🕌 A. AQEEDAH (Islamic Creed Schools)

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Athari (Salafi) Aqeedah

Founder:

• The Athari creed is rooted in the teachings of the Salaf al-Salih (righteous predecessors) and was formulated systematically by Imam Ahmad ibn Hanbal (d. 241H).

• Later strengthened by Ibn Taymiyyah (d. 728H).

Principles:

Literal Interpretation of Quran & Sunnah – No metaphorical reinterpretation of Allah’s attributes.
Belief in Allah’s Names & Attributes (Asma wa Sifat) as stated in the texts. (Affirmation of Allah’s Attributes, without Ta’teel – Denial, Tashbeeh – Likeness, Tamtheel – Resemblance, Takyeef – Asking ‘How)
Rejection of Kalam (Theological Speculation).
Faith (Iman) includes actions, beliefs, and statements.
Tawheed categorized into Uluhiyyah, Rububiyyah, and Asma wa Sifat.

10 Major Followers of Athari Creed:

1. Ibn Taymiyyah (d. 728H)

2. Ibn Qayyim (d. 751H)

3. Al-Dhahabi (d. 748H)

4. Ibn Kathir (d. 774H)

5. Ibn Rajab (d. 795H)

6. Muhammad ibn Abdul-Wahhab (d. 1206H)

7. Ibn Baz (d. 1999 CE)

8. Ibn Uthaymeen (d. 2001 CE)

9. Saleh al-Fawzan (Contemporary)

Major Sub-Sects:

• Traditional Athari (Imam Ahmad's early students)

• Salafi movement (modern application of Athari)

Deviations in Later Eras:

• Some extreme factions reject all forms of "ta’wil" (interpretation) even when necessary.

• Takfir (excommunication) by certain groups claiming Salafi identity.

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Ash‘ari Aqeedah

Founder:

• Imam Abu al-Hasan al-Ash‘ari (d. 324H) refined Sunni creed using limited rational theology.

Principles:

Belief in Allah’s Names & Attributes with Ta’wil (figurative interpretation) when necessary.
Iman (faith) is belief, but actions are not part of its definition.
Rejects anthropomorphism (Tashbih).
Qur’an is uncreated (unlike Mu‘tazilah).

10 Major Followers of Ash‘ari Creed:

1. Ibn Hajar al-Asqalani (d. 852H)

2. Al-Suyuti (d. 911H)

3. Al-Ramli (d. 1004H)

4. Muhammad Zahid al-Kawthari (d. 1952 CE)

5. Al-Tahawi (d. 321H)

6. Al-Shahrastani (d. 548H)

7. Ibn Daqiq al-Eid (d. 702H)

8. Al-Sanusi (d. 895H)

9. Al-Maliki (d. 1181H)

10. Ibn Amir al-Hajj (d. 879H)

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Maturidi Aqeedah

Founder:

• Imam Abu Mansur al-Maturidi (d. 333H), a student of the Hanafi tradition.

Principles:

Iman (faith) is firm belief; actions are not part of its definition.
Man has free will but within Allah’s will (Kasb).
Less reliance on Kalam than Ash‘aris.

10 Major Followers of Maturidi Aqeedah:

1. Ibn Abidin (d. 1252H)

2. Abu ‘Ali al-Nasafi (d. 1142H)

3. Al-Samarqandi (d. 556H)

4. Ibn al-Humam (d. 861H)

5. ‘Ali al-Qari (d. 1014H)

6. Al-Saffarini (d. 1188H)

7. Al-Nasafi (d. 1187H)

8. Ibn Nujaim (d. 970H)

9. Al-Birgivi (d. 981H)

10. Al-Kashmiri (d. 1933H) 

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🕌 B. FIQH (Islamic Jurisprudence Schools)

This section provides a structured overview of the major Sunni Fiqh (jurisprudence) schools, their founders, principles, teachers, followers, major sub-sects, and deviations in later eras. I have ensured no overlapping of scholars between different Madhabs.

Hanafi Madhab

Founder:

• Imam Abu Hanifa (d. 150H) in Kufa, Iraq.

Principles (Usul al-Fiqh):

Quran

Sunnah
Statements of Iraqi Sahabhas.
Qiyas (Analogical reasoning).
Iftiradh al Masai'l - "What if.."

Istihsan (Jurist preference) to avoid hardship.(Imam Shafie rejected this totally)
Al-Hiyal (Juridical Evasions) Removal of Difficulty

Urf (Customary practice) if not against Shariah.

