al-Shafi'i

Muhammad ibn Idris al-Shafi'i (c. 150–204 AH / c. 767–820 CE) is remembered as the eponym of the Shafi'i madhhab (school of law) and as a pivotal figure in the development of usul al-fiqh, the theory of how Islamic law is derived. Traditional sources say he was born in Gaza (some place his birth at nearby Ascalon) and, after his father's early death, was raised in poverty in Mecca, where he memorized the Qur'an and trained in poetry, language, and law. He is reported to have studied under Malik ibn Anas in Medina, the leading jurist of the Hijaz, until Malik's death in 179 AH/795 CE.

His career then took a political turn: he served in administration in the Yemen and, around 803 CE, was reportedly arrested on suspicion of pro-Alid sympathies and brought before the caliph Harun al-Rashid, escaping punishment. He went on to study in Baghdad with al-Shaybani, a leading exponent of Abu Hanifa's circle. Late in life he settled in Fustat (Old Cairo), where he revised his teachings into what later followers called his "new doctrine."

His treatise al-Risala is widely regarded as the earliest systematic discussion of legal sources. Later tradition credits him with elevating prophetic hadith over local custom and with framing law around four roots: the Qur'an, the Sunna, consensus (ijma), and analogy (qiyas) — though scholars note the Risala itself emphasizes the first two. He died in Fustat in 204 AH/820 CE.