15 Facts About Al-Shafi'i

Al-Shafi'i is known to be the first to write a book upon the principles of Islamic jurisprudence, having authored one of the earliest work on the subject: al-Risala.

Al-Shafi'i later resided in Medina, Yemen, Baghdad in Iraq, and Egypt, and served as a judge for some time in Najran.

Al-Shafi'i belonged to the Qurayshi clan of Banu Muttalib, which was the sister clan of the Banu Hashim, to which Muhammad and the Abbasid caliphs belonged.

Al-Shafi'i's father died in Sham while he was still a child.

Al-Shafi'i studied under Muslim ibn Khalid al-Zanji, the then-judge of Mecca, who is thus considered to be his first teacher.

Al-Shafi'i was authorised to issue rulings at the age of fifteen.

Al-Shafi'i moved to Medina in desire for further legal training, as was the tradition of acquiring knowledge.

Al-Shafi'i proved to be a just administrator but soon became entangled with factional jealousies.

Al-Shafi'i traveled to Baghdad to study with Abu Hanifah's acolyte al-Shaybani and others.

Al-Shafi'i eventually left Baghdad for Mecca in 804 CE, possibly because of complaints by Hanafi followers to al-Shaybani that al-Shafi'i had become somewhat critical of al-Shaybani's position during their disputes.

Al-Shafi'i was buried in the vault of the Banu Abd al-Hakam, near Mokattam.

The Shafi'i school, one of the four Sunni schools of Islamic jurisprudence, known as madhhabs, is named for Al-Shafi'i, who is credited setting up the framework of Islamic jurisprudence by establishing the relative importance order of its different sources as follows:.

Al-Shafi'i influence was such that he changed the use of the term Sunnah, "until it invariably meant only the Sunnah of the Prophet".

Al-Shafi'i was part of those early traditionalist theologians who strongly opposed i'tizal and criticised the speculative theologians for abandoning the Qur'an and sunna through their adoption of Greek philosophy in metaphysics.

Al-Shafi'i authored more than 100 books, but few survived to this day.