Mixing madhabs and creating a new madhab

Question

Is it not true that if one mixes and matches different madhabs they are in fact creating their own madhab? Are they claiming to have enough knowledge of Quran and Hadith to be a Mujtahid like the great Imams?

Mufti Sajid · Accepted Answer

In teaching, issuing fatwas, and ruling in court cases, yes, as it involves creating and officializing a form of religious practice that has no authority (no legitimate ijtihad by legitimate mujtahids). However, at an individual level, according to the Shafiʿi and Hanbali Schools, as long as it is not in a single domain (such as mixing different positions in a single wudu, salah, or marriage contract) or two closely related domains (like following one madhhab for wudu and another in salah), then it would not be considered creating a new madhhab — for example, following the Hanbali school in the rules of partnership and the Shafiʿi school for hajj. *And Allah knows best.*

Question

Answer