Differences of the Four A’immah

Question:

Assalamu alaykum wa rahmatullahi wa barakatuh

How can one explain to a 13-year-old maktab student why there are differences in masail among the scholars, such as the four Imams (Hanafi, Maliki, Shafi, Hanbali) — even in matters that appear compulsory, like the faraidh of wudhu, salah, or what breaks wudhu and salah — when all of them claim to follow Rasulullah (sallallahu alayhi wasallam)?

b) Why do these differences exist when all the Imams were following the same Quran and Sunnah?

Answer:

In the Name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful.

As-Salāmu ‘Alaykum Wa-Rahmatullāhi Wa-Barakātuh.

This question is becoming very common, and one needs to be equipped to tackle and address it at its core.

In order to do this, merely issuing a Fatwa will not suffice. For this reason, we suggest that every Aalim and Maktab teacher equips themselves with the necessary tools and knowledge to adequately answer the doubts that may arise in the minds of Students.

Regarding this same topic, Shaykh al-Hadith Mawlana Muhammad Zakariyya Kandhlawi authored an excellent and concise treatise. It has been translated into English under the title “The Differences of the Imams”.

And Allah Ta’ala Knows Best.

Azhar Mownah

Student Darul Iftaa
Mauritius

Checked and Approved by,

Mufti Muhammad Zakariyya Desai.