandoning any act to be disbelief except for prayer.' This is a relayment of a consensus, and it is not as some have said that Abdullah ibn Shaqiq, raḍhiyallāhu anhu, only transmitted from the companions whom he encountered and heard from, numbering around ten or fifteen, or so. This is incorrect. Abdullah ibn Shaqiq, raḍhiyallāhu anhu, encountered many of the senior companions. Therefore, one who encounters the senior companions is more likely to have encountered their middle-ranking and junior companions as well. He may have encountered dozens, if not hundreds, of companions, but the issue of narration is confined to hearing from specific individuals. But it's not necessary to confine the number of companions he encountered to those he narrated from, as he may not have narrated from them but he encountered, saw and lived among them. However, the issue of narrating and hearing from them is confined to so-and-so and so-and-so; specific individuals as mentioned in his biography. The point being, Abdullah ibn Shaqiq relayed this from the companions, and he is relaying a consensus. It is not necessary for the one relaying a consensus to hear from everyone. Now, Sheikh Al-Islam Ibn Taymiyyah, may Allah have mercy on him, who came later compared to the early generations, would come and say that the companions unanimously agreed on such and such. Is it said that Sheikh Al-Islam's transmission of consensus is rejected because he did not hear from Umar, Abu Bakr, Uthman, and others among the companions, may Allah be pleased with them?! This is an invalid argument. Therefore, the issue of transmitting consensus does not require hearing from everyone who transmits this consensus."