4 schools of thought

:salam:

Recently one of the GS members brought to my notice the Madhahib’s.
Though i knew about them didn’t think much about it before.
So i started thinking & found out that i do a few things the hanafi way & a few things the salafi way.

So i started searching online about the Madhahib’s & it just confused me more.
One calling the other wrong etc.

Can anyone who has knowledge about this tell me when & why did we have these 4 schools of thought .

Why the differences among them?
what are the main differences?
How can we decide which is wrong & which is right?

Can all 4 be right?

:jazak:
:wsalam:

Re: 4 schools of thought

Salam, for the past 1400 years, Scholars have followed a particular madhab, if they followed a madhab, who are we? Yes all madhabs are right…but here are a few links that will help you in this research, by scholars that explain it beautifully.

Why Muslims Follow Madhhabs

Understanding the Four Madhhabs (with footnotes)

http://www.central-mosque.com/fiqh/LegalStatusOfFollowingAMadhab.pdf (Mufti Taqi Usmani)

Re: 4 schools of thought

i think you should choose master of all these 4 becoz Imam Abu Hanifa was the student of Imam Jaffar Sadiq AS in madina and so Imam Hanbal, Malik and Shafa'i who were student of decender of Imam Jaffer AS

Brother some school of thoughts were found years after the death of Prophets… Where as the first Imam of Shia sect Hazrat Ali A.S was there during the time of Prophet P.B.U.H. There are a number of hadith’s of Prophet which mentions about his pious personality and his status in the eyes of Prophet and Allah SWT. He and his descents had served a great source of knowledge and served there lifes in the way of Islam. Also as the brother mentioned some of the Imams of the other school of thoughts were students of Imam Jaffar Said who happens to be the sixth Imam.

Following website is quite informative about this sect:

A Shi’ite Encyclopedia

To learn more about the Imammat of Hazrat Ali A.S. Please refer to the following website:

Ghadir Khumm: In Qur’an, Hadith and History

Also, to learn about the knowledge and personality of Hazrat Ali. Please read the following book which is a compilation of his sermons and letter

Nahjul Balagha (Peak of Eloquence)

Jazakallah

Re: 4 schools of thought

ya

Scholars such as Imam Shaltoot at Al Azahar have declared that Muslims are generally free to pick and choose, mix and match from all 5 madhabs, including the 12 Imam shia madhab.

Jamia al-Azhar Verdict on the Shia || Imam Reza (A.S.) Network

It was only Shaikh Mahmood Shaltoot who as head of department a center at al-Azhar by the name of "Dar al-Taqreeb al-Madhahib al-Islamiyyah" which translates into "Centre for bringing together the various Islamic schools of a group of Sunni and Shia scholars formed thought" issued that fatwa on 6 July 1959.

It is not the official Fatwa of AL Jamiah Al Azhar recognising the Jafaariyah school of thought. Other recognised authorities disassociated themselves from this Fatwa.

Sunnis do not recognise the Jafaariyah school of thought officially.

It would be interesting to know why the Shia Ayatollahs did not reciprocate in kind and recognise the four schools of thought.

What do you mean by recognize? A cursory search on the web reveals that well known Shia imams of the day permit shia sunni marriages:

Shia Marry A Sunni? Sayyida Marry A Non-Sayyid Male? Haram Relationship Converted Into A Halal Relationship? - Mutah Fiqh FAQ - Mutah.com

What do the sunni imams say about marriage to Shia?

Brother - following schools of thought has nothing to do with being Muslim.

Of course Marriage between Shias and Sunis is Halal.

Following School of thought is to do with Fiqh.

Do Shia Ayatullahs allow the Shia to follow fiqh of Abu Hanifah, Shafii, Maliki or Hanbali? Unfortunately they too do not recognise them.

***None of the 4 Fiqah imams accused each other that your wrong or i am wrong. Or fought over baseless issues. They all had mere RESPECT for each other and so do i.

Hazrat Imam e Azam Abu Hanifa, Hazrat Imam Bin Hanbal, Hazrat Imam Shafi, And Hazrat Imam Malik Rahmatullahi’ta’ala allaiah.


The division and fighting becomes within the muslim community when one tries to outshine the other trying to “add” or “subtract” the certain issues within the boundries of islam.

Let me give you an example:

***Example: why do Hanafi scholars use imam maliks(Radi Allah Anhu) fatwa in anulling the marriage of a women who’s husband has gone to war or got lost,and no sign of him returning i.e. after 4 yrs, whereas imam abu Hanifa(Radi Allah Anhu) said let her wait 70 yrs(or maybe 90yrs?)
Are they insulting Abu Hanifa(Radi Allah Anhu) by not going by his decision? No!

Why do some Shafiee’s(Radi Allah Anhu) in ihraam choose to follow hanafi madhab whilst doing wudhu for tawaaf etc,because in their madhab wudhu is anulled during physical contact with women( be it accidentally), and this is some times very difficult whilst doing tawaaf to avoid,are they disrespecting the decision of their imam too?

