Culture
Islamic Schools of Thought
Major Islamic schools of jurisprudence (madhabs), theological schools, and Sufi orders.
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Name↕ | Type↕ | Branch↕ | Founder↕ | Primary Region↕ | Description↕ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hanafi | Madhab (Jurisprudence) | Sunni | Abu Hanifa | South Asia, Turkey, Central Asia | Largest Sunni school; emphasizes reason and analogy. Dominant in Pakistan, India, Bangladesh. |
| Maliki | Madhab (Jurisprudence) | Sunni | Malik ibn Anas | North Africa, West Africa | Relies heavily on practices of Medina's people as source of law. |
| Shafi'i | Madhab (Jurisprudence) | Sunni | Al-Shafi'i | Southeast Asia, East Africa | Systematized jurisprudence; balances hadith and reasoning. Dominant in Indonesia, Malaysia. |
| Hanbali | Madhab (Jurisprudence) | Sunni | Ahmad ibn Hanbal | Saudi Arabia, Gulf States | Most conservative school; strict adherence to Quran and Hadith. |
| Ja'fari | Madhab (Jurisprudence) | Shia | Ja'far al-Sadiq | Iran, Iraq, Lebanon | Main Shia school; follows Twelve Imams, allows ijtihad. |
| Zaydi | Madhab (Jurisprudence) | Shia | Zayd ibn Ali | Yemen | Closest Shia school to Sunni jurisprudence. |
| Ismaili | Denomination | Shia | Isma'il ibn Jafar | Global (Aga Khan community) | Follow the Aga Khan as living Imam. Known for emphasis on education and pluralism. |
| Ibadi | Madhab (Jurisprudence) | Kharijite | Abdullah ibn Ibad | Oman, parts of North Africa | Neither Sunni nor Shia. Moderate Kharijite offshoot. Dominant in Oman. |
| Sufism (Tasawwuf) | Spiritual Tradition | Cross-branch | Various early mystics | Global (esp. South Asia, Turkey) | Mystical dimension of Islam focused on inner purification and closeness to God. |
| Chishti Order | Sufi Order | Sunni Sufi | Moinuddin Chishti | South Asia (Pakistan, India) | Most popular Sufi order in South Asia. Centered in Ajmer, India. Major shrine in Lahore. |
| Qadiriyya Order | Sufi Order | Sunni Sufi | Abdul Qadir Gilani | Global (originated in Baghdad) | One of the oldest Sufi orders. Strong presence in Pakistan, Turkey, Africa. |
| Naqshbandi Order | Sufi Order | Sunni Sufi | Baha-ud-Din Naqshband | Central Asia, Turkey, South Asia | Silent dhikr tradition. Influential in Turkish and Central Asian Islam. |
| Mevlevi Order | Sufi Order | Sunni Sufi | Rumi (Jalaluddin) | Turkey | Known for whirling dervishes. Founded by followers of the poet Rumi. |
| Ash'ari | Theological School | Sunni | Abu al-Hasan al-Ash'ari | Global (mainstream Sunni) | Mainstream Sunni theology. Balances reason with revelation. |
| Maturidi | Theological School | Sunni | Abu Mansur al-Maturidi | Central Asia, South Asia | Close to Ash'ari; gives more role to reason. Common among Hanafis. |
| Athari / Salafi | Theological School | Sunni | Ahmad ibn Hanbal | Saudi Arabia, Gulf | Textualist approach. Avoids speculative theology, follows literal scripture. |
| Deobandi | Movement | Sunni (Hanafi) | Scholars of Deoband | South Asia (Pakistan, India, Afghanistan) | Reform movement emphasizing hadith scholarship and Islamic jurisprudence. Very influential in Pakistan. |
| Barelvi | Movement | Sunni (Hanafi) | Ahmad Raza Khan | South Asia (Pakistan, India) | Sufi-oriented Sunni movement. Reveres saints and shrines. Majority of Pakistani Sunnis identify as Barelvi. |
| Ahmadiyya | Movement | Disputed | Mirza Ghulam Ahmad | Global (HQ in UK) | Founded in Punjab (British India). Considers itself Islamic; disputed by mainstream Muslims. |