Sufyan al-Thawri

Abu Abd Allah Sufyan ibn Sa'id ibn Masruq al-Thawri al-Kufi was the greatest scholar of Kufa in the 2nd century AH, combining mastery of hadith with deep knowledge of Islamic law. He briefly founded his own legal school (the Thawri madhab), which survived for about two centuries. Imam al-Shafi'i said: 'If it were not for Malik and Sufyan al-Thawri, knowledge would have disappeared.' He was known for his deep piety and his flight from worldly power — he refused a judgeship and went into hiding to avoid it. He died in Basra in 161 AH.