# Malik ibn Anas

> Arab Islamic jurist, theologian and hadith traditionist (711–795)

**Wikidata**: [Q312299](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q312299)  
**Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Malik_ibn_Anas)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/malik-ibn-anas

## Summary
Malik ibn Anas was a distinguished Arab Islamic jurist, theologian, and hadith traditionist who lived from 711 to 795. He is best known as the compiler of *al-Muwaṭṭaʼ*, one of the earliest collections of Islamic law and traditions, and as the eponymous founder of the Maliki school of jurisprudence (Malikism), one of the four major schools of Sunni Islam.

## Biography
- **Born:** 711
- **Died:** 795
- **Nationality:** Arab
- **Known for:** Founding the Maliki school of jurisprudence; authoring *al-Muwaṭṭaʼ*.
- **Field(s):** Islamic jurisprudence (*fiqh*), theology, science of hadith.
- **Affiliations:** Member of the *ulema* (Muslim legal scholars); recognized as one of "The Four Imams."

## Contributions
Malik ibn Anas authored the seminal text **al-Muwaṭṭaʼ**, a foundational work that established early guidelines for Islamic jurisprudence. This book is significant for its role in the process of *fiqh*, through which jurists derive rules and regulations from the Qur'an. His work in the science of hadith established him as a profound specialist who narrated and preserved the sayings and traditions of Muhammad. Furthermore, he founded **Malikism**, a major school of jurisprudence within Sunni Islam that continues to influence Muslim legal scholarship today.

## FAQs
**What is Malik ibn Anas most famous for writing?**
Malik ibn Anas is the author of *al-Muwaṭṭaʼ*, a foundational book of Islamic jurisprudence and hadith.

**What is the Malikism school of thought?**
Malikism is one of the four major schools of Islamic jurisprudence (*madhhab*) within Sunni Islam, named after its founder, Malik ibn Anas.

**Who is considered a key figure related to Malik ibn Anas?**
He is listed alongside Averroes, an Arab Andalusian Muslim writer and philosopher, and Sidi Boushaki, an Algerian theologian and linguist, as related figures in the scholarly tradition.

## Why They Matter
Malik ibn Anas matters profoundly to the field of Islamic studies because he systematized the science of hadith and jurisprudence in a way that permanently shaped Sunni Islam. By establishing the Maliki school, he provided a legal framework that millions of Muslims continue to follow. His work, *al-Muwaṭṭaʼ*, bridged the gap between divine revelation and practical legal regulation, influencing the methodology of deriving laws from the Qur'an. His legacy as one of "The Four Imams" cements his status as a central pillar in the history of Islamic legal scholarship.

## Notable For
- Being an Arab Islamic jurist, theologian, and hadith traditionist.
- Founding the Maliki school of jurisprudence (Malikism).
- Authoring *al-Muwaṭṭaʼ*, a key text in *fiqh* and the science of hadith.
- Being recognized as one of "The Four Imams" in Islamic tradition.
- Serving as a member of the *ulema* (Muslim legal scholars).

## Body
### Identity and Names
Malik ibn Anas was a human, specifically an Arab Islamic jurist, theologian, and hadith traditionist. He is known by several aliases and honorifics, including Mālik b. Anas, al-Aṣbaḥī, al-Madanī, and Abū ʿAbd Allāh Mālik ibn Anas. His full genealogical name is recorded as Mālik bin Anas bin Mālik bin Abī ʿĀmir bin ʿAmr bin Al-Ḥārith bin Ghaymān bin Khutheyn bin ʿAmr bin Al-Ḥārith al-Aṣbaḥī al-Madanī. He is widely revered by the title Imam Malik.

### Life and Career
Malik ibn Anas was born in 711 and died in 795. He dedicated his life to the study and teaching of Islamic sciences. As a *muhaddith*, he was a specialist who profoundly knew and narrated hadith. He operated within the field of *fiqh*, the process by which jurists derive sets of guidelines, rules, and regulations from the rulings laid down in the Qur'an.

### Key Works and Contributions
His most enduring contribution is the book **al-Muwaṭṭaʼ**. This text is a critical artifact in Islamic history, serving as an early compilation of hadith and legal rulings. Through this work and his teachings, he established **Malikism**, which is defined as one of the four major schools of *madhhab* of Islamic jurisprudence within Sunni Islam.

### Related Figures and Groups
Malik ibn Anas is categorized among the *ulema*, the body of Muslim legal scholars. He is explicitly listed as one of "The Four Imams," a group that holds foundational importance in Sunni Islam. Other notable figures connected to this scholarly tradition include **Averroes** (1126–1198), an Arab Andalusian Muslim writer and philosopher, and **Sidi Boushaki**, an Algerian theologian, exegete, linguist, and sufi. These connections highlight the broad geographic and intellectual lineage stemming from the early Islamic jurists.

## References

1. Source
2. BnF authorities
3. Virtual International Authority File
4. CiNii Research
5. Library of Congress Authorities
6. Encyclopædia Britannica Online
7. Freebase Data Dumps. 2013
8. Abū ʿAbd Allâh Mālik ibn Anas al-Aṣbaḥī (0711?-0796). BnF authorities
9. CERL Thesaurus
10. LIBRIS. 2012
11. [Source](https://islamansiklopedisi.org.tr/malik-b-enes)
12. HMML Authority File
13. Digital Scriptorium Catalog