There were no schools of Muslim law during the lifetime of Prophet Mohammed, and the principles of Muslim law were uniform at the time. Following the death of the Prophet Mohammed, the issue of prophet succession arose. Among Arabs, there were two opposing viewpoints/opinions. The election method/principle was supported by one side, while the inheritance concept was backed by the other. Sunni School and Shia School were the two primary schools of Islamic law.
During the rule of the Abbasids, the Sunni Schools were separated into Hanafi School, Maliki School, Shafei School, and Hanbali School.
Hanafi School- This school was given the appellation “the Kufa school” when it was discovered in Kufa.
Imam Abu Hanifa, popularly known as “The Great Imam,” was the founder of the Hanafi School. This school’s ideas extended throughout Iraq, as well as Syria, Afghanistan, Turkey’s Central Asia, and India. The Abbasid Caliphs favoured this school, and its beliefs spread far and wide.
The Maliki School- It was founded by Malik-Ibn-Anas, who favored jurisprudence based on the Koran and Hadis. It is also known as the Medina School .In addition, Malik refined Medina’s judicial practice doctrine. imam Muhammad and Imam Shafei were among Imam Malik’s students .The Maliki School extended across almost all of North Africa, Upper Egypt, Central and West Africa. The Maliki School is followed by many Muslims in Arabia’s eastern coastline areas. Morocco was once a major center for Maliki ideas. In India, the Maliki and Hanbali schools have very few followers.
The Shafei School- Muhammad Ibn Idris ash-Shafei started this school.
Malik ibn Anas was his teacher. It was established in Egypt.He was a brilliant thinker with a rare grasp of ideas and a thorough awareness of judicial issues.Lower Egypt, Hejaz, South Arabia, East Africa, and areas of Iraq and Persia were all influenced by the Shafei School.
The Hanbali School- Imam Ahmad Ibn Hanbal established it. He did not form a distinct school himself; rather, his pupils and followers did so.
He perfected Usul’s doctrine. Persia, Syria, Palestine, and Saudi Arabia all adopted the Hanabali School. It was the most traditional of the four institutions, with a strict adherence to religious obligations. Its conservatism and intolerance eventually resulted in its demise.
The Shia School was created by Imam Jafar as Sadiq, the Sixth Imam of Imamias. The Shias are the second largest Muslim group in India after the Sunnis. No tradition is accepted by the Shias. They believe that the Imam is the final arbiter of the law.
The Ismailias, Athna Asharias or Immamia, and Zaidyas are the three Shia schools.
The Ismallias- After Jafar’s death, a small group of Shias followed his elder son, Ismail, and became known as “Ismailis,” and their school became known as “Ismaili School.” Seveners is another name for them. Originally, Egypt was dominated by the Ismaili School. Several countries, including Central Asia, East Africa, Iran, Syria, and Pakistan, have a tiny number of adherents. In India, Ismailis are divided into two groups: a) the Khojas and b) the Ismailis (also known as Eastern Ismailis). The current Aga Khan is their 49th Imam.
b) the Bohoras (the Bohoras are a group of people who live in (also known as Western Ismailis).
Ithna Asharias or Imamias- The bulk of Shias followed Musa Kazim after the death of Jafar, the sixth Imam.
Ithna Ashari School was the name given to this group. The Twelvers and Imamias are two more names for this school.
In Iran, the Ithna Ashari school is dominant. This sect accounts for about half of Iraq’s Muslim population. Syria, Lebanon, and Pakistan are also home to them. After the Hanafis, the Ithna Ashari sect has the largest numbers of followers in India.
The Zaidis- Following the death of the fourth Imam, Zayn al Abidin, one section of Shias accepted his son Zayd as their Imam, resulting in the formation of the Zaidis, the first Shia school. They have elected Imamate, however the nominee must be from the Prophet’s family. Rawafiz is another name for them (Dissenters).
Zaidis have a stronghold in Yemen.
To Conclude , The teachings of the Quran and the Prophet Mohammad dominate Muslim law. On points where the Quran is silent, numerous diverse schools have followed their own interpretations of these teachings. Each school has its unique set of ideas and practises, and its teachings can be compared to different routes that all lead to the same place.
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