Full Name: Abu ‘Abdullah Muhammad ibn Idris al-Shafi‘i
Birth/Death: 150–204 AH / 768–820 CE
Place of Birth: Gaza

Imam Al-Shafi‘i was only two years old when his mother brought him to Makkah, the city of his father’s family. Raised by his devout mother, he displayed remarkable intellectual abilities from a young age. By the age of seven, he had memorized the Qur’an, and by ten, he had memorized Al-Muwatta’, the Hadith and Fiqh compilation of Imam Malik.

During his childhood, he spent some time with the Hudhayl tribe, renowned for their eloquence in Arabic poetry, which greatly enhanced his command of the Arabic language. Upon returning to Makkah, he had developed exceptional skills in both eloquence and knowledge of Islamic sciences.

Education and Travels

Al-Shafi‘i studied under the leading scholars of Makkah, particularly Muslim ibn Khalid al-Zanji, a prominent Fiqh authority at the Haram. By the age of 15, he was authorized to give legal rulings and began teaching at the Haram.

He later traveled to Madinah to study under Imam Malik, absorbing the teachings of Al-Muwatta’ and gaining deep insight into the practices of the people of Madinah. He remained with Malik until the latter’s death in 179 AH (794 CE).

At the age of 29, Al-Shafi‘i journeyed to Iraq, where he studied the Hanafi Fiqh under Muhammad ibn al-Hasan, combining the jurisprudential heritage of the Hijaz and Iraq. During his studies, he engaged in scholarly debates and critically examined differing legal opinions, refining his own approach to Fiqh.

Returning to Makkah, he authored Al-Risalah, the first systematic work on Fiqh methodology, which became foundational for Islamic jurisprudence. Later, he traveled to Baghdad, where he taught and influenced leading scholars, including Imam Ahmad ibn Hanbal.

Ahmad ibn Hanbal remarked:
“Al-Shafi‘i was like the sun in this world, and like good health for people. Can there ever be such great scholars?”

Al-Shafi‘i was widely recognized by his contemporaries as the Imam of the Sunnah and the champion of Hadith, reflecting his mastery of both Islamic law and Prophetic traditions.

Methodology of the Shafi‘i School

Imam Al-Shafi‘i systematically categorized sources of law into five main principles:

1. Qur’an and Sunnah: The Sunnah is considered equal in authority to the Qur’an, as it clarifies, explains, and details the general guidance found in the Qur’an.

2. Consensus of Scholars (Ijma’): When the Qur’an or Sunnah provides no direct guidance, the unanimous agreement of qualified scholars is considered binding.

3. Statements of the Companions (Sahabah): Opinions of the Prophet’s companions are followed only when there is no disagreement among them on the issue.

4. Preference Among Companions’ Opinions: If the companions disagreed, Al-Shafi‘i selected the opinion closest to the Qur’an, Sunnah, and sound analogy.

5. Analogy (Qiyas): Applying an existing legal ruling to a new case based on shared reasoning, provided the original ruling is supported by clear evidence from the Qur’an or Sunnah.

This systematic methodology gave rise to the Shafi‘i school, which emphasizes a balanced approach between textual evidence, scholarly consensus, and reasoning, and remains influential in East Africa, Southeast Asia, Yemen, and Egypt.