Ibn Abi Laila

Malik ibn Anas al-Asbahi al-Madani was the founder of the Maliki school of jurisprudence and one of the most eminent scholars in Islamic history. Born in Medina around 93–97 AH, he lived and taught there his entire life. He studied under the greatest scholars of his generation including Nafi mawla Ibn Umar, Ibn Shihab al-Zuhri, Yahya ibn Sa'id al-Ansari, and Rabi'a al-Ra'y. He compiled the Muwatta — the first systematic written collection of hadith and Islamic legal practice — which the Caliph Harun al-Rashid reportedly considered making the law of the entire Islamic state. Imam al-Shafi'i said: 'When scholars are mentioned, Malik is the star.' He was deeply devoted to Medina and its scholarly tradition and regarded the practice of its people as an authoritative source of Islamic law alongside explicit hadith. He was physically present in Medina throughout his life and refused to leave it even when invited by caliphs. He passed away in Medina in 179 AH.