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The Four Imaams’ Views

Regarding following the Sunnah and Ignoring their views contradictory to it.

“Follow (O men!) the revelation given to you from your Lord, and follow not as, friends and protectors, other than Him. Little is it you remember of admonition.”

Madhab (Islamic jurisprudence) or school of thoughts are the result of extensive research and interpretation in accordance with the Quran and Sunnah; despite this extensive research, other opinions were valued and respected. These madhabs are a guideline how to translate our belief into practise. They are not absolute, as the humble and down to earth remarks of these men of knowledge will also express to us. Along the way there are two things, I would like to bring to expression: These Imams researched and proposed the fiqhas with due respect ot each other’s opinions and knowledge. Imam Jafar (Shi’a fiqh) and Imam Abu Haneefa (Sunni fiqh) also enjoyed the status of scholar and student with each other, expressing the respect for each other’s knowledge. Besides this, The Islamic jurisprudence wasn’t a male domain only. Imam Malik sat in among the students of a renown female scholar of law. (the webmaster)

Abu Haneefah (rahimahullah)
The first of them is Abu Haneefah Nu’maan ibn Thaabit, whose companions have narrated from him various sayings and diverse warnings, all of them leading to one thing: the obligation to accept the Hadith, and to give up following the opinions of the Imaam’s which contradict it:

1. “When a hadeeth is found to be saheeh, then that is my madhab.”

2. “It is not permitted for anyone to accept our views if they do not know from where we got them.”

In one narration, “It is prohibited for someone who does not know my evidence to give verdicts on the basis of my words.”

Another narration, “Woe to you, O Ya’qub! (i-e Imaam Haneefah’s Illustrious student, Abu Yoosuf) Do not write down everything you hear from me for it happens that I hold one opinion today and reject it tomorrow, or hold one opinion tomorrow and reject it the day after tomorrow.”

3. “When I say something contradicting the Book of Allah the Exalted or what is
narrated from the messenger (SAW), then ignore my saying.”

Maalik ibn Anas (rahimahullah)

1. “Truly I am only a mortal: I make mistakes (sometimes) and I am correct
(sometimes). Therefore, look into my opinions: all that agrees with the Book and the Sunnah, accept it; and all that does not agree with the Book and the Sunnah, ignore it.”

2. “Everyone after the prophet (SAW) will have his sayings accepted and rejected- not so the prophet (SAW).”

3. Ibn Wahb said: “ I heard Maalik being asked about cleaning between the toes during ablution. He said, ‘The people do not have to do that.’ I did not approach him until the crowd had lessened, when I said to him, ‘We know of a sunnah about that.’He said, ‘What is that?’ I said,’Laith ibn Sa’ad, Ibn Lahee’ah and ‘Amr ibn al Haarith narrated to us from Yazeed ibn ‘Amr al-Ma’aafiri from Abu’Abdur-Rahman al-Hubuli from Mustawrid ibn Shaddaad al-Qurashi who said, ‘I saw the Messenger of Allah (SAW) rubbing between his toes with his little finger.’ He said, This hadeeth is sound; I had not heard of it at all until now.’ Afterwards, I heard him being asked about the same thing,on which he ordered cleaning between his toes.”

Shaafi’i (rahimahullah)
As for Imaam Shaafi’i, the quotations from him are most numerous and beautiful, and his followers were the best in sticking to them:

1. “The sunnahs of the Messenger of Allah reach, as well as escape from,
every one of us. So whenever I voice my opinion, or formulate a principle, where something contrary to my view exists on the authority of the Messenger of Allah (SAW) has said, and it is my view.”

2. “The Muslims are unanimously agreed that if a sunnah of the Messenger
of Allah (SAW) is made clear to someone, it is not permitted for him to leave it for the saying of anyone else.

3. “ If you find in my writings something different to the Sunnah of the Messenger of Allah (SAW) , then speak on the basis of the Sunnah of the Messenger of
Allah (SAW), and leave what I have said.”

In one narration: “....then follow it ( the sunnah), and do not look
sideways at anyone else’s saying.”

4. “When a hadeeth is found to be saheeh, then that is my madhhab.”

5. “ You (addressing Imaam Ahmad ibn Hanbal) are more knowledgeable about
Hadeeth than I, so when a hadeeth is saheeh, inform me of it, whether it is from
Kufah, Basrah or Syria, so that I may take the view of the hadeeth, as long as it is saheeh.”

6. “In every issue where the people of narration find a report from the Messenger of Allah (SAW) to be saheeh which is contrary to what I have said, then I take my saying back, whether during my life or after my death.”

7. “If you see me saying something, and contrary to it is authentically -reported
from the Prophet (SAW) contrary to my saying, then the hadeeth of the Prophet
(SAW) comes first , so do not follow my opinion.

8. “ Every statement on the authority of the Prophet (SAW) is also my view, even if you do not hear it from me.”

Ahmad ibn Hanbal (rahimahullah)
Imaam Ahmad was the foremost among the Imaams in collecting the Sunnah and sticking to it, so much so that he even” disliked that a book consisting of deductions and opinions be written.” Because of this he said:

1. “Do not follow my opinion, neither follow the opinion of Maalik, nor Shaafi’i nor Awzaa’i, nor Thawri, but take from where they took.

In one narration: “Do not copy your Deen from anyone of these, but whatever comes from the Prophet (SAW) and his companions, take it, next are their Successors, where a man has a choice.”

Once he said: “Following means that a man follows what, comes from the
Prophet (SAW) and his Companions; after the Successors, he has a choice.”

2. “The opinion of Awzaa’i, the opinion of Maalik, the opinion of Abu Haneefah: all of it is opinion, and it is all equal in my eyes. However, the proof is in the
narrations.” (from the Prophet (SAW) and his Companions)

3. “ Whoever rejects a statement of the Messenger of Allah (SAW) is on the brink of destruction.

These are the clear, lucid sayings of the Imaams (Allah Exalted may be pleased with them) about sticking to the Hadeeth and forbidding the following of their opinion without clearly visible evidence, such that mere opinion and interpretation is not acceptable.

Hence, whoever adhered to whatever of the Sunnah that was proved authentic even if it opposed some of the Imaams’ sayings, he would not be conflicting with their madhhab, nor straying from their path; rather, such a person would be following all of them and would be grasping the most trustworthy hand-hold which never breaks. However, this would not be the case with the one who abandoned any of the authentic Sunnah simply because it contradicted their views;nay,such a person would be being disobedient to them and opposing their above mentioned sayings, while Allah says:

“But no, by your Lord, they can have no (real) faith, until they make you
judge in all disputes between them, and find in their souls no
resistance against your decisions, but accept them with the fullest
conviction.”

He also says:

“Then let those beware who withstand the Messenger’s order, lest some
trial befall them or a grievous penalty be inflicted on them.”

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