- Madhhabs and Imams: The four Islamic madhhabs are named after their founders—Imam Abu Hanifah, Imam Malik, Imam al-Shafi’i, and Imam Ahmad. They derived rulings from the Quran and Sunnah, each striving to interpret Islamic law accurately.
- Mujtahids and Ijtihad: The imams were mujtahids, meaning they made independent legal judgments. If correct, they receive two rewards; if mistaken, they still receive a reward for their efforts and are forgiven.
- Madhhab Loyalty: The imams never called for blind allegiance to their views. They encouraged following sound evidence, emphasizing that if a hadith is authentic, it should take precedence over their rulings.