Four Imams in Islam
The Four Imams And Their Schools are Imaam Abu Hanifa (R.A) - Imaam Malik (R.A) - Imaam Al Shafi (R.A)- Imaam Ahmad Bin Hambal (R.A).
Four Imams - History of 4 imams of Islam
The Four Imams are considered to be the most prominent figures in the history of Islamic scholarship and jurisprudence. They are known for their vast knowledge, wisdom, and contributions to the development of Islamic law and theology. The Four Imams are:
Imam Abu Hanifa: He lived in the 8th century and is considered the founder of the Hanafi school of Islamic jurisprudence. He was born in Kufa, Iraq and was a renowned scholar of his time, with a deep understanding of the Quran and the Hadith. He is known for his rational approach to jurisprudence and his emphasis on the use of reason and analogy in interpreting Islamic law. He was also a gifted teacher and had many students who went on to become prominent scholars in their own right.
Imam Malik: He lived in the 8th century and is considered the founder of the Maliki school of Islamic jurisprudence. He was born in Medina, Saudi Arabia and was a renowned scholar of his time, with a deep understanding of the Quran and the Hadith. He is known for his emphasis on the practices of the people of Medina, and his collection of Hadith, known as “Al-Muwatta” is considered one of the most authentic collections of Hadith. He was also a gifted teacher and had many students who went on to become prominent scholars in their own right.
Imam al-Shafi’i: He lived in the 9th century and is considered the founder of the Shafi’i school of Islamic jurisprudence. He was born in Gaza, Palestine and was a renowned scholar of his time, with a deep understanding of the Quran and the Hadith. He is known for his emphasis on the use of textual evidence in interpreting Islamic law and his work on the principles of Islamic jurisprudence, known as “Al-Risala”. He was also a gifted teacher and had many students who went on to become prominent scholars in their own right.
Imam Ahmad ibn Hanbal: He lived in the 9th century and is considered the founder of the Hanbali school of Islamic jurisprudence. He was born in Baghdad, Iraq and was a renowned scholar of his time, with a deep understanding of the Quran and the Hadith. He is known for his emphasis on the Hadith, and his collection of Hadith, known as “Musnad Ahmad ibn Hanbal” is considered one of the most authentic collections of Hadith. He was also a gifted teacher and had many students who went on to become prominent scholars in their own right.
These Four Imams are considered as the leading figures of Islamic scholarship and jurisprudence in their time, their teachings and methodologies have been passed down through generations and still widely followed by many Muslims today. Their works and teachings continue to be studied and referenced by scholars, jurists, and laypeople alike. Each of the Four Imams had their own unique approach to understanding and interpreting Islamic law and theology, but they all shared a deep understanding of the Quran and Hadith and an unwavering commitment to the pursuit of knowledge.
Imam Abu Hanifa is considered the founder of the Hanafi school of Islamic jurisprudence and is known for his rational approach and emphasis on the use of reason and analogy in interpreting Islamic law. He was a gifted teacher and had many students who went on to become prominent scholars in their own right. His school of thought is followed by a large number of Muslims in the world, particularly in the Indian subcontinent, Central Asia, and Turkey. Imam Malik, the founder of the Maliki school of Islamic jurisprudence is known for his emphasis
Imaam Abu Hanifa (R.A)
Numaan Bin Thaabit (R.A) was the First Imaam of Fiqh. His name was Abu Hanifa, and his title included “Imaam e Azam”. He was born in Iraq in 80 A.H. Imaam e Azam (R.A.) met the companions of the Prophet (S.A.W.) and is counted amongst the rank of “Tabii” (the name given to a person who has seen a Sahabi).
Imaam e Azam Abu Hanifa (R.A.) was renowned for his sharp mind, discipline and integrity of character. He was the first who compiled and classified ‘ilm al-fiqh, and He (R.A.) gathered the information for each branch of knowledge. More than half of the Muslims today follow the Hanafi School.
During His (R.A.) last Hajj, He performed two Rakats, reciting the entire Quran while praying, and then went into the Kaaba and did the same thing again. Then, weeping, he invoked, “O my Allah, I have not been able to worship you in a manner worthy of you. Please accept the bad quality of my service as a punishment for my negligence Please forgive the faults in my work.
At that moment, a voice was heard, “O Abu Hanifa! You have acknowledged Me very well and have served Me beautifully. I have forgiven you and those who will be in your Madhab and follow you until the world’s end.” Imam e Azam (R.A.) passed away in 150 AH in Baghdad. His Janazah Prayer was offered six times. In the first congregation, 50,000 people participated. He was so popular that the people kept offering the Janazah prayer for 20 days after his death.
