The Opinion is Held by the Imam Malik

Abstract

The significance of this research lies in studying the topic of "Opinion According to Imam Malik", an essential aspect of Islamic jurisprudence and its relationship with the schools of tradition (al-athar) and reasoning (al-ra'y). Many scholars perceive Imam Malik, the scholar of Hejaz, as a traditionalist (athari) belonging to the Hejazi school of tradition. At the same time, some others consider him among the pioneers of the reasoning school (madrasat al-ra'y). This raises the question: Was Imam Malik a scholar of tradition, a scholar of reasoning, or a master of both? The study concludes with several key findings, including:

1. Imam Malik (may Allah have mercy on him) was born in the year 93 AH in Madinah, according to the most authentic reports, to Arab parents. He did not leave Madinah to seek knowledge, as people from far and wide would travel to benefit from his scholarship.
2. Scholars praised him highly, placing him above others. It is believed that the Prophet’s statement, "Soon, people will travel to seek knowledge, and they will find no scholar greater than the scholar of Madinah", refers specifically to Imam Malik.
3. Imam Malik’s teachers numbered over nine hundred, and his students were so numerous that they could not be counted