Major Followers of Hanafi Madhab:

1. Ahmad ibn „Umar al Khassaf – 261H/874CE

2. Abu Ja‟far at-Tahawi – 321H/934CE

3. Abu Mansoor al Maturidi – 333H/946CE

4. Abul-Hassan al-Karkhi – 340H/953CE

5. The Hanafee Madhab spread in India, Pakistan, As-Sham, central Europe, and parts in Egypt and Afghanistan.

Major Sub-Sects:

• Deobandi Hanafi

• Barelvi Hanafi

• Ottoman Hanafi

Deviations in Later Eras:

• Excessive use of Istihsan (juristic preference) weakened strict adherence to Hadith.

• Taqleed (blind following) led to stagnation in some regions.

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Maliki Madhab

Founder:

• Imam Malik ibn Anas (d. 179H) in Medina.

Principles (Usul al-Fiqh):

Quran

Sunnah
Ijma‘ of the Sahabah
Amal Ahl al-Madina (Practice of the people of Medina).

Qiyas (Analogical reasoning)
Istislah(Public Welfare)

Sadan lil Dhariah /blocking the means to evil

Major Followers of Maliki Madhab:

1. Ibn Al-Majashoon 212 H/827 CE

2. Asad ibn al-Furat 213 H/828 CE

3. Yahya ibn Yahya al Laythi 234 H/849 CE

4. Sahnoon 240 H/855 CE

5. Maliki Madhab spread in North Africa and most of Africa, Europe

 Major Sub-Sects:

• West African Malikis

• Andalusian Malikis

 Deviations in Later Eras:

• Reliance on local customs (Urf) led to regional differences.

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Shafi‘i Madhab

Founder:

• Imam Al-Shafi‘i (d. 204H) in Egypt.

Principles (Usul al-Fiqh):

Quran

Sunnah
Ijma‘ of the Sahabah
Qiyas (Analogical reasoning).
Major Followers of Shafi‘i Madhab:

1. Abu Yaqoob al Buwayti 231H/845CE

2. Isma‟il ibn Yahya al Muzani 264H/877CE

3. Imam Al-Nawawi (d. 676H)

4. Ar-Rabee‟ ibn Sulayman al-Muradi 270H/883CE

5. Abul-Hasan Al Ash‟ari 334H/947CE

6. Shafie Madhab spread in Syria, Yemen Yemenis took it to East and North Africa, Malaysia

Major Sub-Sects:

• Yemeni Shafi‘is

• Indonesian Shafi‘is

Deviations in Later Eras:

• Some excessive reliance on Qiyas in some rulings.

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Hanbali Madhab

Founder:

• Imam Ahmad ibn Hanbal (d. 241H).

Principles (Usul al-Fiqh):

Strict reliance

Quran

Sunnah
Ijma‘ of the Sahabah - If differ follow the authentic one.

Muttasil Hadeeth & Mursal Hadeeth - (Narrations from the first three generations of this ummah) precede over any other's opinions.
Last resort only to Qiyas.
Major Followers of Hanbali Madhab:

1. Salih ibn Imam Ahmad [266 H/879 CE]

2. Abdullah ibn Imam Ahmad [290 H/903 CE]

3. Umar ibn al-Husayn al Khiraqi [334 H/947 CE]

4. Imam Ibn Qudamah (d. 620H)

5. Ibn Taymiyyah (d. 728H)

6. Ibn Qayyim (d. 751H)

7. Ibn Rajab (d. 795H)

8. Al-Dhahabi (d. 748H)

9. Al-Khallal (d. 311H)

10. Al-Saffarini (d. 1188H)

11. Muhammad ibn Abdul Wahhab (d. 1206H) and his offsprings.

12. Arabian Peninsula, AshSham, Palestine

Major Sub-Sects & Deviations in the Hanbali Madhab

The Hanbali Madhab remained relatively conservative and adherent to its principles, but over time, different sub-sects and deviations emerged due to varying interpretations and external influences. Below are some of the major sub-sects and deviations that developed within Hanbali jurisprudence.

Major Sub-Sects within Hanbali Madhab

Traditional Hanbalis (Ahl al-Hadith Hanbalis)

• These scholars followed strict adherence to the Quran, Sunnah, and Hadith-based rulings without excessive reliance on analogical reasoning (Qiyas) or public interest (Maslahah).

• Key Scholars: Al-Khallal (d. 311H), Ibn Qudamah (d. 620H).

Sufi Hanbalis

• Some Hanbalis were influenced by Sufi spirituality, particularly in the later centuries.

• Unlike Ibn Taymiyyah’s approach, this group incorporated Tasawwuf (Islamic mysticism) into Hanbali teachings while maintaining the school’s legal framework.

