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

This level introduces four well-known Sunni juristic traditions:
1. Hanafi
2. Maliki
3. Shafi'i
4. Hanbali
At this stage, the goal is recognition of their names and the imams from whom the names are taken.

2. Hanafi — Imam Abu Hanifah

The Hanafi Madhhab is associated by name with Imam Abu Hanifah.
Remember the pairing:
Abu Hanifah → Hanafi

3. Maliki — Imam Malik ibn Anas

The Maliki Madhhab is associated by name with Imam Malik ibn Anas.
Remember the pairing:
Malik → Maliki

4. Shafi'i — Imam Muhammad ibn Idris al-Shafi'i

The Shafi'i Madhhab is associated by name with Imam Muhammad ibn Idris al-Shafi'i.
He is commonly known as Imam al-Shafi'i.
Remember the pairing:
Imam al-Shafi'i → Shafi'i

5. Hanbali — Imam Ahmad ibn Hanbal

The Hanbali Madhhab is associated by name with Imam Ahmad ibn Hanbal.
Remember the pairing:
Ahmad ibn Hanbal → Hanbali

6. The Four Pairings Together

Keep the four pairings together:
1. Abu Hanifah → Hanafi
2. Malik ibn Anas → Maliki
3. Muhammad ibn Idris al-Shafi'i → Shafi'i
4. Ahmad ibn Hanbal → Hanbali

7. Hanafi Orientation with Respect for All Four

This course has a Hanafi scholarly orientation.
That tells you the path of study; it does not rank the four Madhhabs.
The Hanafi, Maliki, Shafi'i, and Hanbali traditions and their imams should all be mentioned with accurate attribution and respect.

8. Level Summary

Remember these 5 points:
1. The four well-known Sunni Madhhabs are Hanafi, Maliki, Shafi'i, and Hanbali.
2. Hanafi is associated with Imam Abu Hanifah.
3. Maliki is associated with Imam Malik ibn Anas.
4. Shafi'i is associated with Imam Muhammad ibn Idris al-Shafi'i, and Hanbali with Imam Ahmad ibn Hanbal.
5. This course is Hanafi-oriented while treating all four traditions respectfully and without ranking them.

Practice questions

Question 1

Which list contains the four well-known Sunni Madhhabs taught here?

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

Question 2

Which imam is associated by name with the Hanafi Madhhab?

Imam Abu Hanifah
Imam Malik ibn Anas
Imam Ahmad ibn Hanbal

Question 3

Which imam is associated by name with the Maliki Madhhab?

Imam Malik ibn Anas
Imam al-Shafi'i
Imam Abu Hanifah

Question 4

Which full name belongs to the imam associated with the Shafi'i Madhhab?

Imam Muhammad ibn Idris al-Shafi'i
Imam Ahmad ibn Hanbal
Imam Malik ibn Anas

Question 5

Which imam is associated by name with the Hanbali Madhhab?

Imam Ahmad ibn Hanbal
Imam Abu Hanifah
Imam Malik ibn Anas

Question 6

Match each Madhhab to the imam from whom it takes its name.

Question 7

What does the Hanafi orientation of this course mean?

It identifies the scholarly path of study
It ranks the four Madhhabs from best to worst
It removes the need to respect other Madhhabs

Question 8

Which attitude is correct toward the four well-known Sunni Madhhabs?

Mention them with accurate attribution and respect
Mention other Madhhabs only to criticize them
Treat one orientation as permission to belittle the rest

Question 9

A learner says, 'Because this course is Hanafi, other well-known Sunni Madhhabs are inferior.' What is the correction?

Hanafi orientation shows the path of study; it does not mean other well-known Sunni Madhhabs are inferior
The statement is correct
All Madhhabs must use identical terminology

Question 10

Which summary best describes this level?

Recognize the four well-known Sunni Madhhabs, match each to its attributed imam, and treat all four respectfully without ranking
Compare the rulings of all four Madhhabs in detail
Decide which Madhhab is superior

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