Comparative Table of Sunni Madhabs
| Aspect | HANAFI | MALIKI | SHAFI'I | HANBALI |
| Founder | Abu Hanifa (699-767 CE) | Malik ibn Anas (711-795 CE) | Al-Shafi'i (767-820 CE) | Ahmad ibn Hanbal (780-855 CE) |
| Followers | ~45% of Sunnis | ~25% of Sunnis | ~25% of Sunnis | ~5% of Sunnis |
| Main Regions | Turkey, Central Asia, Indian subcontinent, Balkans | North/West Africa, Upper Egypt, Sudan | East Africa, Southeast Asia, Yemen | Saudi Arabia, Qatar, UAE |
Methodology
| Aspect | HANAFI | MALIKI | SHAFI'I | HANBALI |
| Primary Approach | Maximum reasoning (ra'y) | Medinan practice (amal) | Systematic hadith authentication | Textualist |
| Qiyas (Analogy) | Extensive use | Limited use; rejects excess qiyas | Restricted use | Minimal use, only in cases of necessity |
| Istihsan (Juristic Preference) | Yes | No | No | No |
| Custom ('urf) | Most accepting | Moderate acceptance | Minimal acceptance | Rejected |
| Hadith Approach | Fewer hadith accepted due to strict conditions; weak hadith preferred over qiyas | The practice of Medina is prioritized over isolated hadith reports | Systematic authentication | Maximum corpus (30,000+) |
| Public Interest | Limited use | Yes (masalih mursalah) | No | No (rejects istislah) |
Prayer (Salah)
| Aspect | HANAFI | MALIKI | SHAFI'I | HANBALI |
| Qunut Supplication | In Witr prayer only | In Fajr prayer only | Daily in Fajr prayer | In Witr, during the last half of Ramadan |
| Raising Hands | Only for the opening takbir | Only for the opening takbir | Multiple times, including at ruku' and rising | Multiple times |
| "Ameen" | Silent | Silent | Loud in congregation | Silent |
| Arm Position | Folded on chest | At the sides (sadl) | Folded | Folded |
| Feet Position | Shoulder-width apart | Together | Close together | Slightly apart |
Ablution (Wudu)
| Aspect | HANAFI | MALIKI | SHAFI'I | HANBALI |
| Touching a Woman | Breaks wudu | Does not break wudu, unless there is desire | Always breaks wudu (any skin contact) | Breaks wudu if there is desire |
| Bleeding | Breaks wudu | No effect | No effect | No effect |
| Vomiting | A mouthful breaks wudu | No effect | No effect | No effect |
| Laughter in Prayer | Breaks wudu | No effect | No effect | No effect |
| Dog Saliva | Wash once | Wash once | Wash 7 times, with one wash being with soil | Wash 7 times |
| Eating Camel Meat | No effect | No effect | No effect | Breaks wudu |
Fasting (Sawm)
| Aspect | HANAFI | MALIKI | SHAFI'I | HANBALI |
| Eating Forgetfully | Does not break the fast | Does not break the fast | Does not break the fast | Does not break the fast |
| Intentional Vomiting | Breaks the fast | Breaks the fast | Breaks the fast | Breaks the fast |
| Hijama (Cupping) | No effect | No effect | Breaks the fast | Breaks the fast |
| Continuous Fasting | Allowed | Prohibited | Allowed | Allowed |
Zakat
| Aspect | HANAFI | MALIKI | SHAFI'I | HANBALI |
| Vegetables/Fruits | No zakat required | Zakat required on all produce | Zakat required on specific items | Zakat required on specific items |
| Honey | Zakat required | No zakat required | No zakat required | No zakat required |
| Trade Goods | Required | Required | Mandatory, with strict calculations | Required |
Marriage & Divorce
| Aspect | HANAFI | MALIKI | SHAFI'I | HANBALI |
| Wali (Guardian) Requirement | Not required for an adult woman | Mandatory for all women | Required for a virgin, but not for a previously married woman | Mandatory for all women |
| Witnesses for Marriage | Not required for the validity of the contract | 2 required | 2 are mandatory | Recommended |
| Woman's Consent | An adult woman can contract her own marriage | Consent is given through the wali | Consent is given through the wali | Consent is given through the wali |
| Triple Divorce in One Sitting | Counts as 3 divorces | Counts as 1 revocable divorce | Counts as 3 if intended as such | The effect depends on the man's intention |
Legal Philosophy & Modern Application
| Aspect | HANAFI | MALIKI | SHAFI'I | HANBALI |
| Rationalism Level | Highest | Moderate-High, practice-based | Moderate-Low, systematic | Lowest, most textual |
| Flexibility | Most flexible | Pragmatic | Systematic | Most rigid |
| Modern Application | Influenced Ottoman codes and modern reforms | Used in minority fiqh and migration contexts | Influential in commercial and banking law | Forms the basis of the Saudi legal system; influential on Salafi thought |