Malik ibn Anas (رحمه الله)

Date of Birth and Death

• Born: 711 CE (93 AH) in Medina, Hejaz (modern-day Saudi Arabia)
• Died: 795 CE (179 AH) in Medina​ 

Origin and Early Life Imam Malik was born in Medina, a significant center of Islamic learning. His family was originally from the Al-Asbahi tribe of Yemen. His grandfather, Abu ‘Amir, relocated the family to Medina after converting to Islam during the time of the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH). Imam Malik grew up in an environment immersed in religious scholarship​ 

Education and Teachers Imam Malik received his education in Medina, where he studied under some of the most renowned scholars of his time.

His teachers included:

• Nafi’ (the servant of Abdullah ibn Umar)
• Abu’l-Zanad
• Hisham ibn Urwah
• Yahya ibn Sa’id al-Ansari
• Ibn Shihab al-Zuhri
• Rabi’ah ibn Abi Abdur Rahman
• Abdullah ibn Dinar​

Imam Malik was extremely meticulous in his approach to knowledge. He would not narrate a hadith or issue a fatwa without being in a state of ritual purity. He often consulted many scholars before giving legal opinions, ensuring his competence was validated by his peers​ 

Expertise and Works

Imam Malik was a master of Hadith and Fiqh. His most famous work, the “Muwatta,” is one of the earliest comprehensive collections of Hadith and legal principles. The “Muwatta” contains around 1,720 hadiths and includes the sayings of the Prophet (PBUH), the Sahaba, and the Tabieen. It was highly regarded for its authenticity and systematic arrangement​ 

Famous For

Imam Malik is celebrated as the founder of the Maliki school of thought, which is widely practiced in North and West Africa, as well as parts of the Arabian Peninsula. His commitment to maintaining the traditions of Medina earned him the title “Imam Darul-Hijrah” (the Imam of the City of Migration)​ 

Character and Piety

Imam Malik was known for his piety, modesty, and strict discipline. He was revered for his ethical conduct and his dedication to the preservation and teaching of Hadith. Despite his close relationships with the Caliphs, he maintained his independence and integrity, even when faced with persecution. He was arrested and flogged for issuing a verdict that contradicted the ruling of Caliph Al-Mansur, yet he remained steadfast in his principles​ 

Books and Teachings

Imam Malik’s teachings and his “Muwatta” are studied extensively in Islamic universities and seminaries worldwide.The Muwatta of Imam Malik is one of the great books of Islam which includes a number of marfu’ hadiths and mawquf reports from the Companions, the Successors and those who came after them. It also includes many rulings and fatwas of the author.
His school of thought continues to have a profound influence on Islamic jurisprudence, shaping the legal practices of many Muslim communities.

Imam Malik’s legacy as a scholar and jurist remains influential, and his works are revered and studied by Muslims around the world. His contributions to Islamic law and his dedication to the authenticity of Hadith have made a lasting impact on the Muslim Ummah.