If for a valid reason, as mentioned by other brothers, then it is permissible for him to change to the Shafi'i mazhab. I detect certains unhealthy tones of mazhab comparison here. Sorry if I sense wrong. IMHO all Imams of mazahibs were among the greatest of the Awliya. I am proud to follow Imam Nasir al-Sunnah Muhammad bin Idris al-Shafi'i but that doesn't mean I look with less respect towards Imams Abu Hanifah, Malik and Ahmad bin Hanbal, ridwanallahu alaihim. Just a thought that comes to my mind. No harm intended. Wallahu a'lamu bi al-sawab.
he is going to have to spend a lot of time learning a new fiqh. could he not spend that same time [if he stays a Hanafi] and learn tasawwuf etc?
:s1: I guess it is his choice in the end although I advised against it simply because I think the Hanafi madhhab is the best! The hadith, "If knowledge was found in the Pleiades a man from Fars would still reach it..." (aw qamaa qaal alayhisalatu wa salaam) is usually understood to be about our Imam Imam e Azam :ra: However I suppose if someone was a big fan of Hamza Yusuf, for example, they might want to become Maliki etc. Once I toyed with the idea of becoming Hanbali when I found out Ghawth Paak :ra: were Hanbali would I decided not to in the end.
this used to be a valid reason in the past - if a common man cannot find dependable scholars of the madh'hab he follows, he can change to the madh'hab of the majority of the scholars of that place - rather more appropriately, those whom he thinks are dependable, trustworthy and veritable. this could be a valid excuse if the person is sincere; but remember: Allah ta'ala knows that which is hidden in the heart. imam ibn `abidin shami was a shafiyi and he changed his madh'hab to that of imam al-a`aDHam. not only that, but he went on to become an authority in our madh'hab. imam TaHawi [the nephew of imam muzani who is imam shafiyi's numero-uno disciple and the muHarrar of his madh'hab] is another. Allah ta'ala knows best.
Some brothers and sisters change their madhab shareef to follow the same madhab shareef of their shaykh in Tareeqa. It would be easier for them.
i have never really asked him WHY? i think because many of the english-speaking sunnis scholars are shafi's i think so he would find it easier to get books in english on shafi' fiqh.
why does he want to change it? is it because he perceives imam shafiyi's madh'hab easier to follow? [for example the beard issue, which some shafiyis - i don't know if all - contend that a stubble is sufficient] is it because he doesn't have to pray witr because it is only a sunnah in the shafiyi madh'hab and one who leaves it altogether and prays occassionally is not a fasiq - it is merely makruh in their madh'hab. is it because blood flowing from a cut does not invalidate one's wuDu in the madh'hab of imam shafiyi raDiyallahu `anhu? is it because he can pray the five prayers with merely the fatiHah - because Damm as-Surah or ayah that is NOT fatiHah is only a sunnah? is it because he has fallen in love with a girl that he is allowed to marry if he is a shafiyi and disallowed by Hanafi fuqaha? is it because the fiqh of menstruation is relatively simple in the shafiyi madh'hab compared to that of Hanafi madh'hab? is it because he can join prayers (jam')? pray, why does he want to change his madh'hab? does he have a genuine reason?
:s1: A brother I know is thinking of changing his madhhab from Hanafi to Shafi'. Is it allowed? What should I advise him?
