Question
Why do the four Sunni madhhabs (Hanafi, Maliki, Shafi‘i, Hanbali) differ in their rulings if they all follow the Qur’an and Sunnah?
Short Summary
The four Sunni schools of thought (madhhabs) Hanafi, Maliki, Shafi‘i, and Hanbali all follow the same Quran and Sunnah, but differ in methodology when deriving rulings. These differences arose due to variations in sources available to scholars, the environments they lived in, and their approach to interpreting evidence.
All four aim to preserve Islam’s teachings but use different priorities for evidence. This results in variations in rulings, especially in the details of worship, transactions, and social matters while core beliefs remain the same.
Why the Difference?
-
Geography — Different cities had access to different hadith collections and companion traditions.
-
Teachers — Scholars were influenced by the methodologies of their teachers.
-
Societal Context — Urban centers like Kufa and Medina had different needs and customs.
-
Interpretation Philosophy — Some prioritized textual literalism, others allowed more flexibility.
Key Points
-
Same core faith — No disagreement in the fundamentals of belief.
-
Different sources’ weight — Each madhhab ranks evidence differently.
-
Practical variations — Small differences in prayer, zakat, marriage, etc.
-
Mutual respect — Historically, scholars acknowledged the validity of other madhhabs.
Comparison Table
| School | Primary Source Order | Approach to Reasoning | View on Custom & Discretion |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hanafi | Qur’an → Sunnah → Ijmāʿ of Sahabah → individual Sahabi opinion → Qiyās → Istihsān → ʿUrf (custom) | Broad use of qiyās and istihsān | Accepts juristic discretion & local customs |
| Maliki | Qur’an & Sunnah (if aligned with ʿAmal Ahl al-Madīnah) → ʿAmal Ahl al-Madīnah → Ijmāʿ → Qiyās → Istislāḥ → ʿUrf | Balances text with Medinan community practice | Gives high authority to Medina’s practice |
| Shāfiʿī | Qur’an → Sunnah → Ijmāʿ → Qiyās | Strict textual adherence | Rejects local custom & istihsān |
| Hanbali | Qur’an → Sunnah → Ijmāʿ of Sahabah → individual Sahabi opinion → weak hadith → Qiyās | Minimal reasoning beyond direct text | Rejects local custom & istihsān |
Differences in the Five Pillars
While all four Sunni schools of thought (Hanafi, Maliki, Shāfiʿī, Hanbali) agree on the Five Pillars of Islam, they differ in certain details of practice due to variations in interpreting the Qur’an and Sunnah. These differences are valid within Islamic scholarship and do not affect the unity of faith. Below, we can learn about a few well-known examples for each pillar.
Salah (Prayer)
While the structure of prayer is agreed upon across all four madhhabs, certain details such as recitation style, hand placement, and the use of rafʿ al-yadayn vary due to differences in interpreting hadith. These differences are all within the bounds of valid Sunnah practice.
| Issue | Hanafi | Maliki | Shafiʿi | Hanbali |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Neglecting Prayer | Major sin, not kufr | Major sin, not kufr | Major sin, not kufr | Dominant view: kufr (though nuanced opinions exist) |
| Raising Hands | Only at the opening | Only at the opening | Opening, before & after rukūʿ | Opening, before & after rukūʿ |
| Hand Position | Below navel | Below chest/above navel | On chest | On chest |
Zakat
The obligation of zakat is agreed upon, but the threshold (nisab), rules for jewelry, and distribution priorities differ across madhhabs, often based on economic context and interpretation of prophetic reports.
| Issue | Hanafi | Maliki | Shafiʿi | Hanbali |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nisab | Based on silver | Based on gold | Based on gold | Based on gold |
| Jewelry | Zakat due, even if worn | No zakat on normal jewelry; zakat if excessive | Zakat due | Zakat due |
| Distribution | Flexible among categories | Flexible, some preference | Must include all if possible | Must include all if possible |
Hajj
The essential rites of Hajj are the same, but timing of certain rituals and the handling of omissions (such as skipping Tawaf al-Wadaʿ) differ slightly between the four schools.
| Issue | Hanafi | Maliki | Shafiʿi | Hanbali |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Talbiyah | Loud for men, quiet for women | Same | Same | Same |
| Stoning Time | After zawāl until night | Same | After zawāl, best before sunset | Same as Shafiʿi |
| Farewell Tawaf | Obligatory; omission = sacrifice | Obligatory | Obligatory | Obligatory |
Fasting
All schools agree on the obligation of Ramadan fasting, but they differ on intention timing, treatment of accidental eating, and the permissibility of intimate actions during the day.
| Issue | Hanafi | Maliki | Shafiʿi | Hanbali |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Intention Timing | Before Fajr (obligatory); until zawāl (voluntary) | Same | Before Fajr (all fasts) | Same as Shafiʿi |
| Accidental Eating | Fast valid | Fast valid | Fast valid | Fast valid |
| Intimacy in Day | Makrūh if risk of intercourse | Same | Makrūh if risk of intercourse | Same |
What This Means for You
The differences between the four Sunni madhhabs are not contradictions in Islam but diverse methodologies for applying the Qur’an and Sunnah. These variations enrich Islamic law and provide flexibility across cultures and contexts. While rulings may differ in details, the unity of faith, worship, and belief in the Qur’an and Sunnah remains intact.
And Allah knows best
References
Primary Sources:
- Qur’an 16:43
- Qur’an 42:10
- Sahih al-Bukhari, Hadith 7352
- Sahih Muslim, Hadith 1718
Secondary Sources:
- Ibn Qudāmah, al-Mughni
- Al-Nawawi, al-Majmuʿ
- Al-Tabari, Tafsir al-Tabari
- Ibn Taymiyyah, Majmuʿ al-Fatawa
- Shaykh al-Islam Ibn Taymiyyah, Rafʿ al-Malām ʿan al-Aʾimmat al-Aʿlām (on why scholars differ)
© Copyright 2025, All Rights Reserved