**Muhammad ibn Idris ibn al-Abbas ibn Uthman**, the Imam, the Scholar of the Age, the Defender of Hadith, the Jurist of the Ummah, Abu Abdullah al-Qurashi, then al-Muttalibi, al-Shafi'i, al-Makki, passed away in the year 204 AH.
The birth of the Imam occurred in Gaza, and his father, Idris, died young. Thus, Muhammad was raised as an orphan in the care of his mother, who feared for his well-being and so moved with him when he was two years old. He was raised in Mecca, where he excelled in archery, surpassing his peers, to the point where he could hit nine out of ten targets. He then turned to studying Arabic and Islamic law, in which he excelled and advanced.
He then developed a love for fiqh (Islamic jurisprudence) and became the leading scholar of his time. He gained knowledge in his hometown from Muslim ibn Khalid al-Zanji, the Mufti of Mecca, and from Sufyan ibn Uyaynah, Fudayl ibn Iyad, and others.
He traveled—when he was a little over twenty years old and had already given fatwas and was qualified for imamate—to Medina, where he studied under Malik ibn Anas (the author of "Al-Muwatta"), and he recited it from memory.
He also learned in Yemen from Mutarrif ibn Mazin, Hisham ibn Yusuf al-Qadi, and others, and in Baghdad from Muhammad ibn al-Hasan, the jurist of Iraq, whom he closely followed and learned from.
Al-Shafi'i authored many works, documented knowledge, and responded to the Imams, adhering to the traditions. He wrote extensively on the principles and branches of jurisprudence, and his reputation spread far and wide, attracting many students. Many notable scholars have written about the virtues of this Imam, both in ancient and recent times.
Al-Humaydi said: I heard al-Shafi'i say, "I was an orphan in the care of my mother, and she had nothing to give to my teacher. The teacher was content for me to supervise the other boys when he was absent and to assist him."
Al-Shafi'i also said: "I used to write on shoulder blades and bones, and I would go to the Diwan (government office) to ask for parchment so I could write on it."
Al-Humaydi reported that he heard Muslim ibn Khalid al-Zanji say to al-Shafi'i: "Give fatwas, O Abu Abdullah, for by Allah, it is time for you to do so"—and he was only fifteen years old.
Al-Shafi'i said: "It is better for a person to meet Allah with every sin except shirk (associating partners with Allah) than to meet Him with anything of the heresies (innovations in religion)."
Yunus al-Sadafi said: "I have not seen anyone more intelligent than al-Shafi'i. One day I debated with him on an issue, and then we parted. Later, he met me, took my hand, and said: 'O Abu Musa, can't we remain brothers even if we do not agree on one issue?'"
Al-Rabi' said: "I heard al-Shafi'i say: 'Reading hadith is better than supererogatory prayer.' He also said: 'Seeking knowledge is better than supererogatory prayer.'"
Al-Muzani said: "I heard al-Shafi'i say: 'Whoever learns the Quran, his value increases; whoever speaks in jurisprudence, his stature grows; whoever writes hadith, his argument becomes strong; whoever examines language, his nature becomes refined; whoever examines arithmetic, his opinion becomes precise; and whoever does not guard himself, his knowledge does not benefit him.'"
Ahmad ibn Hanbal said: "Whenever al-Shafi'i was certain about a report (hadith), he would follow it, and the best quality he had was that he did not crave argument, but his concern was fiqh."
Al-Rabi' said: "I heard al-Shafi'i say: 'Disputing in religion hardens the heart and breeds enmity.' He also said: 'I have never debated with anyone except with the intention of advising.'"
Al-Shafi'i also said: "Whoever stubbornly opposes the truth and rejects it falls in my estimation, but whoever accepts it, I hold him in esteem and seek his friendship."
Al-Shafi'i said: "Everything I have said that contradicts the words of the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, that are proven authentic, then his words are more deserving, and do not follow me (blindly)."
Al-Shafi'i divided his night into three parts: one third for writing, one third for prayer, and one third for sleep. He would complete the Quran sixty times in the month of Ramadan.
Al-Rabi' said: "I heard al-Shafi'i say: 'I have not eaten to fullness in sixteen years except once, and then I put my fingers in my throat and vomited it out because satiety makes the body heavy, hardens the heart, removes insight, brings sleep, and weakens one for worship.'"
Al-Shafi'i said: "I have never sworn by Allah truthfully or falsely."
