Why follow mazhab?

The question that arises here is that why then should one follow any of the four Imaams?

This can be answered by posing a counter-question:

- "Do you know all the various laws of Deen?
- Are you capable of extracting and deriving the laws pertaining to wudhu, salaah, zakaah, etc. directly from the Qur'an and Hadith?
- Do you know which Hadith has abrogated another?
- Do you have the ability to reconcile between the various Ahadith which apparently contradict each other?
- Do you know which verses of the Qur'an are general in their application and which verses are qualified by other texts? etc., etc."

If one does not have the knowledge of these aspects, then one definitely does not have the ability to derive the laws directly from the Qur'an and Hadith.

In that case the following aayah applies directly to oneself: "Ask those of knowledge if you do not know." (16:43 & 21:7) Hence when we do not have the enormous amount of knowledge and expertise that is necessary to derive the laws directly from the Qur'an and Hadith, we have opted to follow one of those great people who had attained that distinguished mastery in this field, among whom is Imaam Abu Hanifa (R.A.).

Imaam Abu Hanifa (R.A.) is a Taabi'i (one who has seen a Sahabi). He attained the knowledge of Hadith from approximately 4000 ustaads. His piety was such that for 40 years he performed fajr salaah with the wudhu of Isha salaah (i.e. he did not sleep the entire night) [Tareekhul Baghdad]. His knowledge, brilliance and righteousness was such that all the great scholars of his time attested to his mastery. Thus one can be well assured that such a person is absolutely capable of deriving the laws directly from the Qur'an and Hadith.