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Hanafi (Arabic: حنفي ) is one of the four schools of thought (Madhabs) or jurisprudence (Fiqh) within Sunni Islam. Founded by Abu Hanifa, An-Númān ibn Thābit (Arabic: النعمان بن ثابت) (699 - 767), it is considered to be the school most open to modern ideas. At the same time, it follows some of the strictest interpretations of Islamic law. An 8th century Somali theologian named Shaykh Uthman bin Ali al-Zeylai wrote the only authoritative text on the Hanafi school of Islam. His book is called the Tabayin al-Haqa’iq li Sharh Kanz al-Daqa’iq. Its four volumes are still in print. Its followers are sometimes known in English as Hanafites or Hanifites (cf Malikite, Shafiite, Hanbalite for the other schools of thought). It is the largest of the four schools; it is followed by approximately 45% of Muslims world-wide. The other three schools of thought are Shafi, Maliki, and Hanbali. The most prominent propagators of Hanafi thought in history were probably the Ottoman Empire and the Mughal Empire, and as such the areas which they encompassed are predominantly Hanafite. Today, the Hanafi school is predominant among: The Constitution of Afghanistan allows Afghan judges to use Hanafi jurisprudence in situations where the Constitution lacks provisions. The Hanafi school is considered to be the most liberal. For example, under Hanafi jurisprudence, blasphemy is not punishable by the state, despite being considered a civil crime by some other schools. There is little or no animosity between the four schools of religious law within Sunni Islam. Instead there is a cross-pollination of ideas and debate that serves to refine each school's understanding of Islam. It is not uncommon, or disallowed, for an individual to follow one school but take the point of view of another school for a certain issue (for example the Egyptian Sheikh Shihab al-Din Qarafi was an Imam in both the Maliki and Shafi schools).
Islamic jurisprudence | ||||||||
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