UNGS 2040

ISLAM, KNOWLEDGE & CIVILIZATION

Hisyam SuhaimiHariz TaminFahmi Abdul MuinAhmad ZahidMifzal Mustafa

IMAM SHAFI’I

Nasir Al Sunnah(One who saved the Sunnah)

Biography

Abu Abdullah Muhammad Ibn Idris al-Shafi’I( a prominent Imam who was a descendant from the Hashimi

family of Quraysh tribe The only Imam related to Rasulullah(PBUH) Born : 767 CE/150 AH, Gaza, Palestin Died : 20 January, 820 CE/30 Rajab, 204 AH (aged 52-53)

Chain of Life

He completed memorizing all of the Quran at the age of 7 years old

At the age of 13, he memorized the Kitabul Muwatta’ of Imam Malik➢ The muwatta’ is an early statement of Muslim law.➢ The earliest extant source of hadith

He was a mufti (given authorization to issue fatwa) at the age of 15.

He spent most of his time among the Bedouins outside Makka, to acquire a good knowledge of the Arabic language.➢ The Bedouin are predominantly Muslim➢ Desert-dwelling Arab nomad.

At the age of 20, he went to Madina and become a student of Imam Malik

He also learned with, 81 sheikhs from all of whom he acquired the knowledge of the Quran, hadith and Sunnah.

In 184 A.H./ 799 A.C., Imam Shafi’I was arrested and taken to Baghdad to appear before Haroon Ar-Rasheed on trumped up charges of treason.

It was due to the recommendation of Imam Muhammad (the state Qazi and student of Imam Abu Hanifa) that Imam Shafi’I was discharged.o Qazi is a judge ruling in accordance with the sharia.

Imam Shafi’I remained in Bagdhad as a student of Imaan Muhammad for over 3 years to add further to his knowledge of Islamic Law

In Baghdad, he developed his first madhab, influenced by the teachings of both Imam Abu Hanifa(from Imam Muhammad) and Imam Maliko Madhab or in Urdu Mazhab is an Islamic school of law or fiqh (religious

jurisprudence) His work there is known as “al Madhab al Qadim lil Imam as Shafi’i” or the

Old School of ash-Shafi’i

He returned to Makkah where he stayed for 9 years delivering lectures on Islamic Law.

It was during this period that Imam Ahmad ibn Hambal came into contact with Imam Shafi’I

It appears that all of his surviving writings were done in retirement in Egypt during the last 5 years of his life.

He died in Fustat, Cairo, Egypt On Friday evening after Maghrib, 29th

Rajab, 204 A.H. (20th Jan; 820 A.C) after a short illness. Age of 54 years.

CONTRIBUTIONS

Books

Al-Risalah (Usul al-Fiqh) : The best known book by al-Shafi'i in which he examined usul al-fiqh (sources of jurisprudence ) : the Qur’an, the Sunnah, qiyas (analogy), and ijma’ (scholarly consensus)

Al-Umm (Fiqh) : his main surviving text on Shafi’I Fiqh Musnad ash-Shafi'i (on hadith) : it is available with arrangement,

Arabic 'Tartib', by Ahmad ibn Abd ar-Rahman al-Banna He authored more than 100 books.

Madhhab Syafi’i One of the four scholars - besides Maliki, Hanbali, and Hanafi Most predominantly in regions such as;

Africa: Djibouti, Somalia, Ethiopia, Eritrea, eastern Egypt, and the Swahili Coast.

Middle East: Yemen, Kurdish regions of the Middle East, Israel, Lebanon, minor parts of Jordan, Palestine and Saudi Arabia

Caucasus: parts of Azerbaijan Asia: Indonesia, Malaysia, Maldives, Sri Lanka, western coast of Indian

peninsula, Singapore, Myanmar, Thailand, Brunei, and the southern islands of the Philippines.

Intriguing Characteristics/Achievements● He memorized the Qur’an at a very young age. ● On anonymous accounts, he was a very handsome man and his beard does not

exceed the length of his fist.● He also learnt archery and became very skilful; he could hit the target 10 times

out of 10.● Al-Shafi'i was an eloquent poet, who composed many short poems aimed at

addressing morals and behaviour● Imam Al-Shafi’i never got furious while debating with anyone, because he was

not interested in scoring points or winning people’s admiration, but rather in reaching the truth. And if his opponent were right, he would not find any difficulty accepting his view.

● He had an eidetic memory.

Famous Quotes

He was quoted as saying:‘I wish people would learn what I have to give, without it being attributed to me. In this way, I will receive the reward for it from Allah, without having people’s praise.’

He who seeks pearls immerses himself in the sea.He said to the effect that no knowledge of Islam can be gained from books of Kalam, as kalam "is not from knowledge" and that "It is better for a man to spend his whole life doing whatever Allah has prohibited - besides shirk with Allah - rather than spending his whole life involved in kalam."

Differences in madhab

for example, in the mughalazah filth category, there is no clear explanantion in Quran and Hadith- all of Imam sect 4 (except Imam Shafi'i) says pig feces belong in mid(muthawasitah) related to its bodyparts and droppings, while Shafi’i described it as mughalazah. In this case the scholars based on their knowledge that had to endeavor to formulate a legal basis (takhrij, instinbat,qiyas). But they respect the views of other imams. Imam sect 4 is among the four mujtahid scholars mutlaq (this should be another explanation about ijtihad).

1. Shafi'i school of thought: rake head is self-sufficient with a few levels in which the act is said to be a broom. (For example, just sweep the ubun2 and about 3 strands of hair would suffice).

2. Hanafi opinion: shall apply only ¼ (one fourth) of the head (eg a sweep rate with the palm of the hand to the head)

3. Hanbali also believes: it is swept by leveling air to all parts of the head. (For example, by washing hands and sweep both of the ubun2 and pulled up to the back of the head).

Scholars differ on the law touching the skin AJNABI women (lawful marriage), would nullify ablution?

According to Shafi, the legal void in absolute terms (without conditions). This includes a wife of his own.

Maliki: Touching the skin of women ajanabi cancel the ablution if the purpose of `talazzuz '(best-delicious), or get a taste when touching.

Hanafi: Touching the skin of women AJNABI absolutely not cancel, either with a view talazzuz or feel it when touched.