THE MAALIKI SCHOOL OF FIQH - IMAM MAALIK (93 A.H. - 179 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.
Imam Maalik (radi Allahu anhu)
was born in 93 A.H. He was born in
the period of the Ummayyad
Dynasty. His full name is Maalik
bin Anas.
EDUCATION
Imam Maalik (radi Allahu
anhu's) grandfather and
uncle were great scholars of
Hadith. Imam Maalik (radi
Allahu anhu) learnt Ahadith
from his uncle, Sayyiduna
Abu Suhail Nafi (radi Allahu
anhu). The Imam was a very
keen scholar from his
childhood days.
TEACHERS
Imam Maalik (radi Allahu anhu)
had many illustrious
teachers. Most of them were
great Taabi'i scholars who
learnt under the Sahaba.
Some of his teachers used
to teach in Masjidun Nabawi.
He learnt how to read the
Holy Quran from Sayyiduna
Abu Radim Nafi Abdur
Rahman (radi Allahu anhu).
He also learnt Hadith under
Sayyiduna Nafi, Sayyiduna
Jafer Saadiq, Sayyiduna
Mohammed bin Yahya
Ansaari, Sayyiduna Abu
Haashim Salmah, Sayyiduna
Yahya bin Said and Sayyiduna
Hishaam bin Urwah (radi
Allahu anhumul ajma'in).
HIS PUPILS
Imam Maalik (radi Allahu
anhu's) fame spread far and
wide and many great
scholars sat in his company
learning Ahadith and other
Islamic legal issues. Some
1300 scholars sat at his feet.
They copied the "MUWATTA"
from him. The "Muwatta" is a
collection of Ahadith by Imam
Maalik (radi Allah anhu). Many
of his pupils copied the
Muwatta, the famous among
them being: Sayyiduna Yahya
bin Yahya Al Masmudi,
Sayyiduna ibn Wahab Abu
Mohammed Abdullah and
Sayyiduna Abi Abdullah Abdur
Rahman Abdur Rahman (radi
Allahu anhumul ajma'in).
AS A TEACHER
Even Imam A'zam Abu Hanifa
(radi Allahu anhu), his
teacher, held Imam Maalik
(radi Allahu anhu) in great
regard and respect and
should sit in his study circle.
Imam Maalik (radi Allahu anhu)
liked his students to read
aloud while he listened. He
used to sit on a high chair
with students all around
taking notes.
AS A MUHADDITH AND A JURIST
He was a great
"Muhaddith" (A Scholar of
Hadith). He was very careful
in selecting Hadith, and after
examining them thoroughly
used to record it in his
Muwatta.
As a Jurist, he was not afraid
of giving a "Fatawa" (Legal
Islamic Ruling) even if it was
against the Caliph. He was
once flogged for doing so.
PASSES AWAY
He passed away on the 11th
of Rabi-ul-Awwal in the year
179 A.H. He was 86 years old.
Imam Maalik (radi Allahu anhu)
is buried in Janatul Baqi in
Madinatul Munawwarah.
He never wore shoes whilst in
Madinatul Munawwarah. He
never sat on a horse or used
the toilets in this blessed
city. He always went out of
the city to relieve himself. He
used to kiss the old buildings
and the remains of old
foundations, saying that
Sayyiduna Rasulullah (sallal
laahu alaihi wasallam) may
have walked by, touched it or
saw it. Such was his
adoration for Sayyiduna
Rasulullah (sallal laahu alaihi
wasallam)