The four main Sunni schools of Islamic jurisprudence (madhahib) – Hanafi, Maliki, Shafi'i, and Hanbali – each have distinct methodologies for deriving legal rulings, though all respect the Quran and Sunnah. Their differences often lie in the emphasis placed on various sources and principles.
The correct answer is Hanbali. The Hanbali school, founded by Imam Ahmad ibn Hanbal, is renowned for its strict and literal adherence to the Quran and authentic Hadith (Prophet's traditions). It places less emphasis on juristic opinion (ra'y) or analogical reasoning (qiyas) compared to other schools, preferring to derive rulings directly from textual evidence whenever possible, making it the most conservative in its approach to sources.
The Hanafi school uses extensive juristic reasoning. The Maliki school relies heavily on the practices of Medina. The Shafi'i school synthesizes approaches, emphasizing Hadith but also using qiyas systematically.