Differences Of The Imams

By Shaykh ul Hadeeth Muhammad Zakariyya Kandhlawi (رحمه الله)

If the Imams of the four schools [madhahib] (رحمة الله عليهم) established all of their rulings from the Qur’an and the Sunna, why have they differed on so many points? How can two authentic narrations from the Messenger of Allah (صلى الله عليه وسلم) appear to contradict one another? When is it acceptable for Muslims to differ over religious matters? What did the Messenger (صلى الله عليه وسلم) mean when he said, “The differences of my Umma are a source of mercy?”