Madhhab

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Madhhab (Arabic مذهب pl. مذاهب Madhaahib) is an Arabic term that refers to an Islamic school of thought or religious jurisprudence (fiqh). In the first 150 years of Islam, there were many schools - in fact, several of the Sahaba are credited as having their own. The prominent schools of Damascus (often named Awza'iyya), Kufa, Basra and Medina survived as the Maliki madhhab, while Iraqi schools were consolidated into the Hanafi madhhab. Shafi'i, Hanbali, Zahiri and Jariri schools were established later.

Shiite Islam has its own school of law, the Jafari, founded by the sixth Imam Ja'far as-Sadiq.

The four Sunni schools are not generally regarded as distinct sects, as there has been great harmony amongst their various scholars throughout Islamic history.

Imam Abu Hanifa was the 'founder' of the Hanafi school, lived in modern-day Iraq, not long after the prophet Muhammad's death. It is reported that Imam Abu Hanifa studied under many teachers, including Imam Jafar Sadiq¹. He also met the Sahabi Anas ibn Malik, making Imam Abu Hanifa one of the Tabi'een.
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 from Imam Malik as well.
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.
Imam Ahmad ibn Hanbal studied with Imam Shafi'i, and consequently there are many similarities between the madhhabs.

Sunnis believe that all four schools have correct guidance, and the differences lie not in the fundamentals of faith, but instead 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 in interpretation and extraction from the primary sources were different, they came to different judgements on particular matters. For example, there are subtle differences in the methods of prayer in the four schools, yet the difference is not so great that separate prayers need to be held for followers of each school. In fact, a follower of any school can usually pray behind an Imam of another school without any confusion.

Not all Sunni Muslims choose to follow any particular school, particularly those Muslims living in Muslim-minority countries. Those who do not follow a single school usually draw advice and guidance from all four major schools.

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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.

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