According to Iraqi academic Majid Khadduri, Al-Shafi'i held the view that religiously binding consensus had to include all of the Muslim community in every part of the world, both the religiously learned and the layman.
Menurut akademisi Irak Majid Khadduri, Al-Syafi'i berpendapat bahwa konsensus yang mengikat secara religius harus mencakup semua komunitas Muslim di setiap bagian dunia, baik yang terpelajar dan orang awam.