After the Holy Prophet (sallal laahu alaihi wasallam), the Sahaba-e-Kiraam and the Taabi’in, the most excellent are the four Imams of the Ahle Sunnat Wa Jamaat. They are such great Imaams that they are known as “Mujtahideen Fi Shara”. They are Imam-e-Azam Abu Hanifa, Imam Maalik, Imam Shafi’i and Imam Ahmed bin Hambal (alaihimur rahmah). Taqleed means to follow one of the four Imaams of religion concerning the commandments of Islamic Law (Shariah).

Today, Muslims throughout the world follow the Taqleed of these four Imaams. In the Masa’ile Furoo’iya, there is no other fourth Madhab. The difference of opinion of the four Imaams is only in the laws of Furoo’ (actions) and not in beliefs (Aqaa’id). The followers of the four Madhabs are commonly known as Hanafi, Maaliki, Shafi’i and Hambali. It is necessary (Waajib) to follow one of them, eg. to perform Salaah, or perform Saum, Zakaah, etc. as per what they have prescribed. This is known as Taqleed Shakhshi. These Imams have not made a rule on their own accord but have explained the meaning of the Holy Quran and Hadith, which a normal person or even an Alim could not understand.


I Think people who swear and curse each other or call each other wrong are nothing more then just being deluded by a fog of blindness.


you appear to have progressive views regarding shia and consider them muslim. Am I right? I would be interested in your opinion on this website:

leaflet

As far as your question about the Ayatullhas is concerned, in my opinion, if they accept followers of Sunni madhab as Muslims then they recognize the madhabs.

thanks for your thougtful posts.

Brother Sunnis do take Shias as Muslims though seriously disagree with and detest some of their beliefs and practices - the Proof being that Shias are allowed to visit the holy places for thier rituals unhindered.

About the posters - that refers to extremists beliefs within Shias - those who make takfir on the Companions of the Prophet (saw) [may Allah be pleased with them all]

That's not true brother - Ayatullahs accepting Sunnis as Muslims doesn't mean that they are accepting Sunni schools of thought as correct - they don't.

The Shia/Sunni differences and disputes will only be solved by Imam Mahdi (ra) when he comes. Till then bear each other out.

Eid Mubarak to you and all the readers here

The fatwa is directed towards all Ithna Ashri: leaflet

It says nothing about separating those who make takfir from those who do not. According to the fatwa they are all Kafir and marriage to them is forbidden. Do you disagree?
Khair Mubarak brother.

No I do not agree to that blanket cover - Marriage between Shia and Sunni is Halal - though both sects discourage their women to do so - control over the beliefs of next generation :slight_smile:

On personal note - whenever I am at my Iraqi (Shia) friend’s home - I have joined in prayers with them with and their granddad leading the prayers ( you know I can’t practice taqqiyah :-)) I know my prayers are valid though I feel the old sometimes feels a bit uncomfortable with me in the group. (My friends & me always laugh about it - the discomfort of the old man)

I warn you, do not fall in love with your friend's sister or something ... :-)

Since, my grand mother was from a Sunni Sidiqqi family, we were forbidden to call the four rightly guided caliphs names in our home. In addition, my brother and his wife are now Sunni. As are most of my friends. Therefore, I attend sunni Eid prayers with them and consider myself leaning more toward Sunni than Shia Islam. However, both my parents were Shia-Syed (both passed away more than 15 years ago). Therefore, I also enjoy listening to Qawalis, nohas, naats and majaalis etc. I regard the Sunni and Shia fiqh equally and sufficently correct as did Shaltoot, and consider their followers Muslim. I also believe the real value of Islam is in an understanding beyond what is written in the law.

You are rejecting the fatwa of prominent Sunni scholars. Can I ask, based on which Sunni scholar's authority? As I explained for me it Shaltoot.

Re: 4 schools of thought

Which Shia's are we talking about , FATIMI, ITNA ASHARI OR ISMAILI. They can't even solve their differences.

Brother if the Shia mainstream, 12ers, weren't part within the fold of Islamic Ummah they would not have been allowed to visit the holy sites in the Hejaz to perform Hajj and Umrah.

As far I am aware Usuli Shias have disassociated themselves from Alhlul Ghulaat (those having extremist exaggerated beliefs)

Re: 4 schools of thought

religion is a beautiful gift. it cannot be numerically ordered into sects.

that is just not how religion operates.

leaflet

Mufti-e-Azam Pakistan Maulana Wali Hasan’s Fatwa

“Shia Ithna Ashari are Rafzi (deviated) Kafirs (infidels). Marriages between Muslims and Shias are haram (forbidden). Muslims should not attend their funerals. Their sect is deviated and burying them in Muslim graveyards is haram. Hence, they should be treated as non-Muslims.”