Ijmaa’ al-A’immah al-Arba’ah wa ikhtilaafuhum (2 Vol. Set) – إجماع الأئمة الأربعة وإختلافهم

Ijma’ al-A’immah al-Arba’ah wa Ikhtilafuhum (frequently published under the title Ikhtilaf al-A’immah al-Ulama’) by the Hanbali vizier and scholar Yahya ibn Hubayrah (d. 560 AH) is a classic foundational manual in comparative Islamic jurisprudence (Fiqh Muqaran). The text represents the dedicated legal treatise extracted from his monumental Hadith commentary, Al-Ifsah ’an Ma’ani al-Sihah, which he composed under the commentary of the prophetic tradition: ”Whomever Allah desires good for, He grants him comprehension in religion.”

Structured methodically according to standard legal chapters—from purification and prayer to commercial contracts and judicial rulings—the work first identifies the core legal points of consensus (ijma’ or ittifaq) shared among the four Sunni Imams (Abu Hanifah, Malik, al-Shafi’i, and Ahmad ibn Hanbal). Following the agreed-upon positions, Ibn Hubayrah systematically enumerates the points of divergence (ikhtilaf), summarizing each school’s stances with balance and clarity. This accessible layout makes it a standard reference for students of comparative law, muftis, and researchers studying early legal methodology.