A Simple Guide to ISLAM
Fiqh – Jurisprudence
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MALIK IBN ANAS (715-795)
Malik ibn Anas Al-Asbahi was born and died in Madinah. He is the
founder of the Maliki school of thought. He played an important
role in formulating early Islamic legal doctrines.
Imam Malik was a very devout, God-fearing person. He lived a life
of self-denial and abstinence. He often fasted, sometimes about
four days in the weak.
Imam Malik belonged to the tribe of Asbah of Yaman, a pure Arab
stock. His father Abu Amir was a Companion of the Prophet, and
was a religious scholar. Imam Malik also followed in his footsteps.
At an early age he had acquired a full knowledge of the Qur’an,
Hadith and other religious sciences. He studied with a number of
religious scholars of Madinah. He received traditions from Sahl ibn
Sa‘d, one of the last surviving companions. He also studied with
Jafar
As-Sadiq, the great scholar of the time. He knew Abu Hanifah,
who had also studied in Madinah. He differed from Abu Hanifah on
many important questions regarding the authenticity of the
Traditions.
Imam Malik was considered to be the most learned man of his
time. He was so well-versed in Islamic law that he came to be
regarded as an authority in religious matters. His opinions were
taken as
ijma
of Madinah. Imam Malik had composed the first
systematic work on
fiqh,
that is why people flocked to him, from far
and wide, to acquire knowledge from him.
