The largest and most widely followed school of Islamic law, founded by Imam Abu Hanifa (rahimahullah). Followed by over 45% of Muslims worldwide, particularly in South Asia, Turkey, the Balkans, and Central Asia.
The Hanafi school (المذهب الحنفي - al-madhhab al-Ḥanafī) is the oldest and most widely followed school of Islamic jurisprudence (fiqh) within Sunni Islam. Named after its founder, the great Islamic scholar and jurist Imam Abu Hanifa al-Nu'man ibn Thabit (699-767 CE), this school is distinguished by its emphasis on reason, logic, and juristic preference in deriving legal rulings.
The Hanafi madhab emerged in Kufa, Iraq, during the 8th century and quickly spread throughout the Islamic world. It became the official school of law for the Abbasid Caliphate and later the Ottoman Empire, which significantly contributed to its widespread adoption. Today, it remains the predominant school in countries including Turkey, Pakistan, India, Bangladesh, Afghanistan, and much of Central Asia.
Born in 699 CE in Kufa, Iraq, Imam Abu Hanifa was a Persian scholar who became one of the greatest Islamic jurists in history. He initially engaged in trade before dedicating his life to Islamic scholarship at the age of 20.
He studied under prominent scholars including Hammad ibn Abi Sulayman and had the privilege of meeting several Companions of the Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ), making him one of the Tabi'un (Successors).
Emphasis on logical reasoning and juristic preference when deriving rulings
Adaptation of Islamic law to diverse contexts while maintaining core principles
Valuing the agreement of qualified jurists in determining religious matters
Focus on ease and practicality in applying Islamic law to daily life
The primary and most authoritative source of Islamic law, containing divine guidance from Allah (SWT).
The authentic traditions, sayings, and practices of Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ), as recorded in hadith collections.
The unanimous agreement of qualified Islamic scholars on a particular ruling, particularly the consensus of the Companions.
Deriving rulings for new situations by drawing analogies with established principles from the Quran and Sunnah.
A distinctive Hanafi principle allowing preference for a more suitable ruling when strict analogy would lead to hardship or injustice.
Raising hands only at the beginning of prayer; specific positions for women different from men
The Hanafi school has unique positions on hand placement during prayer and slight variations in how women perform certain movements.
Wiping over leather socks (khuff) is permissible for resident Muslims for one day and night
Clear guidelines on when wudu is broken and detailed rulings on wiping over footwear.
Specific nisab thresholds and detailed rules for zakat on various forms of wealth
Comprehensive system for calculating obligatory charity on gold, silver, trade goods, and agricultural produce.
The Hanafi school's emphasis on reason and flexibility has made it particularly well-suited for addressing contemporary issues facing Muslims worldwide. Its methodology of considering public interest (maslaha) and local customs ('urf) allows for nuanced applications of Islamic law in diverse cultural contexts.
Major Islamic institutions following the Hanafi madhab include Al-Azhar University in Egypt, Darul Uloom Deoband in India, and numerous Islamic universities across Turkey, Pakistan, and Central Asia. These institutions continue to produce scholars who apply Hanafi principles to modern challenges including bioethics, finance, and technology.
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