Imam al-Shafie & Usul al-Fiqh

Muhammad bin Idris al-Shafi’i (150-204 H) is usually credited with founding the principles of Islamic Jurisprudence. His renowned work al-Risalah (The Treatise) is the first attempt ever by a Muslim Usulist to write down his legal theory.

Illustration of Imam al-Shafii’s Photo

Illustration of Imam al-Shafii Photo

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Imam Shafii is considered to be the father of the science of Usul. This is true in the sense that the systematic treatment of the principles of Usul al Fiqh was first made by him that reached. Before him, the jurists of course followed some principles in the deduction of law but these principles were not integrated and well written. Also some of the books written by other Muslim Usulists did not reach us. That is the reason Imam al-Shafie is considered as the pioneer writer in Usul al-Fiqh.

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After Shafii, many scholars have contributed in the study of Usul as we have mentioned earlier, Such as : Abul Hasan al Basri (d. 436), Imam al Haramayn al Juwayni (d.487), Abu Hamid al Gazali (d.505), Fakhruddin al Razi (d. 606), Saifuddin Al Amidi, Abul Hasan Al Karkhi (d.349), Fakhruddin Al Bazdawi (d. 483), Abu Bakr Al Jassas (d. 370), Sadr Al Shariah (d. 747), Tajuddin Al Subki (d.771), and Al Shatibi and many others.

Life of Imam ShafieMazhab al-Shafie is among the famous and

widely followed Sunni school of law was founded by Imam Muhammad ibn Idris al-Shafi΄i.

It is followed by some Muslims in Egypt, Somalia, Jordan, Palestine, Saudi Arabia,  Yemen, Kurdistan, Kerala.

This mazhab is also widely accepted Mazhab in Indonesia, Southern Thailand, Singapore and Philippines.

This mazhab is becoming the official of the governments of Brunei, Malaysia, Singapore and  also Southern Thailand.

Life of Imam Shafie

Here is a glance at Shafie’s blessed life. Imam Shafie’s Family Lineage (Father’s

Side): Muhammad bin Idris bin al-Abbas bin Usman bin Shafi’ ibn al-Sa’ib bin Ubaid bin ‘Abd Yazid bin Haashim bin al-Muttalib bin ‘Abd Manaaf bin Qusayy bin Kilaab bin Murrah. The Imam’s Lineage connects with the Prophet Muhammad (SAW)’s Lineage from ‘Abd Manaaf bin Qusayy.

Compare to the lineage of Our Prophet SAW

Muhammad Ibn 'Abdullaah Ibn 'Abdul-Muttalib Ibn Haashim, Ibn 'Abd Manaf Ibn Qusayy Ibn Kilaab Ibn Murrah Ibn Ka'b Ibn Lu'ayy Ibn Ghaalib Ibn Fahr Ibn Maalik Ibn An-Nadr (so called Qays) Ibn Kinaanah Ibn Khuzaymah Ibn Mudrikah Ibn Elias Ibn Mudar Ibn Nizar Ibn Ma'ad Ibn Adnaan Ibn Add Ibn Humaisi' Ibn Salaman Ibn ‘Aws Ibn Buz Ibn Qamwal Ibn Obai Ibn 'Awwam Ibn Nashid Ibn Haza Ibn Bildas Ibn Yadlaf Ibn Tabikh Ibn Jahim Ibn Nahish Ibn Makhi Ibn Aid Ibn 'Abqar Ibn 'Ubaid Ibn Ad-Da'a Ibn Hamdan Ibn Sanbir Ibn Yathrabi Ibn Yahzin Ibn Yalhan Ibn Ar'awi Ibn Aid Ibn Deshan Ibn Aisar Ibn Afnad Ibn Aiham Ibn Muksar Ibn Nahith Ibn Zarih Ibn Sami Ibn Mazzi Ibn 'Awda Ibn Aram Ibn Qaidar Ibn Ismaa’eel (Prophet) son of Ibraaheem (Prophet)

Family Lineage

Imam’s Family Lineage (Mother’s Side): Fatimah bint ‘Abdullah bin al-Hasan bin al-Hussain ibn Ali bin Abi Talib. The relations of the mother say that the only two to be born Haashimi (Tribe of the Prophet) in the family lineage were saidina Ali bin Abi Talib and al-Imam Al-Shafi’i.

