بِسْمِ اللهِ الرَّحْمٰنِ الرَّحِيْم
The Shafi'i School (Madhhab) Explained for New Muslims – Part 4
Why Understanding and Applying the Sunnah Is More Difficult Than It Seems
1. Beyond Theory: The Challenge of Understanding and Implementing Islam
Now that you’ve chosen the Shafi’i school, you may start noticing some differences between Islamic practices. You might wonder:
Why do some scholars say we must pay Zakat on certain things, while others disagree?
Why does the Shafi’i school emphasize Sunnah prayers so strongly?
Why do different schools have different opinions on Witr prayer, fasting, and even minor details of worship?
Islam is not just about knowing the Qur’an and Hadith—it’s about understanding them correctly. Some new Muslims are drawn to the idea of just following the Qur’an and Sunnah without referring to scholarship, believing it to be the “purest” way to practice. But is it really that simple?
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2. Why Following Only Qur’an and Sunnah Without a School Can Be Risky
The Qur’an is clear, but the Sunnah is vast and complex. The Prophet ﷺ was:
A Messenger delivering revelation.
A Judge settling disputes.
A Military Leader in times of war.
A Family Man with personal habits.
Each of these roles involved different types of rulings. The Hadith collections contain thousands of narrations, some of which were general, while others were specific to certain contexts. Without understanding when and why the Prophet ﷺ said something, people can misinterpret Islam and end up following weak or misunderstood Hadiths.
This is where the scholars come in. They spent their lives analyzing the authenticity, context, and application of Hadiths to ensure that rulings were applied correctly and consistently.
If someone today says, "I will only follow Qur’an and Hadith," they must ask themselves:
1. Do I have the knowledge to distinguish between authentic and weak Hadith?
2. Do I understand why certain Hadiths were revealed and to whom they applied?
3. Can I apply these rulings without contradicting others?
This is why most Muslims avoid interpreting Islam on their own—the weight of getting it wrong is too great.
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3. Uncovering Disagreements: The Case of Witr Prayer
Let’s look at Witr prayer—a prayer before bed that is highly emphasized but differs among schools.
What Is Witr?
It is an odd-numbered prayer performed after Isha and before Fajr.
It is considered essential in the Hanafi school (almost like a Fard prayer).
In the Shafi’i school, it is highly recommended (Sunnah Mu’akkadah) but not obligatory.
How Do Different Schools Pray Witr?
Hanafi: 3 Rak’ahs prayed together, with no tasleem after the second Rak’ah.
Shafi’i: 1 or 3 Rak’ahs, but if praying 3, tasleem is done after the second Rak’ah.
Maliki: 1 Rak’ah only after Isha.
Hanbali: Similar to Shafi’i but allows more flexibility in format.
Which one is correct? All of them. The Prophet ﷺ prayed Witr in multiple ways, and scholars deduced different rulings based on the Hadiths they found most authoritative.
For a new Muslim, this is an example of why following a school makes things easier. Instead of researching dozens of narrations and trying to figure out how to pray Witr, you follow the guidance of scholars who have already done the work for you.
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4. Understanding Islam the Right Way
If someone rejects following scholars and tries to derive rulings on their own, they may:
Follow weak Hadiths without realizing it.
Misunderstand the historical context of a ruling.
Pick and choose Hadiths without proper methodology.
This is why Islamic law is based on an unbroken chain of knowledge, not just personal interpretation. No one scholar had all the answers, but through centuries of refinement, we have a structured and reliable way to practice Islam today.
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5. Let’s Try Witr Prayer Together!
Now that you understand the differences, let’s pray Witr in the Shafi’i way:
1. Make your intention (Niyyah): “I intend to pray Witr for the sake of Allah.”
2. Pray 2 Rak’ahs as usual, then say tasleem (salutation) after the second Rak’ah.
3. Stand and pray 1 final Rak’ah separately.
4. Before going into ruku’ in the final Rak’ah, raise your hands and make Dua al-Qunut (a special supplication).
5. Complete the prayer as normal.
This method is based on Hadiths where the Prophet ﷺ sometimes prayed Witr in separate units. It is different from the Hanafi style, but both are valid.
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6. Final Thoughts: Islam Requires Both Knowledge and Understanding
Islam is simple in its core message but requires effort to understand correctly. This is why:
The Qur’an is clear, but the Sunnah requires deep knowledge to apply properly.
Scholars dedicated their lives to preserving Islam correctly.
Following a madhhab removes confusion and ensures that you follow Islam as it was meant to be practiced.
Some people think that following only the Qur’an and Hadith is the purest way—but without proper understanding, they risk building an incomplete or incorrect version of Islam.
By following the Shafi’i school, you are ensuring that your faith is based on authentic knowledge rather than guesswork.
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7. What’s Next?
In the next chapter, we will explore:
More practical differences between schools.
How to approach controversial issues in Islam.
Why scholars sometimes seem to disagree, and why that’s actually a strength, not a weakness.
Until then, keep learning, keep praying, and remember—Islam is a journey, not a destination.