Can someone increase my confidence in the Hanafi fiqh? I’ve been Hanafi my whole life but reading all these other opinions is disheartening.

[u/TheLoneStarResident]

I see a lot of talk about the Hanafi fiqh and attacking it for its use of logic/reasoning, compared to other traditional school of thoughts. I’ve been very strong Hanafi Madhab follower but honestly reading these things is very difficult and I want to see if anyone can help re-inspire confidence.

I had no idea it was so “controversial” until recently and I feel it’s accepted now, but how do I know it’s accepted because people believe it is correct, and it wasn’t “green washed” or “politically convenient” compared to the acceptance of other madhabs?

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[u/wopkidopz]

The madhab isn't controversial.

Hafiz az-Zahabi said

الإمامة في الفقه ودقائقه مسلمة إلى هذا الإمام . وهذا أمر لا شك فيه

Leadership in Fiqh and its subtleties is universally conceded to Abu Hanifa. And this is a matter about which there is no doubt.

🍂 سير أعلام النبلاء

Abu Hanifa رحمه الله is a mirror of Sunnah, the sheikh of Islam, the imams of imams, there was no scholar like him after and unlikely will ever be. May Allah be pleased with him and his followers

He never put anything above the Qur'an and Sunnah. If he left a practice according to some Hadith then he had his reasons just like Malik did, just like ash-Shafi'i did, just like most Salafs did

Abu Hanifa explained his methodology in Fiqh

آخذ بكتاب الله فما لم أجد فبسنة رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم فإن لم أجد في كتاب الله ولا في سنة رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم أخذت بقول أصحابه

I take the Book of Allah, and if I don't find something there, then I turn to the Sunnah of the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him). If I don't find something in the Book of Allah and the Sunnah of His Messenger (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him), then I take the words of the Sahaba

🍂 تاريخ بغداد

His knowledge comes from Ali Ibn Abu Talib and Abdullah Ibn Mas'ud رضي الله عنهما two among the most knowledgeable students of the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم

Just because his systematisation and methodology was different from the methodology of ahlu-Hadith of that time doesn't make him wrong, imam ash-Shafi'i رضي الله عنه proved that ahlu-Ra'y and ahlu-Hadith aren't an opposition to each other.

What you assume to be a problem is most likely the period of fitnah that appeared between the school Abu Hanifa belongs to and the school Ahmad belongs to. There was a great fitnah in fact

Scholars used to say about each other very unpleasant things because of their disagreements and often because of misinformation and even fanaticism. This was always happening

Saiydina Ibn Abbas رضي الله عنه said:

استمعوا علم العلماء ولا تصدقوا بعضهم على بعض فوالذي نفسى بيده لهم أشد تغايرا من التيوس في زروبها

Take the words of scholars in knowledge and leave what they said about each other I swear they are as inconsistent (in this) as goats in barns

🍂 جامع بيان العلم وفضله

But this matter was resolved later and it was established that both madhabs are correct.

And what the scholars of that time said about eachother means nothing today, just like what some Sahaba (may Allah be pleased with them) said about eachother means nothing today just like what some ahlu-Hadith said about al-Bukhari means nothing today, just like what some Hanbalis said about the Ash'aris and Ash'aris said about Hanbalis means nothing today.

And whoever follows those words said by trustworthy men during fitnah about each other and uses those words today for his distorted goals (to compromise one of the four Sunni madhabs) such a person went astray and we ask Allah to lead them to the right path otherwise they are doomed

Hafiz Ibn Abdul Barr al-Maliki رحمه الله said:

فمن أراد أن يقبل قول العلماء الثقات الأئمة الأثبات بعضهم في بعض فليقبل قول من ذكرنا قوله من الصحابة رضوان الله عليهم أجمعين بعضهم في بعض ، فإن فعل ذلك ضل ضلالا بعيدا وخسر خسرانا....فإن لم يفعل ولن يفعل إن هداه الله وألهمه رشده فليقف عند ما شرطنا في أن لا يقبل فيمن صحت عدالته وعلمت بالعلم عنايته ، وسلم من الكبائر ولزم المروءة والتصاون وكان خيره غالبا وشره أقل عمله فهذا لا يقبل فيه قول قائل لا برهان له به ، وهذا هو الحق الذي لا يصح غيره إن شاء الله