Imaam Malik (R.A)
Abu Abdullah, Malik bin Anas (R.A) was the Second Imaam of Fiqh. He was born in Medina Shareef in 93 A.H. (715 AD). His ancestral home was in Yemen, but his grandfather settled in Medina after embracing Islam. Imaam Malik’s followers and disciples developed a Fiqh school based on his books, which became known as the Maliki School of Thought. Malikis are primarily found in North and West Africa – Tunis, Algeria, Morocco and Egypt. Imaam Malik (R.A) was a very pious man of independent character. He made unbiased decisions and never bowed to political authorities.
Imaam (R.A.) spent 55 years studying Fiqh and Hadith. He was regarded as the most authentic scholar of Hadith and Hadith literature.
Imaam (R.A.) once lived on herbs and roots for three days; he had to sell the beams of his house to pay for his education. He (R.A.) used to say that “one cannot attain the heights of intellectual glory, unless faced with poverty. Poverty is the real test of man; it awakens in him the hidden energies and enables him to overcome all difficulties”.
Sheikh Suyuti (R.A.) has given a list of ninety-five Sheikhs from whom Imaam Malik (R.A) learnt Hadith and Fiqh. He said: “I did not start to give lectures in Fiqh and Hadith until I was declared eligible to do so by seventy teachers of Hadith and Fiqh.” Imaam Malik (R.A) Passed away in 179AH and is buried in Janath ul Baqi, Madina Shareef.
Imaam Al Shafi (R.A)
Muhammad Bin Idris (R.A) was the Third Imaam of Fiqh. He was famously known as “Imaam Shafi”. He was born in Gaza, Syria, in 150 AH. The lineage of Imaam Shafi (R.A) joined with our Beloved Prophet Mohammed (S.A.W) at the 7th Step, this being the Hashimi family of Quraish. Imaam Shafi (R.A) possessed a very sharp memory.
He became Hafiz of the Quran at the age of 7, and at 13, he memorized the whole of KITABUL-MUATTA of Imam Malik (R.A).
He was 20 years old when he went to Medina Shareef and became a student of Imam Malik (R.A). He also contacted about 81 Sheikhs from whom he acquired knowledge of the Quran and Hadith. Baghdad and Cairo were the leading centres of Imaam Shafi’s (R.A) activities. It is from these two cities that the teachings of the Shafi School spread.
Imaam Shafi (R.A) was an extremely generous personality who gave away all he possessed to the poor and needy on numerous occasions. He never swallowed an unlawful piece of food in his entire life. He never at any time performed Jumma without Ghusal.
Imaam Ghazali (R.A) has quoted Imaam Shafi (R.A) as saying: “I haven’t taken food with satisfaction for the last 16 years, as a full stomach makes the body heavy, makes the heart hard, increases sleep and renders a man lazy for Worship”.
Imaam Shafi (R.A) passed away in the Year 204 AH and was buried in Egypt.
Imaam Ahmad Bin Hambal (R.A)
Ahmed bin Muhammad Hanbal was the Last of the Four Imam of Fiqh. He was known as ibn Hanbal. He was born in the city of Baghdad in the year 780 AD. Imaam ibn Hanbal (R.A) studied various subjects in his hometown and travelled far in search of knowledge. He was mainly interested in acquiring knowledge of the Hadith traditions of the Holy Prophet (S.A.W).
He travelled widely through Iraq, Syria, Arabia and other countries of the Middle East, studying religion and collecting traditions of the Holy Prophet (S.A.W). His (R.A)’s fame spread far and wide. His learning, piousness and constant Faithfulness to traditions gathered many disciples and admirers.
Amongst the work of Imaam Ibn Hanbal (R.A) is the great encyclopaedia of Traditions called Musnad, containing over 28,000 traditions. His other works include Kitab-us-Salaat (the Discipline of Prayer) and Kitab-us-Sunnah (the Traditions of the Prophet (S.A.W).
The Hanbali School of Thought is the smallest group of the Four Sunni Madhabs. Hanbali is primarily found in the Middle East countries. Imaam Ahmed Bin Hanbal (R.A) became ill in 855 AD. He performed proper ablution and kept on invoking Almighty Allah (S.W.T).
He passed away on Friday at the age of 75 years. One hundred ten members from Banu Hashim came from the capital and offered Janazah.
Around 700,000 people offered his Janazah prayer.