Malik ibn Anas

Not to be confused with Anas ibn Malik.

Islamic scholar Mālik ibn Anas
Title	Imam of the Abode of Emigration
Born	711 CE/93 AH Medina
Died	795 CE/179 AH (aged 83-84) Medina
Ethnicity	Arab
Region	Saudi Arabia
Maddhab	Sunnah
Main interests	Hadith, Fiqh
Notable ideas	Maliki madhhab
Works	Al-Muwatta, Mudawana
Influences	Jaʿfar ibn Muhammad al-Sādiq, Abu Suhail an-Nafi, Hisham ibn Urwah, Ibn Shihab al-Zuhri
Influenced	Al-Shafi`i

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Mālik ibn Anas ibn Malik ibn 'Āmr al-Asbahi (Arabic مالك بن أنس) (c. 711 – 795) (93 AH – 179 AH ) is known as "Imam Malik," the "Sheikh of Islam", the "Proof of the Community," and "Imam of the Abode of Emigration." ^[1] He was one of the most highly respected scholars of fiqh in Sunni Islam. Imam Shafi`i, who was one of Malik's students for nine years and a scholarly giant in his own right, stated, "when scholars are mentioned, Malik is the star."^[2] The Maliki Madhab, named after Malik, is one of the four schools of jurisprudence that are followed by Sunni Muslims to this day.

Biography

His full name was Abu Abdullah Mālik ibn Anas ibn Mālik Ibn Abī 'Āmir Ibn 'Amr Ibnul-Hārith Ibn Ghaimān Ibn Khuthail Ibn 'Amr Ibnul-Haarith.

Malik was born the son of Anas ibn Malik (not the Sahabi) and Aaliyah bint Shurayk al-Azdiyya in Medina circa 711. His family was originally from the al-Asbahi tribe of Yemen, but his great grandfather Abu 'Amir relocated the family to Medina after converting to Islam in the second year after hijra (623). According to Al-Muwatta, he was tall, heavyset, imposing of stature, very fair, with white hair and beard but bald, with a huge beard and blue eyes.^[1]

Teachers

Living in Medina gave Malik access to some of the most learned minds of early Islam. He memorized the Quran in his youth, learning recitation from Imam Abu Suhail Nafi' ibn 'Abd ar-Rahman, from whom he also received his Sanad, or certification and permission to teach others. He studied under various famed scholars including Hisham ibn Urwah, Ibn Shihab al-Zuhri, and—along with Imam Abu Hanifa, the founder of the Hanafi Sunni Madh'hab--under the 6th Shiite Imam Jafar al Sadiq^[3] This fact may explain the mutual respect and relative peace that has often existed between the Hanafi and Maliki Sunnis, on one hand, and the Shias on the other.

Golden Chain of Narration

Imam Malik's chain of narrators was considered the most authentic and called Silsilat ul-Zhahab or "The Golden Chain of Narrators" by notable hadith scholars including Imam Bukhari.^[4] The 'Golden Chain' of narration (i.e., that considered by the scholars of Hadith to be the most authentic) consists of Malik, who narrated from Nafi', who narrated from ibn Umar, who narrated from Muhammad.

Views

Reluctance in rendering religious verdicts

Malik took advantage of the fact that he was contemporary to many of the Tabi‘in to formulate his school of thought, which gave precedence to the acts of the people of Medina over the Hadith if they were in conflict. This was done due to the sizeable amount of scholars, and companions of Muhammad residing in the city where Malik's reputation grew immensely. Malik nevertheless showed hesitancy in issuing religious verdicts explaining in one of his more famous statements that:

The shield of the scholar is, 'I do not know,' so if he neglects it, his statement is attacked.^[5]

Textualist interpretation of hadith on God's attributes

Malik adhered to a textual interpretation of hadith in relation to God's attributes. Ad-Daraqutnee relates that Malik was asked about the attributes of Allah, to which Malik answered, "Pass them on as they come."^[6] Furthermore, Qadi Iyad relates that Malik was asked whether people would be looking toward Allah given the narration, "And some faces shall be shining and radiant upon that day, looking at their Lord." Malik ensuingly answered, "Yes, with these two eyes of his," though his student replied, "there are a people who say he will not be looking at Allah, that 'looking' means a reward" to which Malik answered, "They lied, rather they will look at Allah."

