What distinguishes one madhhab from another?

The term madhhab refers to the various schools of thought within Sunni Islam. While all Sunni Muslims follow the same fundamental beliefs and practices, there are slight differences in interpretation and application of these beliefs and practices within each madhhab. These differences can stem from varying sources of authority, such as the Quran, hadith, and the opinions of early Islamic scholars. For example, the Hanafi madhhab places a greater emphasis on reason and independent reasoning, while the Shafi'i madhhab places a greater emphasis on the hadith as sources of Islamic law. Ultimately, these slight differences in interpretation and application result in different legal rulings, but all madhhab share a common goal of seeking to understand and apply Islamic law in the best possible manner.

This mind map was published on 26 June 2023 and has been viewed 102 times.