• Key Scholars: Ibn Rajab al-Hanbali (d. 795H), Al-Saffarini (d. 1188H).

Ibn Taymiyyah’s Reformist Hanbalis

• Influenced by Ibn Taymiyyah (d. 728H) and Ibn al-Qayyim (d. 751H), this group focused on reviving Salafi principles and rejected speculative theology (Kalam).

• Emphasized Tawhid al-Uluhiyyah (Oneness of Worship) and Hakimiyyah (Divine Sovereignty) against heretical innovations (Bid'ah).

• Key Scholars: Ibn Taymiyyah, Ibn Qayyim, Ibn Kathir (d. 774H)

• A reformist approach that arose in the 18th century through Muhammad ibn Abdul Wahhab (d. 1206H) in Najd, Arabia.

• Aimed at purifying Islam from Shirk (associating partners with Allah), Bid’ah (innovation), and excessive veneration of saints.

• Key Scholars: Muhammad ibn Abdul Wahhab, Ibn Baz (d. 1999), Scholars Association of Saudi Arabia.

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​​Deviations in Salafiyyah in Later Eras.

Extreme Salafis (Takfiri/Jihadi Salafis)

Key Features:

• They believe in militant jihad against governments they consider "un-Islamic."

• They engage in Takfir (declaring Muslims as disbelievers) for rulers and even common people if they do not implement Shariah fully.

• They reject democracy, voting, and nationalism as forms of kufr (disbelief).

• They consider traditional scholars who oppose their ideology as “scholars of the rulers” (Ulama’ al-Sultan).

• They often take inspiration from Ibn Taymiyyah’s fatwas on jihad but apply them incorrectly to modern contexts.

Key Figures and Groups:

• Early Sayyid Qutb’s followers of Ikhwanul Muslimoon, Abu-Ala Moududi and Jamate-Islami

Criticism from Other Salafis:

• Mainstream Salafi scholars (e.g., Ibn Baz, Al-Albani, Ibn Uthaymeen, Al-Fawzan) reject their violent and extreme Takfiri ideology.

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Relaxed Salafis (Ikhwani Salafis / Reformist Salafis)

Key Features:

• They mix Salafi Aqeedah with political activism and social reform.

• They support political participation, democracy, and Islamic activism (Dawah and charity work).

• They are against extreme Takfir but believe that Muslim rulers should implement more Islamic governance.

• They are open to cooperation with non-Salafi Islamic movements like Muslim Brotherhood (Ikhwan).

• They still emphasize Hadith-based Fiqh but allow flexibility in contemporary issues.

Key Figures:

• Sheikh Salman al-Ouda (Saudi Arabia, imprisoned by KSA government)

• Sheikh Safar al-Hawali (Former Saudi Salafi activist, imprisoned)

• Sheikh Abu Muhammad al-Maqdisi (Influenced by Jihadism but not Takfiri extremist)

• Yasir Qadhi (Originally a Madkhali Salafi, later became reformist Salafi)

Major Groups:

• Salafis influenced by Muslim Brotherhood (Ikhwan al-Muslimeen)

• Salafi political movements in Kuwait, Jordan, Egypt, and Tunisia

• Some Yemeni and North African Salafis (who engage in social activism)

Criticism from Other Salafis:

• Traditional Salafis (Saudi scholars) say they have Ikhwani (Brotherhood) influences and are too political.

• Jihadi Salafis criticize them for not engaging in jihad.

• Some accuse them of abandoning "pure Salafiyyah" by mixing with democratic politics.

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Middle Salafis (Traditional Salafis / Saudi-based Salafis)

Key Features:

• They adhere to pure Athari (Hanbali-based) Aqeedah and oppose Ash'ari, Maturidi, and Sufi beliefs.

• They are anti-Takfir but also oppose Islamist movements like Ikhwan al-Muslimeen (Muslim Brotherhood).

• They believe in obeying Muslim rulers unless they command open kufr (disbelief).

• They reject rebellion and street protests, considering them un-Islamic.

• They focus on Hadith-based Fiqh but still respect classical Hanbali methodology.

Key Figures:

• Sheikh Ibn Baz (Saudi Grand Mufti, d. 1999)

• Sheikh Ibn Uthaymeen (d. 2001)

• Sheikh Salih Al-Fawzan

• Saudi Arabia’s Official Salafi Scholars  / Lajnah (Under Saudi government)

• Salafi institutions in the UAE, Kuwait, and Jordan

Criticism from Other Salafis:

• Jihadi Salafis call them "scholars of the rulers."

• Ikhwani Salafis say they are too passive and do not challenge injustice.