Place of Born

Place of Birth: Imam Shafi’i (RA) was born in the year 150 A.H. the same year that the Great Imam Abu Hanifah had passed away in. He was born in Asqalan region of Ghaza in Palestine. When he was two years old his mother took him to a tribe in al-Hijaz. His mother left him there until he reached the age of ten years. Later on she took him (Imam Shafi’i) to Makkah.

Education

His Education: The Imam was from a very poor family in his youth and when he was sent to school, his family could not afford to pay the teacher for his teaching. Then Imam al-Shafie later on pay his teaching fee by replacing his teacher teaching the children his lesson, When the teacher saw this and he understood that the Imam was capable of doing it, he let him continue doing so. This way the Imam paid his tuition fees by replacing his teacher teaching the children his lesson.

Imam learned and remembered the whole Qur’an by the time he reached seven years.

Difficulty during his studies

The Imam himself used to say: “After I finished learning the Qur’an I would go to the Masjid and sit with the Scholars and listen to the sayings of the Prophet Muhammad (SAW) and other Islamic matters. I used to study in Makkah in such a state of poverty that I could not even afford to buy paper to write, so I would write on stones and bones instead.”

His voice was so melodious

It is also reported that the Imam used to recite Hadith in the Masjid of the Prophet (SAW) at the age of thirteen so melodious and sweet. Al-Haakim reports by the authority of Bahr bin Nasr saying: “When we wanted to cry we would say come let us go to this young man to hear him recite the Qur’an. We would reach him (Imam al-Shafie) and he would initiate his recitation until many of them would cry.”

His eminent teachers

His Teachers: Among his eminent teachers were:1. Muslim bin Khalid al-Zanji (a Mufti of Makkah during the year 180 A.H. (796 A.D.)2. Sufyaan bin Uyaynah al-Hilaali (one of the three distinguished scholars of that time in Makkah)3. Ibrahim bin Yahya (a scholar of Madinah)4. Malik bin Anas (Imam Shafi’i used to recite Hadith to Imam Malik after the memorizing of his book, Muwatta Imam Malik). The Imam stayed in Madinah until Imam Malik passed away in the year 179 A.H. (790 A.D.)5. Wakee’ bin al-Jarraah al-Kufi6. Muhammad bin Hasan al-Shaybaani (a scholar of Busrah, and distinguished student of the Great Imam Abu Hanifah (RA)

7. Hammaad bin Usama al-Haashimi al-Kufi

8. Abdul-Wahhab bin Abdul-Majid al-Basri

His wife

His Marriage: He married to Hamidah bint Nafi’ bin

Unaysah bin ‘Amr ibn Usman bin Affan radiallahuanhu.

Distinctive features

Some Distinctive Characteristics of imam:

1. His persuasive style of speech and wonderful knowledge of the Arabic language2. His Family Lineage-as a set standard reported by al-Hakam bin ‘Abdil-Muttalib that the Prophet (SAW) said, “Indeed Banu Haashim and Banu al-Muttalib are the same (ie. of the same family lineage). (Ibn Majah, 22, Kitaabul-Wasaaya/46 Chapter Division of Khumus/ Hadith No. 23293. Complete memorization of the Qur’an with recognition of its rules and its implications in all aspects of Islamic Knowledge of which others during his time did not yet reach to.4. His deep foresight in Hadith and comprehension of authentic and defective narrations, he was considered as nasir al-Sunnah the helper of hadith)

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5. His understanding in the principles of Hadith and Fiqh.

6. His knowledge about the Hadith Mursal (incompletely transmitted narrations) and and hadith marfu' (completely transmitted narrations) was magnificent.

7. Imam Ahmed bin Hanbal used to say about Imam Shafi’i, “Our respects were in the hands of the Companions of Abu Hanifah (RA) when it came to hadith (ie. we were inclined to them more) until we saw Imam Shafi’i, he was the most knowledgeable in the Book of Allah and the Sunnah of Rasulullah (SAW) that he would even suffice one who was not well informed in Hadith.

8. Al-Karaabeesi says about the Imam, “Al-Shafi’i was a mercy from Allah upon the followers of the Prophet (SAW).

9. Al-Humaidee says, “We tried to refute the arguments of the Ashab-ul-Ra’iy, but we were not well informed to do so until Imam Shafi’i came along and opened up the way for us.

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10. Ibn Raahway was asked, “How did Imam Shafi’i compose all these books at such a young age?” He replied, “Allah SWT made him intelligent and mature minded since his youth.”

