Title: The Differences of the Imaams

Author: Shaikh-al-Hadith Ml. Muhammed Zakariya Kandhalwi (R)

Translator: Ml. Muhammed Kadwa

Publisher: White Thread Press England

No. of pages: 122

If the Imaams of the four schools (madhahib) established all of their rulings from the Quran and Sunnah, why then have they differed on so many issues? How can two Authentic narrations from the Messenger  صلي الله عليه وسلم   appear to contradict one another? When is it acceptable for Muslims to differ in religious matters?

Using examples from the Messenger   صلي الله عليه وسلم , His companions  رضي الله عنهم   and their followers   رضي الله عنهم , this book, "The Differences of the Imaams" answers these puzzling questions in a thorough and concise manner. In a clear and lucid style, the author illustrates his depth of knowledge in this field by presenting the contradicting narrations together with the manner in which the Companions  رضي الله عنهمand the Imaams of Jurisprudence have reconciled these apparent differences.  

The author, who is world renowned for his scholary works, presents an excellent resource material for anyone seeking to better understand this complex and often misunderstood topic: How the disciplines of Hadith and Fiqh (Jurisprudence) come together to form the basis of Islamic law (Sharia) and more importantly, why is it necessary to follow one of the four schools of Islamic Jurisprudence.

The subject matter of the book in review is of heightened interest at present, since there seems to be an onslaught on the four unanamously agreed upon schools of Islamic Jurisprudence.