Malik ibn Anas

Background

Malik ibn Anas was born around 711 A. D. in Medina.

Career

Few details are known about Malik ibn Anas’ life, most of which was spent in the city of Medina. He became learned in Islāmic law and attracted a considerable number of students, his followers coming to be known as the Mālikī school of law. His prestige involved him in politics, and he was rash enough to declare during a rebellion that loyalty to the caliph was not a religious necessity, since homage to him had been given under compulsion. The caliph, however, was victorious, and Mālik received a flogging for his complicity. This only increased his prestige, and during later years he regained favour with the central government.

Mālik ibn Anas produced one major book—the Muwaṭṭaʾ. This is the oldest surviving compendium of Islāmic law.

Malik ibn Anas died around 795 A. D. , in Medina, at the age of 85 and was buried in the famous Jannat ul-Baqi cemetery across from the Mosque of the Prophet.

Achievements

• Malik ibn Anas was an influential legist who played an important role in formulating early Islāmic legal doctrines.

Views

Quotations: "Knowledge is not to be taken from four types of people: a foolish person who openly acts foolish, even if he reports the most narrations; an adherent of bid'ah who calls to his desires; a person who lies, even if I don't accuse him of lying in hadith; and a righteous pious worshiper who does not accurately retain what he narrates. "

Personality

Malik ibn Anas was tall, heavy-set, imposing of stature, very fair, with white beard and blue eyes. He always wore beautiful clothes, especially (those that were) white.

Connections

Father:

Anas ibn Malik

Mother:

Aaliyah bint Shurayk al-Azdiyy