Opposition to bid'ah or innovation in beliefs

Malik was vehemently opposed to bid'ah and even directed others not to extend the Islamic greeting of Salam to the people of bidah, stating, "how evil are the People of Innuendo, we do not give them felicitations."^[7] Malik explained that "he who establishes an innovation in Islam regarding it as something good, has claimed that Muhammad has betrayed his trust to deliver the message as God says, 'this day have I perfected for you your religion'. And whatsoever was not part of the religion then, is not part of the religion today."^[8]

Prohibiting Kalam

Malik sternly prohibited theological rhetoric and philosophical speech, frequently referred to as kalam.^[9] Malik believed that Kalam was rooted in heretical doctrines taken up and followed by controversial theologians such as Jahm bin Safwan.^[10] When asked about an individual who delved into Kalam, Malik answered, "He establishes his innuendo with kalaam, and if kalaam had been knowledge, the Companions and the tabi'in would have spoken about it, just as they spoke about the rules and regulations.^[11]

Controversy

Despite his reluctance to render religious verdicts, Malik was outspoken. He issued fatwas against being forced to pledge allegiance to the Caliph Al-Mansur, and received a flogging for his stance. Al-Mansur apologized to Malik, and offered him money and residence in Baghdad, but Malik refused to leave the city of Prophet Muhammad. Later, Harun al-Rashid asked Malik to visit him while Harun was performing the hajj. The Imam refused, and instead he invited the new caliph to his class.

Death

Imam Malik died at the age of 84 in Medina in 795 and is buried in the famous Jannat ul-Baqi cemetery across from the Masjid al Nabawi. Malik's last words were related by one Isma'il Ibn Abi Uways who said, "Malik became sick, so I asked some of our people about what he said at the time of his death. They said, `He recited the shahadah (testification of faith), then he recited:

Their affair is for Allah, before and after.^[12]

Works

Imam Malik wrote Al-Muwatta, "The Approved," which was said to have been regarded by Imam Shafi'i to be the soundest book on Earth after the Qur'an.

• Al-Muwatta
• Al-Mudawwana al-Kubra

Quotes

"The reform of the later generations of this Ummah will take place in the same way as reformed its earlier generations." taken from Islahi Khutbat (Discourse on Islamic Way of Life)

See also

• Taba Taba'een
• Salaf

References

1. ^ ^{a b} "Malik ibn Anas ibn Malik ibn `Amr, al-Imam, Abu `Abd Allah al-Humyari al-Asbahi al-Madani". Sunnah.org. http://www.sunnah.org/publication/khulafa_rashideen/malik.htm. Retrieved 2010-04-10. 
2. ^ "The Life and Times of Malik ibn Anas". Islaam.Com. http://www.islaam.com/Article.aspx?id=530. Retrieved 2010-04-10. 
3. ^ "– Topics". Muslimheritage.com. 2005-01-04. http://muslimheritage.com/topics/default.cfm?ArticleID=471. Retrieved 2010-04-10. 
4. ^ ""Imaam Maalik ibn Anas" by Hassan Ahmad, ''‘Al Jumuah’ Magazine'' Volume 11 – Issue 9". Sunnahonline.com. http://www.sunnahonline.com/ilm/seerah/0041.htm. Retrieved 2010-04-10. 
5. ^ Al-Intiqaa, pg. 38
6. ^ as-Siffat, pg.75
7. ^ al-Ibaanah of ibn Battah, no.441
8. ^ al-I'tisaam
9. ^ Dhammul-Kalaam (qaaf/173/alif)
10. ^ Jaami' Bayaanul-Ilm wa Fadlihi (p. 415)
11. ^ Dhammul-Kalaam (qaaf/173/baa)
12. ^ Quran 30:4

External links

• Life of Imam Malik
• Biography of Imam Malik
• A comprehensive Biography of Imam Malik
• Al-Muwatta' of Imam Malik
• Muslims of Norwich A Maliki community

Persondata
Name	Malik Ibn Anas
Alternative names
Short description
Date of birth	711
Place of birth
Date of death	795
Place of death