The Four Madhhabs: Introduction to the Schools of Islamic Law

A short course introducing the four Sunni schools of Islamic law, their histories, development and basic jurisprudential methodologies with Shaykh Akram Nadwi

About this course

This course, taught by Shaykh Akram Nadwi, will provide a comprehensive introduction to the four major madhhabs (Islamic schools of law). Students will explore the founding of the schools, a brief overview of their historical development as well as touch upon some core principles of each school. The course will also introduce some of the key scholars and notable works associated with each madhhab for those who are interested in further research. There will also be discussions on certain intersections between the schools, allowing students to gain a deeper understanding of Islamic jurisprudence.

Learning Outcomes

By the end of this course, students should be able to:

• Identify and differentiate between the four major madhhabs: Hanafi, Maliki, Shafi’i, and Hanbali.
• Understand the historical context, development, and key scholars associated with each madhhab.
• Understand the role of a madhhab and grasp basic defining features of the different schools.
• Reflect on the significance of these schools of law in light of contemporary Islamic jurisprudence and the Muslim community.