Jurisconsults Archive

Imam Malik is a renowned scholar and the founder of one of the four major schools of jurisprudence, which is esteemed and widely disseminated throughout Muslim countries. He authored the first compilation of Hadiths, meticulously organised into chapters and integrated with jurisprudential laws.

It has been recounted that Imam Malik was once presented with forty-eight questions. While he answered only six of them, he replied to the remaining inquiries, "I do not know." This deliberate answer aimed to instil in people the importance of seeking Allah's approval in both teaching and learning religious science. Furthermore, it served as a clear lesson in humility, imparting the importance of acknowledging one's limitations and gracefully admitting when one does not possess the answer, particularly if lacking a valid transmission.

Imam Malik steadfastly adhered to the Sunnah, the pristine path of the Prophet Muhammad. His creed mirrored that of the esteemed companions and the noble family of the Prophet. Imam Malik was the one who articulated the profound principle: "One does not inquire about the 'how' regarding the Creator. Asking 'how' about Allah is inconceivable. Hence, Allah transcends such inquiries."

Imam Malik was a distinguished saint of Islam, recognised for his unwavering commitment to religion and remarkable asceticism. His heart remained detached from worldly concerns, and he was remarkably generous.

The distinguished Imam Muhammad ibnuI dris Ash-Shafi^iyy was born in the year 150 of the Hijriyy calendar, coinciding with the passing of the eminent founder of the Hanafiyy school, Abu Hanifah. After immersing himself in the profound study of religious sciences, Ash-Shafi^iyy became proficient in issuing jurisprudential verdicts (fatwas) and laid the groundwork for his own school of thought: the Shafi^iyy madh-hab.

Imam Ash-Shafi^iyy embarked on a journey of scholarly pursuit from a tender age. He traversed lands and disciplines, absorbing knowledge from esteemed scholars across diverse regions, commencing with the erudite Imam Malik in the early stages of his quest and culminating with a disciple of the eminent Imam Abu Hanifah.

After dedicating his life to the pursuit of religious knowledge and teaching, Imam Ash-Shafi^iyy passed away due to an illness. 'Ash-Shafi^iyy is the Imam of all people in knowledge, piousness, elevation, and strength.

Imam Ash-Shafi^iyy was a mere fourteen years of age when Imam Malik granted him the authority to issue jurisprudential verdicts (fatwa). Beyond his stature as one of Islam's preeminent scholars, Ash-Shafi^iyy exhibited an unparalleled command of Arab genealogy and an extensive comprehension of their cultural, social, political, and economic history.

Imam Ash-Shafi^iyy, may Allah have mercy on him, asserted that Allah exists without being confined to a place or direction, without 'how,' and independent of time:  (إنه تعالى كان ولا مكان فخلق الـمكان وهو على صفة الأزلية كما كان قبل خلقه الـمكان لا يجوز عليه التغيِير فى ذاته ولا في صفاته) (‘innahu ta^ala kana wa la makan, fakhalaqa l-makan, wa Huwa ^ala sifati l-‘azaliyyati kama kana qabla khalqi l-makan, la yajuzu ^alayhi t-taghayyuru fi dhatihi wa la fi sifatih) "He exists, exalted is He, eternally without a beginning, as there…