IMAM SHAAFEE (150 A.H. - 204 A.H.)

Imam A'zam Abu Hanifa,
Imam Maalik, Imam Shaafi
and Imam Ahmed bin Hambal
(radi Allahu anhumul ajma'in)
are the leaders of the four
schools of Fiqh (Islamic Law).
"FIQH" is the Science of Islamic
Law or Jurisprudence. It refers
to the collection and compilation
of Islamic laws based on the Holy
Quran and the Sunnah of
Sayyiduna Rasulullah (sallal laahu
alaihi wasallam). These great
Muslims devoted themselves to
the task of developing the
science of understanding Islamic
Law and its practise.
Although they differed from
each other, all the four great
Imams had great respect for
each other. They were all
teachers and pupils of each
other for the common goal of
enhancing their knowledge about
Islam. All of them were
unanimous on Aqa'ids (Islamic
Beliefs). We, as Muslims, must
respect the different Sunni
schools of thought.
Mohammed bin Idris Al Shaafa'ee
(radi Allahu anhu) famously
known as Imam Shaafa'ee was
born in 150 A.H. and belonged to
the Quraish tribe.
EARLY LIFE
When he was 10 years old, he
came to Makkatul
Mukarramah from Palestine
where he grew up. He was
very intelligent and had an
excellent memory. He
memorized the entire Holy
Quran at the age of 7. By the
age of 15, he had memorized
the entire Muwatta of Imam
Maalik (radi Allahu anhu).
Before the age of 20, he
studied Islamic
Jurisprudence under the
Mufti of Makkatul
Mukarramah, Sayyiduna
Muslim bin Khalil al Zanji and
also Sayyiduna Sufyaan bin
Uyayana (radi Allahu anhuma).
Imam Maalik bin Anas (radi
Allahu anhu) was also his
teacher.
IN IRAQ
When the Governor of Iraq
visited Madinatul
Munawwarah, he was so
impressed by Imam
Shaafa'ee (radi Allahu anhu)
that he persuaded him to
become an Administrator. As
Imam Shaafa'ee (radi Allahu
anhu) was in conflict with the
Government officials, he was
deported to Iraq and brought
in front of Haroun Rasheed
who was very impressed
with Imam Shaafa'ee (radi
Allahu anhu).
He now studied Islamic
Jurisprudence under Imam
Mohammed Ash Shaybaani
(radi Allahu anhu), who was
the student of Imam Abu
Yusuf (radi Allahu anhu), who
was the student of Imam
A'zam Abu Hanifa (radi Allahu
anhu). Thus, Imam Shaafa'ee
(radi Allahu anhu) became a
master of both the Hanafi
and Shaafa'ee School of Fiqh.
IN EGYPT
On his way to Egypt, he
lectured in Makkatul
Mukarramah in the Haram
Shareef. Imam Ahmed bin
Hambal (radi Allahu anhu), who
was studying at the time in
Makkatul Mukarramah found
great benefit from these
lectures. Imam Shaafa'ee
(radi Allahu anhu) then went
to Baghdad where he spent 3
or 4 years and finally went to
Egypt. He was now 50 years
old.
In Egypt, scholars from all
over the world came to
study at his feet. His famous
pupils were Sayyiduna Rabi
bin Sulayman, Sayyiduna Abu
Yacoob Al Ruwayta and
Sayyiduna Abu Ebraheem bin
Yahya Al Muzani (radi Allahu
anhumul ajma'in).
HIS WORKS
"Kitaabul Umm" and "Ar
Risaalah" are the two famous
books on Islamic Fiqh written
by him.
PASSES AWAY
Some reports say that he
was injured seriously by a
person called Fityan, while
other reports mention that
he passed away through
natural illness on the last day
of Rajab in the year 204 A.H.in
Egypt. Maalik Al Kaamil, the
Ayyubid Sultan, built a Mazaar
for him in 608 A.H.