What is the madhhab in Islam?

In order to find out what this is and how many madhhabs in Islam, it is necessary to give a clear definition of this term. Also it is necessary to find out the roots of its origin and the path of development.

What is it?

The term "mazhab" is translated from Arabic as "direction." Some give this term "path". Mazhab in Islam is a certain doctrine, founded by a fakih (that is, by a scholar of jurisprudence) who has a degree of Izhtihad. In this case, all such trends are based on the norms of the Quran.

Thus, the madhhab in Islam is a legal school that is not the work of one founder scientist, since the followers of the imam also contribute to its development, while respecting the most important principles and principles laid down by the teacher.

A bit of history

The founder of the very first teaching is Abu Hanif al-Numan ibn Sabbit al-Imam al-azam. It arose in the VIII century, and it is Abu Hanif who is considered the founder of the method of using rational judgments and preferences in solving legal issues. He proved that it is possible to apply the fundamental customary norms as a source of law (the Quran and the Sunnah).

Varieties of madhhab

Mazhab in Islam is an integral and rather important part of Muslim culture. It includes a system of knowledge passed from the teacher to the student, from generation to generation.

So, how many madhhabs in Islam? In total, there are six. However, in our time, only 4 madhhabs in Islam have a wide distribution and application. These include:

- Hanafi;

- Malikite;

- Shafi'i;

- Hanbalit.

Another legal school, the Zahiritskaya, has now completely disappeared, and the Jafaritic school is spread only among the Shiites.

All of them have a common and very important feature - they are based on the Koran, which is revealed through the Sunnah, logic and dogmas. In the rest they have significant differences.

Hanafi madhab

At present, Islam in the territory of the Republic of Tatarstan is recognized as the main Hanafi madhhab . It is used for conducting religious rituals and services. Despite the fact that officially there are 4 madhhabs in Islam, it is the Hanafi recognized as the most suitable for modern conditions. At present, he has not lost his relevance and continues to lay the foundation for a tolerant attitude towards other existing religions.

This doctrine is based on sources such as the Qur'an, Sunnah, Kyyas (that is, the solution to a legal problem in analogy with what is already written in the Revelation), istihan, ijma (or the general opinion of theologians), and also traditionally popular opinions.

One of the methods of making legal decisions in this teaching is a strict hierarchy of verdicts of school authorities (such as the founder of the Abu Hanif school). Whenever a question arises, priority is always given to the majority opinion or the most convincing prescription.

The efforts of the students of the founder of the Abu Hanif law school indicated that this teaching was able to solve almost all the problems of fiqh.

Malikit Mazhab

The founder of this Muslim school is Malik ibn Anas. In the basis of the issuance of legal regulations, he, of course, put the Koran. Malik ibn Anas believed that the Sunnah is the actions and endorsements of the Prophet Muhammad and the "acts of the Medinites."

The Malikit mazhab says that if in a particular problem there is no clarity in the Revelation, it is worthwhile to apply the most preferable solution of the problem, regardless of whether it is possible to draw an analogy or not.

A distinctive feature of the Malikit law school is that, in addition to established traditions, judgment methods are also used. This doctrine is widely spread in the Muslim part of Spain and in North Africa.

Shafi'i madhhab

All four madhhabs in Islam are not just the conclusions of the imam, to which he came in the process of studying the sacred texts, namely the interpretation and interpretation of the Koran. In this regard, adhering to a certain teaching, it is not necessary to follow exactly the conclusions of the Imam. To adhere to the mazhab means to accept the understanding of the sacred texts in the interpretation that the imam brings.

The founder of the legal school under consideration is Muhammad ibn Idris al-Shafi'i. His methods were based on the explicit and clear sense of the Quran and the Sunnah, with some limitations in the use of rational methods.

The Ash Shafi'i method was based on the denial of the allegory of the scriptures. That is, the provisions of the Revelation should never have been subjected to allegory, and all other writings were to be brought into one correspondence with the position of the Quran and the Sunnah.

At present, the Shafi'i law school is widespread among Muslims of the Middle East, as well as believers in South-East Asia.

Khanbalit mazhab

The founder of this legal method is Ahmad ibn Hanbal, who built his teaching on the following sources:

- The Quran and the Sunnah;

- the views of the Companions (in the presence of any disagreement in opinions, preference was given to the instructions closest to the norms of the Koran);

- kyyas, that is, a comparison of problems with those that have already been solved in the light of the Revelation's arguments;

- ijma - the conclusions of several generations of jurists.

This school suggests conducting research on all religious and legal issues without making any exceptions.

What is the difference between madhhabs?

There are madhhabs in Islam of distinction, the main of which is the following: the Khanabalit from the moment of its foundation and up to the present time categorically does not recognize the closure of the "gate of ijtihad". It should be noted that this expression is understood as the activity of theologians, aimed at studying and solving the problems of the theological complex, as well as the system of principles, methods, arguments used by the theological scholar himself.

All other law schools at a certain length of time came to the conclusion that the "gate of ijtihad" should be closed in those fiqh questions that had previously been studied in detail and disassembled directly by the founders of the madhhabs and their followers. At the same time, this rule did not apply to newly emerging issues, and they were subject to compulsory legal assessment.

It should be noted that all of the above teachings were based and developed not isolated from each other. Rather, in the development process, these legal schools interacted and complemented each other. The most important confirmation of this fact is that the founders of these teachings were once pupils and followers of each other. In this regard, the basic meaning and legal basis for all schools are almost the same.

Value

The madhhab in Islam is important. So, a believer who says that he does not follow the norms of any law school can quickly fall into error and, worse still, deceive other believers. Mazhabs in Islam are the main reference points, thanks to which the believer can independently determine the level of authenticity of the hadith.

It is they who give the believer an opportunity to determine his moral convictions and choose the path closest to him and, according to the subjective opinion of the believer, is the right one.

What you need to know about mazhabs

Having dealt with what kind of madhhabs are in Islam, it is worthwhile to pay attention to the fact that all of them, without exception, are not religious currents, but "styles" of everyday life. They are guided by the believer in modern life. It is impossible to name, for example, the Sunni Muslim madhhabs true or false. In any of the teachings, every believer can find for themselves both positive and negative points.

They do not differ in principle from each other. Their significance lies in the fact that they are a definite guide in the lives of Muslims, who can be guided in decision-making in situations not provided for by the Holy Scriptures.

However, if a person does not adhere to the foundations of any law school, this does not mean that he does not have faith, and certainly this circumstance can not be described as a "sin".

The Mazhab is not a norm to be observed, but the way a believer is guided in making decisions in everyday life, what helps him to make the right decision in a concrete life situation.

Thus, in the Muslim religion there are many beliefs that are not subject to doubt and do not need to be interpreted. Such beliefs include belief in the existence of Allah, faith in the prophets, hajj and others.

For other issues, when solving certain differences, there are so-called legal schools based on wisdom, experience, understanding and respect for the opinions of others.

Faithful teachings do not dictate the rules of life to believers, but only help to make the right decisions in difficult situations and difficult life issues.