What are the four major schools of Sunni Islamic law?

In Sunni Islam, there are four recognized orthodox schools of religious law (madhhab). These schools are:

• Ḥanafī: Founded on the teachings of Abū Ḥanīfah, this school is noted for its reliance on systematic reasoning (raʾy) in the absence of direct precedent. It historically served as the dominant legal system for the ʿAbbāsids and Ottomans.12
• Mālikī: Originating from the ancient school of Medina, this school was founded by Mālik ibn Anas. It emphasizes local Medinese community practice (ʿamal) as a primary lens for understanding legal implications.32
• Shāfiʿī: Derived from the teachings of Muḥammad ibn Idrīs al-Shāfiʿī, this school emphasizes the Hadith as the major basis for legal judgments and utilizes analogical reasoning (qiyās) when clear directives are absent.42
• Ḥanbalī: Formulated by Aḥmad ibn Ḥanbal, this is considered the most strictly traditionalist of the four schools. It focuses heavily on the Qurʾān and the Sunnah as the authoritative sources for legal solutions.52