Imam Malik bin Anas - Biography

Imam Malik bin Anas (93 AH - 179 AH)

Name and Lineage
His name was Malik, his title was Abu Abdullah, and he was the Imam of Darul-Hijrah. His father's name was Anas. He belonged to the famous Yemeni tribe of Hamir bin Saba, which was descended from Yarab bin Kahtan. According to some, Imam Malik's family was of Mawali descent. His mother's name was Alia bintSharik bin Abdur-Rahman, who belonged to the Azd tribe. Imam Malik was born in 93 AH in Jurf, Medina, at Qasr al-Maqad.
Imam Malik was tall and handsome. Abu Asim states that he never saw a more handsome muhaddith than Imam Malik. Isa bin Umar Madani mentions that he never saw anything red or white on Imam Malik’s face and his clothes were always white. He was very particular about cleanliness and purity in his attire.

Raised in a Religious Environment
Medina was the place of the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) and the seat of the first Islamic state. During the Umayyad period, Medina maintained its educational status, serving as a reference point for scholars, with a large number of followers of the Sahabah. Imam Malik was raised in this great city.
Imam Malik grew up in a family of scholars who were dedicated to gathering and preserving the Sunnah, Hadith, and fatwas. His grandfather was one of the great followers and scholars who narrated Hadiths from Hazrat Umar, HazratUsman, HazratTalha, and Hazrat Aisha. While his father was not as famous, Imam Malik, like his ancestors, was engaged in studying Hadith and memorizing fatwas. He also inherited some knowledge of Hadith and fatwas from his predecessors.

Business
His father earned his livelihood by archery, and his brother Nazar was involved in the clothing business, where Imam Malik helped his brother. Anas bin Ayyaz states that once, Rabi'a and Imam Malik were sitting with them in a gathering, and Imam Malik was recognized as Nazar’s brother. However, when Imam Malik entered the field of knowledge and achieved a high rank, people began to call Nazar "Nazar, the brother of Imam Malik."

Early Education and Teachers
Imam Malik received religious training according to the Islamic tradition. He memorized the Holy Quran in his childhood and learned to read with proper pronunciation and Tajweed from the famous reader Abu RidaimNafe’ bin AbdurRahman. He then became interested in memorizing Hadith, which he discussed with his mother. She encouraged him to study knowledge, saying, "Go to Rabi’a and learn knowledge before you learn literature and poetry."
Thus, he studied Hadith and jurisprudence under the famous MuhaddithRabi'a al-Ra'i, who was known for memorizing Hadith. Imam Malik also benefited from the gatherings of the renowned scholar and Muhaddith Abu DawoodAbdurRahman bin Harmuz. Imam Malik recalls that one day his respected father asked him and his brother a question. His brother gave the correct answer, but Imam Malik could not. His father said, "By visiting elders, you have become ignorant." This upset him, and he studied under IbnHarmuz for seven years.

Imam Malik was particularly influenced by IbnHarmuz. He learned to openly say, "I do not know," when he was unsure of something. Imam Malik says, "I heard IbnHarmuz say that it is necessary for a scholar to admit what he does not know in front of his audience." Hisham bin Jamil narrates that he asked Imam Malik forty questions, and in response, Imam Malik said, "I do not know" to thirty-two of them. Khalid bin Khudash also mentions that he asked Imam Malik forty questions, and only five received answers.

Imam Malik also studied under the famous saint HazratSafwan bin Salim. Once, HazratSafwan saw himself looking into a mirror in a dream and asked Imam Malik to interpret it. Imam Malik said, "It is surprising that a great saint like you is asking me for an interpretation." Imam Malik interpreted the dream as indicating that Safwan was preparing for his future and striving for closeness to Allah. Safwan was pleased with the interpretation and said, "Today, you are 'Mawlik' (a person of great stature), and if you live long, you will become a 'Master.' When you become a master, adopt the purity of Allah, otherwise you will perish." Imam Malik states, "People used to call me Mawlik." When Safwan bin Salim asked him a question, he addressed him for the first time as "Abu Abdullah."

