Shafi'i School

Mainstream

الشافعية

Overview

One of the four major Sunni schools of jurisprudence founded by Imam al-Shafi'i (767–820 CE). Imam al-Shafi'i is widely regarded as the founder of Islamic legal theory (usul al-fiqh), having systematized the sources of Islamic law in his landmark work al-Risalah. Predominant in East Africa, Southeast Asia, Egypt, the Levant, and parts of the Arabian Peninsula.

Key Beliefs

  • Following Quran, Sunnah, Ijma, and Qiyas — the four sources of al-Shafi'i's legal theory
  • The Sunnah must be authenticated before use as a legal source
  • Strict criteria for the use of Qiyas compared to the Hanafi school
  • Systematized distinction between Makki and Madani jurisprudence

Scholarly Evaluation

One of the four accepted madhabs of Ahl us-Sunnah. Imam al-Shafi'i's al-Risalah (c. 820 CE) is the foundational text of Islamic legal theory. He studied under Imam Malik and was himself a teacher of Imam Ahmad ibn Hanbal.

Key Figures

  • Imam al-Shafi'i (767–820 CE)
  • Al-Muzani (791–878 CE)
  • Al-Nawawi (1233–1277 CE)
  • Ibn Hajar al-Asqalani (1372–1449 CE)

Sources

  • Al-Risalah (al-Shafi'i)
  • Al-Umm (al-Shafi'i)
  • Al-Majmu' Sharh al-Muhadhdhab (al-Nawawi)

Parent Group

Ahl us-Sunnah wal-Jama'ah

Founder

Imam Muhammad ibn Idris al-Shafi'i

Founded

767 CE