11. Rabi’ says, “We were just sitting a while in the Knowledge Circle of Imam Shafi’i after the Great Imam’s demise when a Bedouin Arab came along and asked about where is the sun and moon of this circle. When we told him that he had passed away he started weeping heavily, and then said may Allah have mercy upon him and forgive him for verily he was one who opened up the veils of proofs through his explanations and closed the mouths of his disputers and opponents. He used to wash the blackened faces of their shame and disgrace and opened the closed doors with intellect and understanding. Then he turned away and left.”

Humbleness

His Humbleness:

Imam always said, “I have never debated with someone who I want to make a mistake. And I have never debated someone except I say to them, O’ Allah, put the truth in his heart and on his tongue. If I am on the truth he will follow me, and if he is on the truth, then I will follow him.”

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Imam Ahmed bin Hanbal is reported to have said, “When I am questioned about some matter that I do not know of, I say to myself Imam Shafi’i knows about this and he will have some say in it, because he is an ‘Alim (Scholar) of Quraish. And the Prophet (SAW) said, An Alim of Quraish fills the earth with knowledge.” (al-Manaaqib, Lil-Baihaqi, Vol. 1, Page 54)

Mujaddid

. In one narration the Prophet (SAW) said, “Indeed, at the beginning of every hundred years Allah SWT sends a reformer of this Ummah who will revive the Ummah in religion. Then Shafie was regarded by scholars during his time as a reformer (mujaddid). (Al-Mustadrik, V.4, P.522, Al-Khateeb fee al-tarikh, V.2, P.61)

His Children

His Children:

First Child’s Name: Abu Usman, Muhammad (was a judge in Madinah, grew up in Syria) Second Child’s Name: Fatimah Third Child’s Name: Zainab His Going to Egypt: The Imam went to Egypt in the year 199 A.H. (814/815 A.D.) during the beginning of the Mamun Khilafah. He went back to Baghdad for a month then again returned to Egypt and stayed until his demise in the year 204 A.H. (819/820 A.D.)

Some of His books:

1. Al-Risalah al-Qadeemah (Kitaabul-Hujjah)

8. Ikhtilaaf Malik wal-Shafi’i

2. Al-Risalah al-Jadeedah 9. Ikhtilaaf-al-Iraqiyeen

3. Ikhtilaaful-Hadith 10. Ikhtilaaf Muhammad bin Hasan

4. Ibtaal-al-Istihsaan 11. Fadha’il Quraish

5. Ahkaam-ul-Qur’an 12. Kitaabul-Umm

6. Biyaadhul-Fardh 13. Kitaabul-Sunan

7. Sifatul-al-Amr wal-Nahiy

Demise

His Demise:

The Imam became very sick at the end of his life and passed away in Egypt on Thursday night after Isha’ Prayer after performing Maghrib Prayer on the last day of Rajab. He was buried in Cairo, Egypt on Friday in the year 204 A.H. (819/820 A.D.) May Allah be pleased with him. Ameen.

Imam al-Shafii Grave/Tomb

Words of Wisdom From Imam al-Shafie

"When the foolish one speaks, do not reply to him, for better than a response (to him) is silence, and if you speak to him you have aided him, and if you left him (with no reply) in extreme sadness he dies."

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"All humans are dead except those who have knowledge. And all those who have knowledge are asleep, except those who do good deeds. And those who do good deeds are deceived, except those who are sincere. And those who are sincere are always in a state of worry."

Books written on Usul al-Fiqh in general

"I have never debated with a knowledgeable person, except that I won the debate, and I have never debated with an ignorant person, except that I lost."

 Also:"I never once argued with anyone hoping to

win the debate; rather I always wished that the truth would come from his side." 

Books written on Usul al-Fiqh in general

 "I complained to Imam Waqee’ of my weak memory; he advised me to abstain from sins; for, verily, knowledge is a light from Allah; and this light of Allah is not awarded to sinners."

  Also:"Be aware of your tongue, its dangerous! It’s

like a snake and so many people have been killed by their tongues."

Books written on Usul al-Fiqh in general

“A man does not become complete in this life except when he has four [qualities]: religiousness (al-diyanah), trustworthiness (al-amanah), safeguarding [from sin] (al-siyanah) and sobriety (al-razanah :al-amn wa al-hudu’)."

Books written on Usul al-Fiqh in general

"Knowledge is that which benefits, not that which is memorized." 

Also:

“Knowledge without action is arrogance.”

Books written on Usul al-Fiqh in general

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