AL ASHARI SCHOOL OF THEOLOGY

 *Imam Malik – Part 1*

Imam Malik is counted among both the Imams of Fiqh and Hadith. Your name is Malik, kunyah Abu Abdullah, and title Imam Dar al-Hijrah. The chain of lineage is as follows: Malik bin Anas bin Malik bin Abi Amir bin Harith. The Companion Abu Amir came from Yemen to Madinah Munawwarah and accepted Islam before the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him). Your family was respected both before and after Islam. Imam Malik was born in 93 AH, and according to one opinion, in 95 AH. Imam Malik’s education and upbringing took place in Madinah Munawwarah.

Imam Malik had a great passion for Hadith. For acquiring knowledge, he sold the beams of his house. The number of scholars from whom Imam Malik benefited reaches 900. Among them, 300 of his teachers were Tabi‘in, of whom Hazrat Nafi‘, Muhammad bin Shihab, Imam Ja‘far al-Sadiq, Muhammad bin Yahya al-Ansari, Abu Hazim Salamah bin Dinar, Yahya bin Sa‘id al-Ansari, and Rabi‘ah are especially notable. Imam Malik would attend the gathering of Rabi‘ah, acquire knowledge and etiquette from him, and would write down the teacher’s instruction. In Hadith, he especially benefited from Hazrat Nafi‘ al-Madani. Hazrat Nafi‘ was the freed slave of Hazrat Abdullah ibn Umar and his academic heir. The hadiths that Imam Malik narrated from the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) through Nafi‘ and Ibn Umar are called _Silsilat al-Dhahab_, i.e., the “Golden Chain,” because in it there are only a Sahabi and a Tabi‘i.

In his book _Al-Muwatta_, Imam Malik narrated very few reports from Hazrat Ali and Hazrat Abdullah ibn Abbas. He gave the reason that these two were not in his city of Madinah, and he could not meet their students.

After obtaining certification of competence in religious knowledge, especially Hadith, from the virtuous scholars of Madinah Munawwarah, Imam Malik began teaching Hadith and Fiqh in Masjid an-Nabawi in 117 AH. Most of his life was spent in Madinah Munawwarah in the service of knowledge. For teaching, Imam Sahib would sit to narrate Hadith with great etiquette, respect, and care: in a state of wudu, wearing fine clothes, and applying perfume. The number of those who benefited from him is said to be more than 1,300, among whom were great Muhaddithin, jurists, and scholars — for example, Imam Shafi‘i, Imam Muhammad [bin al-Hasan al-Shaybani], Abdul Aziz, Ibrahim, and Qadi Hamdan.

He always made Masjid an-Nabawi his place of teaching, but in his later years, due to illness and weakness, he made his home the center. Imam Malik holds a great position in Fiqh. He is a Muhaddith and also a Mujtahid. Maliki Fiqh spread after the Arabs to Andalus, and is prevalent in Africa, Malik [likely Mali], and parts of Arabia.[Spain]

Imam Malik’s method was that to resolve an issue, he would reflect on the Qur’an and Sunnah. After that, he would take as a foundation whatever was practiced in Madinah or among the people of Madinah, because the last part of the Prophet’s life was spent in Madinah and his Sunnah was current among its people. Then he would base rulings on _maslahah mursalah_, i.e., public interest issues. According to Imam Sahib, the primary sources are the Qur’an, Sunnah, and the practice of Madinah.

The extent of Imam Sahib’s caution was such that he did not sit on the seat of Fiqh until 70 scholars had testified to his competence and excellence.