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