[Clielldub]

Or 15?

Is it just what Allah (SWT) ordained? Or just what happened in history?

[duawLauff]

Or 15?

Is it just what Allah (SWT) ordained? Or just what happened in history?

Any other number would have begged the same question.
It's due to historical reasons. Only the teachings of the four schools survived through their students.

For more details, please refer to this online book: (page 62)
http://www.cometoislam.com/fiqh/legal/main.htm

Wallaahu A'lam.

[fereupfer]

What precisely is the difference between the two?

What Allah ordained is what occurred in history.

The Shafi'i historian al-Maqrizi explained that eventually the schools became self-propagating due to bases of students and Qudaat who were appointed by the rulers, and they would not appoint scholars outside the four, so the rest of the surviving schools, like those of Imam Sufyan ath-Thawi and Imam at-Tabari died out. The Dhahiri mad'hab kind of still exists but it is rare, there is a website that lists current Dhahiri 'ulema.

[pkxlugbsbv]

Or 15?

Is it just what Allah (SWT) ordained? Or just what happened in history?

Allah (SWT) wished these schools to be preserved and the others to fade into history - this is according to His wisdom, not something we know about.

Zahiri, Laythi, Azwai, Jariri and other Sunni madhabs were all Sunni schools of thought but (amongst other things) they were not as widely loved as much as the existing four and thus they faded into history.

[DrunkMans]

What precisely is the difference between the two?

What Allah ordained is what occurred in history.

The Shafi'i historian al-Maqrizi explained that eventually the schools became self-propagating due to bases of students and Qudaat who were appointed by the rulers, and they would not appoint scholars outside the four, so the rest of the surviving schools, like those of Imam Sufyan ath-Thawi and Imam at-Tabari died out. The Dhahiri mad'hab kind of still exists but it is rare, there is a website that lists current Dhahiri 'ulema.

brother can you link to it. I have heard Hamza Yusuf say that it had been revived, but have not seen anything about who by. It is fascinating.

[quedry36]

In Egypt I guess.

[TimEricsson]

http://www.ghuraba.info/info/biograp...hiri-scholars/

Should be here.

[Master_B]

In Egypt I guess.

[Nothatspecial]

Or 15?

Is it just what Allah (SWT) ordained? Or just what happened in history?

Allah decreed everything.... We can look through history and find particular things that may have aided in the lost of other schools... In general Allah decreed it all...

It is interesting to look at the madhabs historically...

What is interesting is that during the time of the Salaf, the first three generation, majority of the schools of fiqh, were Amal based, Shaykh Thawri, Layth etc.... I believe Abu Hanifa was the first hadith based madhab (strange that it is referred to Ahlul Rai by many Salafis).... The later madhabs were mainly hadith based all of them can trace their roots back to Abu Hanifa and the influence of his students on hadith... And all the Amal based madhabs died out accept Malik's school, due to his strong students...

Which is why I believe Malik's madhab is actually closer to the truth... than the other madhabs... because of it resembled practice of the Salaf... I say this as a Shafi..... I think hadith is actually weaker than amal... the problem with amal it is difficult to prove........ which is why people later generations preferred hadith based madhabs... I think....

And Allah knows best...

[SpyRemo]

Allah decreed everything.... We can look through history and find particular things that may have aided in the lost of other schools... In general Allah decreed it all...

It is interesting to look at the madhabs historically...

What is interesting is that during the time of the Salaf, the first three generation, majority of the schools of fiqh, were Amal based, Shaykh Thawri, Layth etc.... I believe Abu Hanifa was the first hadith based madhab (strange that it is referred to Ahlul Rai by many Salafis).... The later madhabs were mainly hadith based all of them can trace their roots back to Abu Hanifa and the influence of his students on hadith... And all the Amal based madhabs died out accept Malik's school, due to his strong students...

Which is why I believe Malik's madhab is actually closer to the truth... than the other madhabs... because of it resembled practice of the Salaf... I say this as a Shafi..... I think hadith is actually weaker than amal... the problem with amal it is difficult to prove........ which is why people later generations preferred hadith based madhabs... I think....

And Allah knows best...

Didn't Imam Shafi'i write a book to refute this methodology of following the a'maal?

[9rCR9hWL]

Didn't Imam Shafi'i write a book to refute this methodology of following the a'maal?

i would like to know this aswell

[Nubtoubrem]

Because they survived and are others are absorbed into them. Also they were methodical and systematic enough to stand the test of time.

Allahualam