Seerah›The Four Imams of Fiqh
The Four Imams of Fiqh
The lives, methodology, trials, and legacy of the four great Imams — Abu Hanifah, Malik, al-Shafi'i, and Ahmad ibn Hanbal.
Imam Abu Hanifah (80–150 AH / 699–767 CE)
The life, fiqh method, trials, and enduring school of the Imam of Kufa.
- The Life of Imam Abu Hanifah — The Great Imam (al-Imam al-A'dham)
- The Teachers and Students of Abu Hanifah
- Abu Hanifah's Methodology in Fiqh — Ra'y, Qiyas, and Istihsan
Imam Malik ibn Anas (93–179 AH / 711–795 CE)
The Imam of Madinah, his reverence for hadith, and the method that shaped the Maliki school.
- The Life of Imam Malik — The Imam of Dar al-Hijrah
- The Teachers and Students of Imam Malik
- Imam Malik's Methodology — Amal Ahl al-Madinah and Al-Muwatta
Imam al-Shafi'i (150–204 AH / 767–820 CE)
The scholar who systematized usool al-fiqh and unified hadith with legal reasoning.
- The Life of Imam al-Shafi'i — The Reviver of the Sunnah
- The Teachers and Students of al-Shafi'i
- Al-Shafi'i's Methodology — Ar-Risalah and the Foundations of Usool al-Fiqh
Imam Ahmad ibn Hanbal (164–241 AH / 780–855 CE)
The Imam of steadfastness, hadith, and unwavering adherence during the Mihnah.
- The Life of Imam Ahmad ibn Hanbal — The Imam of Ahl al-Sunnah
- The Teachers and Students of Imam Ahmad
- Ahmad's Methodology — Adherence to the Athar and the Musnad
Lessons & Reflections
What the four imams teach about scholarship, disagreement, humility, and service to the Sunnah.
- What United the Four Imams Despite Their Differences
- The Etiquette of Scholarly Disagreement — Lessons from the Four Imams
- How the Four Madhabs Spread Across the Muslim World