The Four Madhhabs: Introduction to the Schools of Islamic Law

Course Overview

This course, taught by Shaykh Akram Nadwi, provides a comprehensive introduction to the four major madhhabs (Islamic schools of law). It explores the founding of the schools, a brief overview of their historical development and touches upon some core principles of each school. The course also introduces some of the key scholars and notable works associated with each madhhab for those who are interested in further research. There are also 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 the 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.