Islamic jurisprudence is deeply rooted in the scholarly efforts of great Imāms of Ahl al-Sunnah, whose methodologies shaped the way Muslims practice their faith today. Among them, Imām Mālik ibn Anas (رحمه الله) was one of the most significant figures, laying the foundation for the Mālikī school of thought, one of the four major Sunni madhāhib.
Who Was Imām Mālik?
His full name was: Mālik ibn Anas ibn Mālik ibn Abī ‘Āmir al-Aṣbaḥī al-Himyarī al-Madanī
He was Abū ‘Abdullāh, and he was a pure Arab from the well-known Himyar tribe. Unlike some scholars of his time, he was not a Mawlā (freed slave), nor had he or his family ever been enslaved. His teacher, Imām al-Zuhrī, would sometimes refer to him as a Mawlā, which annoyed Imām Mālik.
When Was Imām Mālik Born?
There are three opinions regarding his birth year:
- 93 AH
- 94 AH
- 97 AH
One of the strange things narrated about his early life is that his mother carried him in her womb for four years. Historian Ibn ‘Abd al-Barr (رحمه الله) mentioned this, and while this may seem unusual, some scholars affirm that such cases have occurred.
Imām Mālik’s Status in Islamic Scholarship
Imām Mālik was a leading authority in three fields:
- Sunnah (Belief & Aqeedah)
- Hadith (Prophetic Traditions)
- Fiqh (Jurisprudence)
All scholars agreed on his high status in these disciplines. There was no disagreement about his authority in Hadith and Fiqh. His legal opinions carried such weight that his disagreements were considered. If Imām Mālik differed on an issue, scholars would consider his view and could not claim absolute consensus (ijmā‘) unless it was before his time.
The Seven Jurists of Madinah (Fuqahā’ al-Sab‘ah)
Imām Mālik inherited his knowledge from the seven jurists of Madinah, known as Fuqahā’ al-Sab‘ah:
- ʿUbaydullāh ibn ʿAbdullāh ibn ʿUtbah ibn Masʿūd
- ʿUrwah ibn al-Zubayr
- Al-Qāsim ibn Muḥammad ibn Abī Bakr al-Ṣiddīq
- Saʿīd ibn al-Musayyib
- Abū Bakr ibn ʿAbd al-Raḥmān ibn al-Ḥārith ibn Hishām
- Sulaymān ibn Yasār
- Khārijah ibn Zayd ibn Thābit
A famous poetic line mentions them:
إذا قيل في العلم سبعة أبحر
روايتهم ليست عن العلم خارجة
فقل هم: عبيد الله، عروة، قاسم
سعيد، أبو بكر، سليمان، خارجة
"If it is said: In knowledge there are seven seas,
Whose narrations never stray from true knowledge,
Then say: they are ʿUbaydullāh, ʿUrwah, al-Qāsim,
Saʿīd, Abū Bakr, Sulaymān, and Khārijah."
Since Madinah was the last place the Prophet ﷺ resided, Imām Mālik believed its scholarly traditions should take precedence over other lands.
How Other Scholars Saw Imām Mālik
His death was deeply mourned by scholars.
Hammād ibn Zayd wept and said:
"May Allah have mercy on Abū ‘Abdullāh; he held a high place in the religion."
Imām al-Shāfi‘ī (رحمه الله) famously said:
"When scholars are mentioned, Mālik is the shining star."
He also stated:
"No one has had a greater favor upon me than Mālik ibn Anas."
Imām Ahmad ibn Hanbal was once asked which scholar’s hadith one should memorize if they had to choose just one, and he replied:
"Let him memorize the hadiths of Mālik."
This demonstrates the unparalleled respect that scholars had for Imām Mālik.
The Mālikī Madhhab and Its Structure
The Mālikī madhhab is built upon four foundational sources:
- What Imām Mālik himself wrote – Primarily his book, Al-Muwaṭṭa’.
- What his students directly transmitted from him – Known as Al-Asmi‘ah.
- Derived rulings based on his principles – Known as Al-Mustakhrajāt.
- Ijtihād (independent reasoning) of later Mālikī scholars.
This structured approach ensured that the Mālikī school remained firmly rooted in authentic Islamic teachings.
Key Books in the Mālikī School
Several important texts form the backbone of the Mālikī school:
- Al-Muwaṭṭa’ – The most authoritative book compiled by Imām Mālik, containing hadiths, legal opinions, and statements of the Sahābah and Tābi‘ūn.
- Al-Mudawwanah – Compiled by Sahnūn, based on the answers of Ibn al-Qāsim, a student of Imām Mālik.
- Al-Mustakhraja (Al-‘Utbiya) – A collection of legal rulings.
- Al-Wāḍiḥa – A foundational text by Ibn Ḥabīb al-Sulamī.
- Mukhtaṣar Khalīl – A summary of the Mālikī school’s jurisprudence, widely memorized in Morocco, Algeria, and Mauritania.
Imām Mālik’s Position on Aqeedah
Imām Mālik was a staunch defender of Ahl al-Sunnah and was known for his strict stance against innovations (bid‘ah). He disliked argumentation in religion and would avoid debates.
A man once asked him how Allah rose above His throne. Imām Mālik responded:
"الاستواء معلوم، والكيف مجهول، والإيمان به واجب، والسؤال عنه بدعة"
"Al-Istiwāʾ is known, its how is unknown, belief in it is obligatory, and asking about it is an innovation (bidʿah)."
He then ordered the man to be expelled from the mosque.
This demonstrates his firm adherence to the beliefs of Ahl al-Sunnah and his stance against theological speculation.
Conclusion
The Mālikī madhhab has thrived for over 1,200 years, shaping Islamic law across North Africa, Andalusia, and West Africa. Grounded in the practice of the people of Madinah, its methodology balances textual evidence, maslahah (public welfare), and the consensus of the scholars of Madinah. This deep-rooted approach made it the foundation of Islamic governance in many regions and continues to influence contemporary Islamic thought.
With the increasing availability of classical Mālikī texts and scholarly engagement, the madhhab remains a vital force in Islamic jurisprudence. Studying its rich history, methodology, and authoritative texts offers invaluable insight for students, researchers, and practitioners of fiqh.
If you seek a structured, authentic path to understanding the Mālikī school of thought, we invite you to explore the first Madhkhal in the Fiqh Pathway of our Student of Knowledge Program. This structured program is designed to guide you through Islamic knowledge step by step, following the classical texts, ensuring that your learning is authentic, systematic, and deeply rooted in the Qur’ān, Sunnah, and the methodology of the Salaf.
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