Is it obligatory to follow a madhhab?

The word "madhhab" means a path or direction. In Islamic law, a madhhab refers to a set of rulings and viewpoints derived from the Qur'an and Sunnah through established methodologies. Today, the four madhhabs of Ahl al-Sunnah wa'l-Jama'ah are widespread around the world: Hanafi, Maliki, Shafi'i, and Hanbali.

Later generation (khalaf) scholars have stated that it is obligatory (wajib) for Muslims to follow a particular madhhab. This is because not every Muslim is capable of independently deriving rulings directly from the Qur'an and hadith. If everyone were to act solely according to their own understanding, it would lead to endless disputes and disagreements among the community.

Zafar Ahmad Usmani (may Allah have mercy on him) said in his book "I'la al-Sunan": "Indeed, the four madhhab imams are on the path of guidance. In any region where one of their madhhabs is prevalent and its scholars and books are abundant, it is wajib for a person who cannot perform ijtihad (derive rulings independently from the Qur'an and hadith) to follow that madhhab. It is not correct to follow a madhhab that is not widespread or whose scholars are not present in that region, because it would be impossible to learn all its rulings. This should be well understood.

If all madhhabs are present and well-known in a region, and there are sufficient scholars of each, then for someone who has not reached the level of ijtihad, it is permissible to follow whichever madhhab they choose."

The renowned scholar Abdul Hayy Lakhnawi, in his "Collection of Fatwas", quotes Shah Waliullah Dehlawi as saying: "In India and Mawarannahr, the Shafi'i, Hanbali, and Maliki madhhabs are not widespread, nor are their books readily available. Therefore, for those living in these regions who have not reached the level of ijtihad, it is wajib to follow the madhhab of Abu Hanifa. The situation is different for those living in Mecca and Medina, as all madhhabs are represented there."

All mosques under the Spiritual Administration of Muslims of Kazakhstan follow the Hanafi madhhab of Imam Azam Abu Hanifa (may Allah have mercy on him) in their practice of Islamic law. The most recent law on religion in Kazakhstan also stipulates that Muslims in the country follow this madhhab.

Prepared by Hasan AMANKUL,

"Munara" newspaper, No. 10, 2022