Must I be a Maliki or a Shafi'i, and which is the soundest of the madhhabs? And what are the accredited books in comparative fiqh?
Source: FtawySummary from Ftawy's records · added here Sep 2, 2026
Both schools are good, and whichever one you adhere to, it will be good, God willing. However, you must study under a proficient shaykh. Among the easiest and most concise books of comparative fiqh is Bidayat al-Mujtahid by Ibn Rushd, and among the most comprehensive and extensive are Al-Majmu' by Al-Nawawi and Al-Mughni by Ibn Qudamah. Among the useful books on the sayings of the early Muslims are Al-Muhalla by Ibn Hazm and Al-Tamhid by Ibn Abd al-Barr. Among contemporary books that encompass the schools of thought is the Kuwaiti Fiqh Encyclopedia.
Summary from Ftawy's records · added here
Reviewed by El Fatwa's sharia committee.
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