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'Madhhab' or 'Mazhab' (Arabic مذهب ''mæðhæb'' pl. مذاهبadalah ''mæðæːhıb'') is an Arabic term that refers to an 'Islamic school of thought', or ''fiqh'' (religious jurisprudence). In the first 150 years of Islam, there were many such "schools" - in fact, several of the ''Sahābah'', or contemporary "companions" of Muhammad, are credited with founding their own. The prominent Islamic jurisprudence schools of Damascus in Syria (often named ''Awza'iyya''), Kufa and Basra in Iraq, and Medina in Arabia survived as the Maliki ''madhhab'', while the other Iraqi schools were consolidated into the Hanafi ''madhhab''. The Shafi'i, Hanbali, Zahiri and Jariri schools were established later.
Shi'a Islam has its own school of law, the Jafari (or Ja'fari) school, founded by the sixth imam Ja'far as-Sadiq.
The four mainline schools of Sunni ''fiqh'' today, named after their founders, are not generally seen as distinct sects, as there has been harmony for the most part among their various scholars throughout Islamic history.

★ 'The Hanafi Madhhab': Imam Abu Hanifa, who was the 'founder' of the Hanafi school, lived in what is now modern-day Iraq, not long after the prophet Muhammad's death. It is reported that Imam Abu Hanifa studied under many teachers, including Imam Ja'far as-Sadiq¹. He also met the "companion" ''(sahābi)'' Anas ibn Malik, making Imam Abu Hanifa one of the ''tābi'ūn'', or second generation in oral transmission from Muhammad. It is generally accepted that the primary students of Abu Hanifa, notably Abu Yusuf, changed many of their opinions after the death of their teacher.

★ 'The Maliki Madhhab': Imam Malik was born shortly thereafter in Medina. There are reports that they lived at the same time and, although Malik was much younger, their mutual respect is well-known. In fact, one of Abu Hanifa's main students, on whose teaching a lot of the Hanafi school is based, studied under Imam Malik as well.

★ 'The Shafi'i Madhhab': Imam Shafi'i was also taught by both Abu Hanifa's students and Imam Malik, and his respect for both men is also well-documented.

★ 'The Hanbali Madhhab': Imam Ahmad ibn Hanbal studied under Imam Shafi'i, and consequently there are many similarities between the two ''madhhabs''.
Sunni Muslims believe that all four schools have "correct guidance", and the differences between them lie not in the fundamentals of faith, but in finer judgements and jurisprudence, which are a result of the independent reasoning of the ''imams'' and the scholars who followed them. Because their individual methodologies of interpretation and extraction from the primary sources (''usul'') were different, they came to different judgements on particular matters. For example, there are subtle differences in the methods of prayer among the four schools, yet the differences are not so great as to require separate prayers by the followers of each school. In fact, a follower of any school can usually pray behind an imam of another school without any confusion.
Generally, Sunni Muslims prefer one ''madhhab'' out of the four (normally a regional preference). Some, however, reject the four schools. Others (most notably the Salafi) accept the four madhhabs as legitimate, but also believe that ''ijtihad'' must be exercised by the contemporary scholars capable of doing so. Others insist on ''taqlid'', or acceptance of religious rulings on matters of worship and personal affairs from a higher religious authority without necessarily asking for the technical proof) as a requirement. This practice is very common amongst Sufis, or Islamic mystical orders.
Also, it should be noted that experts/scholars of ''fiqh'' follow the ''usul'' (principles) of their own native ''madhab'', but they also study the ''usul'', evidences, and opinions of other ''madhabs''.

Contents

External links

Footnotes

External links

★ What is a Madhab and why is it necessary to follow one?

★ Why Muslims Follow Madhhabs

★ Should I follow a madhab?

Footnotes

1. Although it is generally accepted among Sunnis and Shias that Imam Abu Hanifa was a student of Imam Jafar Sadiq, some Sunni apologetics have cast doubt . The question whether Imam Malik also was a student of Imam Jafar Sadiq is generally disputed among Sunnis, though it is generally accepted by Shias.