Imam Malik also received knowledge from IbnShahab al-Zuhri. He made sure to never miss an opportunity to learn from Imam Zuhri. Even on Eid day, he went to Imam Zuhri’s house and asked for Hadith instead of food. Imam Zuhri narrated seventeen Hadiths, and Imam Malik immediately memorized them. Imam Zuhri later wrote forty Hadiths, stating that if Imam Malik could memorize them, he would be counted among the scholars.

Precaution in Issuing Fatwas
Imam Malik began issuing fatwas at the age of seventeen, following the lives of his teachers. IbnMunjir mentions that Imam Malik began issuing fatwas during the lifetimes of Nafe’ and Zayd bin Aslam. Imam Malik himself stated, "I did not issue fatwas until seventy scholars testified that I was qualified to do so." Khalaf bin Umar reports that Imam Malik said, "I would issue a fatwa only when I asked if anyone knew more than me. I would ask Rabi'a and Yahya bin Said, and they would give me permission. If they had refused, I would have stopped." Imam Malik also said, "I am just a human being. You should consider my opinion and accept what is in accordance with Allah’s book and Sunnah. If something goes against them, leave it."

Teaching in the Prophet’s Mosque
Imam Malik began teaching in the Prophet's Mosque after completing his education. Due to illness, he continued teaching from his home. His sessions were conducted with great respect and seriousness. Waqidi describes his gatherings as dignified, where there was no talk of arrogance or pride. When someone would ask a question, there would be complete silence, and Imam Malik would answer in such a way that it was not known where the answer came from.
Imam Malik’s classroom had a special structure. Hassan bin Rabi’a mentions that he visited Imam Malik’s house and saw that only people from Hijaz were allowed to enter first, then people from Syria, Iraq, and other regions followed. One time, when Harun al-Rashid came to Medina and requested to hear the Muwatta, Imam Malik responded by saying that he would teach the next day. Harun waited for him, but Imam Malik stayed in his house. When Harun inquired about the delay, Imam Malik replied, "People come to seek knowledge; knowledge does not come to them." Imam Malik also told Harun that if knowledge were reserved for the elite, it would no longer benefit even them.

Relations with Kings
Imam Malik maintained good relations with all the kings, aiming only to prevent any disorder and to advise them to follow justice and fairness. He would often visit cruel rulers, as he believed it was necessary to speak the truth to them. Once, someone asked him why he visited harsh rulers so often, to which he responded, "If I do not speak the truth to them, then to whom will I speak?" Imam Malik emphasized, "Every Muslim, or anyone whom Allah has granted knowledge, should advise a king to do good and prevent him from doing evil."

Imam Malik's Imprisonment and Punishment
During the reign of Abu Jafar al-Mansur, the Alawites led by Muhammad bin Abdullah Nafs al-Zakiyyah rebelled. Imam Malik issued a fatwa that forced divorce should not be allowed, which was interpreted by his enemies as a sign of his political stance. As a result, Imam Malik was flogged seventy times and paraded on a camel. Afterward, he returned to the Prophet's Mosque and prayed two rakats. Upon hearing of this, Harun al-Rashid later apologized and sought forgiveness for the incident.

Death
Imam Malik passed away in 179 AH. He fell ill on Sunday and after suffering for 28 days, he passed away on 10th Rabi al-Awwal at the age of 87. The Amir of Medina, Abd al-Aziz bin Muhammad bin Ibrahim Hashimi, led his funeral prayer. A large crowd gathered for his funeral, something unprecedented since the deaths of Abu Bakr and Umar. Imam Malik’s sons were Yahya, Muhammad, and a daughter, Fatimah. In the same year, Harun al-Rashid went on Hajj and met Imam Malik’s son Yahya, giving him five hundred dinars.

Students
Imam Malik continued to teach Hadith and Fiqh for 62 years. Students from all over the Islamic world considered it a blessing to study under him. His students came from places like Medina, Mecca, Sanaa, Aden, Ta'if, Hadramaout, Syria, Iraq, Kufa, Basra, Baghdad, and even distant regions like Khurasan, Transoxiana, and North Africa. Among his famous students were Sufyan al-Thawri, Imam Shafi’i, Yahya bin Said Qattan, Ibn Mubarak, and many others.