Tracing Ijma And Tawatur Back To Source
Yes. Some companions and the successors of the companions started recording the history and ahadith of the prophet. The earliest compilations reports those were compiled from the books written before them like Sahifa Imam Hamam bin Munibeh the immediate student of Hazrat Abu Huraira, which is discovered recently, the seerah of Abu al Mutar Sulaiman bin Tarkhan who was born in 45 Hijir and his book too is discvored and published now. Imam Malik’s Muwatta is availble who was born in 93 Hijri. The compilation of 2nd centureis onwards are record of the previous books and traditions some of whcih are still avaialbe. and those which are not available are mentioned in the later books. Knowledge is recoreded and travels like this. So there is no void.