Al-Shafi'i
Awards & Honours
0
Awards Won
3
Honours
1
Rankings
2
Records
Imam al-Shafi'i stands as a monumental figure in human history, uniquely credited with founding the science of Islamic legal theory. He is one of the four Great Imams of Sunni Islam, a distinction shared only by Abu Hanifa, Malik, and Ahmad ibn Hanbal. His work al-Risala remains the foundational text for understanding how Islamic law derives its rules. The Shafi'i school he founded continues to be the primary legal framework for hundreds of millions of Muslims across Egypt, Southeast Asia, and East Africa. His intellectual honesty in revising his own views upon moving to Egypt set a lasting example for scholars everywhere.
Honours & Distinctions
Shaykh al-Islam
Title granted during his lifetime recognizing his supreme authority in jurisprudence.
Visitor Center at Mausoleum
Official inauguration of a visitor center at his tomb in Cairo.
Eponymous Legal School
Establishment of the Shafi'i school, one of the four major Sunni madhhabs.
Rankings & Lists
Four Great Imams of Sunni Islam
Records & Feats
First Systematic Treatise on Usul al-Fiqh
Authored al-Risala, the first book to systematically codify the principles of Islamic jurisprudence.
Youngest Student of Imam Malik
Became a student of Imam Malik at age thirteen, impressing the elder scholar with his intellect.