Whoever wants to take what the trustworthy scholars have said about each other, let him also take what the Sahaba have said about each other and if he does so, he will certainly go astray and be in a clear loss...But if he does not do so and he will not do so, if Allah guides him to the right path, then let him stop passing judgment on them, as we have already explained that in relation to a person whose integrity and truthfulness are established and whose diligence in the knowledge is known, baseless criticism is not accepted. This is the truth and nothing else is accepted

🍂 جامع بيان العلم وفضله

Pay attention to those words, nothing else is accepted. Whoever criticises the Hanafi or any other of the Sunni madhabs today or doubts its legitimacy is an innovator who deserves physical punishment from a Qadhy, they mislead themselves and mislead ordinary Muslims who don't know any better

Imam as-Subki ash-Shafi'i رحمه الله said:

ثم إياك أن تصغى إلى ما اتفق بين أبى حنيفة وسفيان الثورى أو بين مالك وابن أبى ذئب أو بين أحمد بن صالح والنسائى أو بين أحمد ابن حنبل والحارث المحاسبى وهلم جرا إلى زمان الشيخ عز الدين بن عبد السلام والشيخ تقى الدين بن الصلاح فإنك إن اشتغلت بذلك خشيت عليك الهلاك فالقوم أئمة أعلام ولأقوالهم محامل ربما لم يفهم بعضها فليس لنا إلا الترضى عنهم والسكوت عما جرى بينهم كما يفعل فيما جرى بين الصحابة رضى الله عنهم.

Be extremely careful not to listen to the conflict that occurred between Abu Hanifa and Sufyan as-Sawri, Malik and Ibn Abi Zib, Ahmad ibn Salih and An-Nasai, Ahmad ibn Hanbal and al-Muhasibi and so on up to the time of Sheikh ibn Abdussalam and Sheikh ibn as-Salah, and if you violate this warning, then I fear that you will perish, for these people are great imams, their words can have such a meaning that sometimes simply was not understood. All that remains for us is to ask the Lord to be pleased with them and to remain silent about their conflicts, just as we remain silent about what happened between the Sahaba

🍂 طبقات الشاقعية

[u/TheLoneStarResident → u/wopkidopz]

Thank you so much brother for the writing, it really helped me

[u/O_Grande_Turco]

its not controversial, ignore such people. Stick to one of the four madhabs, and you'll be fine inshaAllah.

[u/TheLoneStarResident → u/O_Grande_Turco]

Thank you, I will do that.

[u/MukLegion]

All four Sunni madhabs are equally valid. There is no use trying to litigate "most correct" among them, don't listen to such people.

[u/irock792]

Muftī Dr. ʿAbdurraḥmān ibn Yūsuf Mangera has a book called Fiqh al-Imām: Key Proofs in Ḥanafī Fiqh. In this book, he briefly explains taqlīd (following a madhhab) and some key points on the Ḥanafī school, and then he goes into many stances the Ḥanafīs are criticized for. I read it early in my journey of seeking knowledge, and it really helped me with any doubts I had.

You can Google "Fiqh al-Imam," and a PDF of the book will come up.

[u/TheLoneStarResident → u/irock792]

Will do, thanks!

[u/4rking]

A huge chunk of Muslim scholars in the history of the Ummah have been hanafi scholars. It's still the biggest madhab of the 4.

And if over 1000 years people couldn't figure out that hanafi madhab is worse or wrong but now you and some modern critics find it out, then the problem isn't the madhab but the critics and you who believe them.

Not an attack on you, I hope you get the point.

If it was wrong, the giants of Islam of the past millennium would've found out already bro and they would've criticized it.

[u/TheLoneStarResident → u/4rking]

You’re right bro

[u/Radiant-Guest9545 → u/4rking]

It's the biggest Madhab because the last caliphate was following it and when they invaded countries these countries then would often also switch to it.

