✅THE 4 IMAMS

The four Sunni madhabs (schools of Islamic law) are the primary schools of jurisprudence (fiqh) within Sunni Islam.

1. Hanafi School (founded by Imam Abu Hanifa, 699–767 AD):

   • Region: Predominantly followed in South Asia, Turkey, Central Asia, and parts of the Middle East.

   • Characteristics: Known for its reliance on reason and opinion (ra'y) in the absence of clear scriptural evidence. The Hanafi school is considered the most flexible in terms of legal rulings and is known for prioritizing public welfare (istihsan) in legal decisions.

2. Maliki School (founded by Imam Malik ibn Anas, 711–795 AD):

   • Region: Commonly followed in North and West Africa, and parts of the Arabian Peninsula.

   • Characteristics: The Maliki school places significant emphasis on the practices of the people of Medina, viewing their customs as a reflection of the Prophet Muhammad's traditions. It also incorporates local custom ('urf) into its legal rulings, making it more adaptable to regional traditions.

3. Shafi'i School (founded by Imam Al-Shafi'i, 767–820 AD):

   • Region: Predominantly followed in East Africa, Southeast Asia, and parts of the Middle East.

   • Characteristics: The Shafi'i school is well-known for its rigorous and systematic methodology, prioritizing the Quran and Sunnah while limiting the use of personal reasoning. It was the first school to formalize legal theory (usul al-fiqh), focusing on deriving rulings through strict scriptural evidence.

4. Hanbali School (founded by Imam Ahmad ibn Hanbal, 780–855 AD):

   • Region: Primarily followed in Saudi Arabia and parts of the Gulf region.

   • Characteristics: The Hanbali school is the most conservative of the four, with a strict reliance on the Quran and Sunnah and minimal use of analogy or personal reasoning. It rejects innovations and emphasizes following the literal meaning of the texts.