Four Well-Known Sunni Madhhabs

Read the bilingual lesson for Four Well-Known Sunni Madhhabs and test your understanding with a focused quiz.

Lesson

1. Four Well-Known Sunni Madhhabs

Four well-known Sunni Madhhabs are Hanafi, Maliki, Shafi'i, and Hanbali. Each name identifies a recognized juristic scholarly tradition.

All four juristic traditions are mentioned with accurate attribution and respect.

2. Hanafi and Maliki Associations

The Hanafi Madhhab is associated by name with Imam Abu Hanifah, and the Maliki Madhhab with Imam Malik ibn Anas.

Two pairings to remember: Abu Hanifah–Hanafi; Malik–Maliki.

3. Shafi'i and Hanbali Associations

The Shafi'i Madhhab is associated by name with Imam Muhammad ibn Idris al-Shafi'i, and the Hanbali Madhhab with Imam Ahmad ibn Hanbal. Imam Muhammad ibn Idris al-Shafi'i is commonly known as Imam al-Shafi'i.

Two pairings to remember: Imam al-Shafi'i–Shafi'i; Ahmad ibn Hanbal–Hanbali.

4. Hanafi Orientation and Balanced Respect

This Fiqh study has a Hanafi orientation while treating the Maliki, Shafi'i, and Hanbali Madhhabs and their imams respectfully. The Hanafi orientation identifies the path of study; it is not a ranking of Madhhabs.

An accurate statement is: we study through the Hanafi scholarly tradition and respect the other well-known Sunni juristic schools.

Practice questions

Question 1

Match each well-known Sunni Madhhab to the imam from whom it takes its name.

Question 2

Which list contains the four well-known Sunni Madhhabs?

Hanafi, Maliki, Shafi'i, Hanbali
Hanafi, Maliki, Fiqh, Fatwa
Shafi'i, Hanbali, Ijma', Qiyas

Question 3

A learner says, 'We study through the Hanafi scholarly tradition, so respect for other well-known Sunni Madhhabs is unnecessary.' What is the correct response?

Correct; a Hanafi orientation means ranking other Madhhabs
Incorrect; a Hanafi orientation identifies the path of study while respect for other well-known Sunni Madhhabs remains
Correct; disagreement means personal hostility

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