Ibn Abi Zayd al-Qayrawani and Ar-Risalah

Abu Muhammad Abd Allah ibn Abi Zayd al-Qayrawani (d. 386 AH / 996 CE) was the leading Maliki scholar of the fourth century AH and one of the most important figures in the transmission and development of the Maliki school in North Africa. Born in Kairouan, he spent his entire scholarly career in that city, receiving his education from the scholars who had studied under the students of Sahnun and through them connected to the earliest generation of Maliki transmitters.

Ibn Abi Zayd al-Qayrawani authored numerous works across various Islamic disciplines, but his most famous and enduring contribution is Ar-Risalah fi ma Yajibu an Yu'allam min al-Din — 'The Epistle on What Must Be Known of the Religion.' Composed as a concise introduction to both Islamic belief and practice, Ar-Risalah begins with a statement of creed before moving to the legal obligations of ritual practice. This combination of aqeedah and fiqh in a single introductory text reflects the classical understanding that right action requires right belief as its foundation.

The work's title describes it as an 'epistle' (risalah) — a letter — because it was originally composed for educational purposes, possibly as a letter of instruction to a student or community. This format gives the work a direct, personal quality: Ibn Abi Zayd is explaining to his reader what they need to know to be a practicing Muslim, not writing a legal reference for scholars. This pedagogical character made Ar-Risalah one of the most widely used introductory texts in Islamic education across North Africa and West Africa.

Ibn Abi Zayd earned the honorific 'the Little Malik' (Malik as-Saghir) in recognition of his authority in the Maliki school. Like Imam Malik himself, he combined mastery of hadith with deep knowledge of Maliki jurisprudence and a strong attachment to the practice of Medina as a legal source. His creed section, which opens Ar-Risalah, reflects the Maliki school's traditional Athari inclination in theological matters.

The commentary tradition on Ar-Risalah is extensive, reflecting the text's foundational importance in Maliki education. Among the most important commentaries are those of Abu al-Hasan al-Shadhili, al-Azhari, and others who expanded the text's brief statements into detailed explanations. These commentaries have ensured that Ar-Risalah remains a living teaching text rather than a historical curiosity.