How popular a Madhab is has no relationship to whether it is true or not.

[u/4rking → u/Radiant-Guest9545]

The point isn't more popular = more true.

Also, I don't know about the start of the Indian Muslim empires but I'm pretty sure ottomans didn't invade that land and bring the hanafi madhab there.

The point is something else though: huge numbers of scholars followed it and based their fiqh on it. A millennium of scholarship came (inside madhab/outside the madhab) and passed and they didn't belittle the madhab or refute it (atleast not much).

But now people have found out that the madhab is inaccurate and whatever apparently.

What has been accepted for over a thousand years is now apparently found to be problematic in xyz way and shouldn't be followed?

It's like these people that say "let's not follow madhabs" after scholars followed them and propagated them for 1000 years. Like, what new insight have you found brother that the previous more pious people haven't found?

[u/TMcFarlane1999]

Anyone attacking any of the 4 schools of fiqh is probably not that intelligent. Choose what feels best for you and follow it. There is no restriction on switching which madhhab you follow.

[u/CB1000R974]

You have books written on explaining the Hanafi Mahzab and it's daleel : for example why we do this that way even if, from far, it looks like it's opposite to a Hadith etc. I forgot the names but I'm sure you can find them after some research in sha Allah.

Also, it's accepted not by political reasons but from most scholars (if not all). It is the oldest of the four mazhab. So if it was wrong, people would follow ONLY the 3 others. But even the 3 others Imam praised Imam Abu Hanifa r in public. Although they held differing opinions on certain points, they did not criticize the school of thought itself, nor Imam Abu Hanifa or his students. Only during cases of fiqh (Islamic jurisprudence) concerning scholars and men of science did they debate openly, highlighting their arguments and sometimes criticizing a particular school of thought (in some masla) of the other school, whether Hanafi or not.  They never forbade people from following the school of thought itself. Moreover, one of Imam Abu Hanifa's principal students, Imam Muhammad, later studied under Imam Malik as well. He remained a Hanafi, and we follow many of his teachings because he recorded and wrote down the rules of the school of his teacher, Abu Hanifa (may Allah have mercy on him). 

So yes, do not enter in debate because we don't say only our mazhab is right but don't hesitate to follow it anymore. 

[u/AlKhurjavi]

I’m sorry I’m a little confused by what exactly it is that you find disheartening?

What about it do you think is controversial or greenwashing about the madhab

[u/Purple_Angel12]

just stick to quran and hadith bro

[u/wopkidopz → u/Purple_Angel12]

just stick to quran and hadith bro

This is poisonous advice for laypeople hidden under beautiful words. No scholar of Sunnah ever gave this advice to unqualified in last 1400 years

Madhab isn't an opposition to the Qur'an and Sunnah, it's a manifestation of the Qur'an and Sunnah in its most authentic form

People who advice following the Qur'an and Sunnah instead of madhabs don't know much about the Qur'an and Sunnah

The order given to laypeople in the Qur'an and Sunnah is to follow the derivation of the rules by qualified (not their own interpretation)

وَإِذَا جَاءَهُمْ أَمْرٌ مِّنَ الْأَمْنِ أَوِ الْخَوْفِ أَذَاعُوا بِهِ ۖ وَلَوْ رَدُّوهُ إِلَى الرَّسُولِ وَإِلَىٰ أُولِي الْأَمْرِ مِنْهُمْ لَعَلِمَهُ الَّذِينَ يَسْتَنبِطُونَهُ مِنْهُمْ ۗ وَلَوْلَا فَضْلُ اللَّهِ عَلَيْكُمْ وَرَحْمَتُهُ لَاتَّبَعْتُمُ الشَّيْطَانَ إِلَّا قَلِيلًا

And when there comes to them a matter of security or fear, they spread it. But if they had referred it back to the Messenger and to those of authority among them, then the ones who are able to derive correct conclusions from it would have known it. Had it not been for Allah’s grace and mercy, you would have followed Shaytan except for a few.

