AlShafii

Al-Shafi'i, full name Abu Abd Allah Muhammad ibn Idris al-Shafi'i (767–820 CE), was a prominent Islamic jurist and the founder of the Shafi'i school of Sunni Islamic law (madhhab). He is regarded as one of the most influential early proponents of structured legal theory in Islam, and his methodological works helped shape later Sunni jurisprudence across a broad geographic area.

Born in the late 8th century, al-Shafi'i traveled widely for education, studying in Mecca and Medina, where he is traditionally said to studied under Malik ibn Anas and other leading scholars. His intellectual development centered on reconciling Qur’anic revelation with prophetic traditions (hadith) within a coherent legal framework. He emphasized the primacy of hadith and the Qur’an as sources of law, while systematizing the use of rational deduction (qiyas) and consensus (ijma) within defined parameters.

Al-Shafi'i’s most influential contributions include his work on usul al-fiqh (the principles of jurisprudence) and major legal compendia. His short treatise al-Risala is a foundational text on usul al-fiqh, outlining methods for deriving legal rulings. His more comprehensive Al-Umm organized and presented the Shafi'i legal tradition, compiling extensive judgments and principles. His writings helped formalize a methodological approach that was later developed by successive generations of Shafi'i jurists.

The Shafi'i school spread widely, becoming one of the four major Sunni madhhabs. It gained prominence in parts of the Middle East, North Africa, Yemen, East Africa, and parts of Southeast Asia. Al-Shafi'i’s legacy endures in contemporary Islamic legal theory and in the continued study and practice of Shafi'i jurisprudence within the broader Sunni world.