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.
Summary
All four aim to preserve Islam’s teachings but use different priorities for evidence. This results in variations in rulings especially in details of worship, transactions, and social matters while core beliefs remain the same.
Why the Difference?
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Geography — Different cities had access to different hadith collections and companion traditions.
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Teachers — Scholars were influenced by the methodologies of their teachers.
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Societal Context — Urban centers like Kufa and Medina had different needs and customs.
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Interpretation Philosophy — Some prioritized textual literalism, others allowed more flexibility.
Key Points
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Same core faith — No disagreement in the fundamentals of belief.
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Different sources’ weight — Each madhhab ranks evidence differently.
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Practical variations — Small differences in prayer, zakat, marriage, etc.
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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 |
Core Differences in the 5 Pillars Across the Four Sunni Madhhabs
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
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 | Shāfiʿī | Hanbali |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ruling on Neglecting Prayer | Major sin but does not expel from Islam if out of laziness | Major sin but does not expel from Islam if out of laziness | Major sin but does not expel from Islam if out of laziness | Neglecting prayer is kufr (expels from Islam) |
| Rafʿ al-Yadayn (raising hands) | Only at opening takbīr | Only at opening takbīr | At opening, before/after rukūʿ | At opening, before/after rukūʿ |
| Position of Hands in Qiyām (standing) | Below the navel | Below the chest/above the 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 | Shāfiʿī | Hanbali |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nisab Calculation | Based on silver value | Based on gold value | Based on gold value | Based on gold value |
| Zakat on Jewelry | Zakat due on gold & silver jewelry (even if worn) | No zakat on personal-use jewelry | Zakat due on gold & silver jewelry | Zakat due on gold & silver jewelry |
| Zakat Distribution | Flexible allocation among eligible categories | Flexible, but preference to certain categories | Must give to all categories if possible, starting with collectors | Must give to all categories 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 | Shāfiʿī | Hanbali |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Talbiyah Recitation | Sunnah to recite aloud for men, quietly for women | Same as Hanafi | Same as Hanafi | Same as Hanafi |
| Stoning the Jamarat Timing | Permissible from after zawāl until night | Same as Hanafi | Permissible from after zawāl, preferred before sunset | Same as Shāfiʿī |
| Order of Farewell Tawaf (Tawaf al-Wadaʿ) | Obligatory; omission requires dam (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 | Shāfiʿī | Hanbali |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Intention (Niyyah) Timing | Must be made before Fajr for obligatory fasts; can intend any time before zawāl for voluntary fasts | Same as Hanafi | Must intend before Fajr for both obligatory & voluntary fasts | Same as Shāfiʿī |
| Accidental Eating/Drinking | Fast still valid | Fast still valid | Fast still valid | Fast still valid |
| Kissing/Physical Intimacy in Daytime | Makrūh if feared to lead to intercourse | Same as Hanafi | Makrūh if feared to lead to intercourse | Same as Hanafi |
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