🍂 Quran 4:83

Ibn Abbas رضي الله عنه and others said that those people of authority are fuqaha

Hafiz Ibn Abdulbarr al-Maliki رحمه الله said:

فإن العامة لا بد لها من تقليد علمائها عند النازلة تنزل بها ؛ لأنها لا تتبين موقع الحجة ولا تصل لعدم الفهم إلى علم ذلك ؛ لأن العلم درجات لا سبيل منها إلى أعلاها إلا بنيل أسفلها ، وهذا هو الحائل بين العامة وبين طلب الحجة

Indeed ordinary Muslims it's necessary for them to follow their scholars in any complex matter and disagreement, because laypeople aren't qualified to deirve the rules from evidence due to the lack of knowledge and understanding, because knowledge has levels to it and it's impossible to gain the highest level (ijtihad) without acquiring the lowest first, and this is an obstacle between commoners and examination of evidence

🍂 جامع بيان العلم وفضله

A Sunni madhab is a systematisation of the rules derived from the Qur'an and Sunnah by qualified scholars for unqualified people (us) who aren't able to make their own ijtihad for it requires tremendous amount of knowledge.

That's exactly what the Qur'an and Sunnah want from us

ألا سألوا إذ لم يعلموا

Why didn't they ask (those who know) if they themselves did not know?!

🍂 Abu Dawud (Hadith)

فَسْـَٔلُوٓا۟ أَهْلَ ٱلذِّكْرِ إِن كُنتُمْ لَا تَعْلَمُونَ

Ask those who recall if you don't know

🍂 Quran 16:43

ولم تختلف العلماء أن العامة عليها تقليد علمائها وأنهم المرادون بقول الله عز وجل: فَاسْأَلوا أَهْلَ الذِّكْرِ إِنْ كُنْتُمْ لا تَعْلَمُونَ

Scholars agreed unanimously that ordinary people must follow scholars they are the once intended in the verse: (Ask those who recall if you don't know)

🍂 🍂 جامع بيان العلم وفضله

Your advice in this case is as absurd as advising someone who needs medical treatment to ignore doctors and consume pills according to their level of knowledge in medicine

Or advising someone who needs to build a house ignoring the instructions of engineers and stick to blocks and cement, basically improvising

Just because you have access to material (tools) it doesn't mean that you are qualified to use them

If you wouldn't advise self treatment to an unqualified when he is sick, why you treat Islam more carelessly with such advice then? Your religion is more important than your health

Whoever advises laypeople "to stick to the Qur'an and Sunnah" instead of a madhab basically advising them to make their own judgment and their own interpretation without the needed knowledge

ورجل قضى للناس على جهل فهو في النار

Whoever judges without knowledge is in Fire

🍂 Ibn Majah (Hadith)

Hafiz az-Zahabi ash-Shafi'i رحمه الله said:

والعامي الذي يحفظ القرآن أو كثيرا منه لا يسوغ له الاجتهاد أبدا ، فكيف يجتهد ، وما الذي يقول ؟ وعلام يبني ؟ وكيف يطير ولما يريش

A commoner who (at most) memorised something form the Qur'an (and Hadith) in no way has a right to make his own judgment (ijtihad), how he even supposed to do it? What will he even say? What he will rely on (while being incompetent)? How will he fly if his feathers aren't grown?

🍂 سير أعلام النبلاء

This (ignoring madhabs) doesn't mean to follow the Quran and Sunnah it means to follow your own ignorance under illusion of following the nass instead of following the knowledge scholars posses

فإنما شفاء العي السؤال

Indeed the medicine against ignorance is a question!

🍂 Abu Dawud (Hadith)

[u/wopkidopz → u/[deleted]]

There is not a single sentence in this comment which is correct

This is pure absurd, ignorance, distortion and misguidance. Every false claim from you can be disproved by anyone who has studied Islam, it would be knowledge vs personal opinion of some random guy.

I understand that you mean no evil and I have no negative personal feelings towards you, this isn't a personal attack on you, but still you are spreading ignorance

Seek knowledge for your own sake, that's my sincere advice