Name: Abu Abdullah Muhammad Ibn Idrees Shafi'ee
Arabic: ابو عبدالله محمد بن إدريس الشافعيّ
Born: 150 AH
Died: 204 AH

Imam Shafi'ee (RA) was a Muslim jurist and a descendant from the Quraish tribe. He is the Only Imam who is related to Prophet Muhsmmad (saw). Imam Shafi'ee (RA) was born in Ghazza, Syria. He lost his father during infancy and was raised by his mother under very poor circumstances. He completed Hifz of the Qur'an at the tender age of 7 years, and at the age of 13 memorized the Kitabul-Muatta of Imam Malik (ra). He spent some time among the Beduins outside Makka, to acquire a good knowledge of the Arabic language. At the age of 20, he went to Madina and became a student of Imam Malik (ra) who was greatly impressed with the young student who had memorized the Muatta. He also came into contact with other learned men (81 Shaikhs) from all of whom he acquired the knowledge of the Qur'an, Hadith and Sunnah. In 184 AH, Imam Shafi'ee was arrested and taken to Baghdad to appear before Haroon Ar-Rasheed on "trumped up" charges of treason. It was due to the recommendation of Imam Muhammad (the state Qazi and student of Imam Abu Hanifa) that Imam Shafi'ee was discharged. He was then 34 years old.Imam Shafi'ee remained in Baghdad as a student of Imam Muhammad for over three years to add further to his knowledge of Islamic Law.He returned to Makkah where he stayed for 9 years delivering lectures on Islamic Law. It was during this period that Imam Ahmad ibn Hambal came into contact with Imam Shafi'ee. In 199 A.H., he went to Egypt where he was received with much honour and respect. He remained here until his death. Imam Shafi'ee was the author of over 100 books, the most important of which is the Kitab-ul-Umm. It contains the rulings of the Imam on all subjects of Islamic Law. He left behind a large number of dedicated students in Makkah, Baghdad and Egypt.The Shafi'ee School of Thought emerged from these students who propagated the views and rulings of the Imam through their writings and preachings. Imam Shafi'ee (ra) never committed a major sin nor spoke a lie, nor did he swallow an unlawful morsel of food in his entire life. He never at any time performed Jumma without Ghusal. He was an extremely generous personality who on numerous occasions gave away all he possessed to the poor and needy. He died in Cairo, Egypt, on Friday evening after Maghrib, 30th Rajab, 204 A.H. (20th Jan, 820 A.C.) after a short illness, at the age of 53-54 years.