Al-Shafi'i was the most generous of people with dinars, dirhams, and food. He said: "I have gone bankrupt three times in my life, selling both my little and much, including the jewelry of my daughter and wife, but I have never pawned anything."
Al-Shafi'i also said: "Whenever I raise someone above his station, he lowers me by the same degree that I raised him."
He also said: "If you fear for your deeds being marred by vanity, then remember the pleasure of whom you seek, the bliss you desire, and the punishment you fear. Whoever reflects on that will consider his deeds insignificant."
Abdul Rahman ibn Mahdi said: "I do not perform a prayer except that I supplicate for al-Shafi'i in it."
Ahmad ibn Hanbal said: "Whenever I am asked about a matter and do not find a hadith regarding it, I say according to the opinion of al-Shafi'i because he is an Imam from the Quraysh, and it has been narrated that the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, said: 'A scholar of Quraysh will fill the earth with knowledge.' Ahmad also said: 'I have been supplicating for al-Shafi'i for forty years in my prayer.'"
Al-Shafi'i also had knowledge of medicine, as reported by several individuals. Al-Shafi'i said: "I do not know any knowledge after halal and haram (lawful and unlawful) more noble than medicine, but the People of the Book (Jews and Christians) have outdone us in it."
Al-Shafi'i was among the most knowledgeable of people in genealogy. Once, he spent the whole night discussing the genealogies of women until morning, saying: "The genealogies of men are known to everyone."
Yunus ibn Abd al-Ala said: "When al-Shafi'i explained the Quran, it was as if he had witnessed its revelation."
Al-Mubarrad said: "Al-Shafi'i was one of the most eloquent, educated, and knowledgeable people in Quranic recitations."
Qutaybah ibn Sa'id said: "When al-Thawri died, asceticism died. When al-Shafi'i died, the traditions died. When Ahmad ibn Hanbal dies, innovations will appear."
Abu Thawr al-Kalbi said: "I have never seen anyone like al-Shafi'i, and he never saw anyone like himself."
The birth of the Imam occurred in Gaza, and his father, Idris, died young. Thus, Muhammad was raised as an orphan in the care of his mother, who feared for his well-being and so moved with him when he was two years old. He was raised in Mecca, where he excelled in archery, surpassing his peers, to the point where he could hit nine out of ten targets. He then turned to studying Arabic and Islamic law, in which he excelled and advanced.
He then developed a love for fiqh (Islamic jurisprudence) and became the leading scholar of his time. He gained knowledge in his hometown from Muslim ibn Khalid al-Zanji, the Mufti of Mecca, and from Sufyan ibn Uyaynah, Fudayl ibn Iyad, and others.
He traveled—when he was a little over twenty years old and had already given fatwas and was qualified for imamate—to Medina, where he studied under Malik ibn Anas (the author of "Al-Muwatta"), and he recited it from memory.
He also learned in Yemen from Mutarrif ibn Mazin, Hisham ibn Yusuf al-Qadi, and others, and in Baghdad from Muhammad ibn al-Hasan, the jurist of Iraq, whom he closely followed and learned from.
Al-Shafi'i authored many works, documented knowledge, and responded to the Imams, adhering to the traditions. He wrote extensively on the principles and branches of jurisprudence, and his reputation spread far and wide, attracting many students. Many notable scholars have written about the virtues of this Imam, both in ancient and recent times.
Al-Humaydi said: I heard al-Shafi'i say, "I was an orphan in the care of my mother, and she had nothing to give to my teacher. The teacher was content for me to supervise the other boys when he was absent and to assist him."
Al-Shafi'i also said: "I used to write on shoulder blades and bones, and I would go to the Diwan (government office) to ask for parchment so I could write on it."
Al-Humaydi reported that he heard Muslim ibn Khalid al-Zanji say to al-Shafi'i: "Give fatwas, O Abu Abdullah, for by Allah, it is time for you to do so"—and he was only fifteen years old.
Al-Shafi'i said: "It is better for a person to meet Allah with every sin except shirk (associating partners with Allah) than to meet Him with anything of the heresies (innovations in religion)."
Yunus al-Sadafi said: "I have not seen anyone more intelligent than al-Shafi'i. One day I debated with him on an issue, and then we parted. Later, he met me, took my hand, and said: 'O Abu Musa, can't we remain brothers even if we do not agree on one issue?'"
Al-Rabi' said: "I heard al-Shafi'i say: 'Reading hadith is better than supererogatory prayer.' He also said: 'Seeking knowledge is better than supererogatory prayer.'"
Al-Muzani said: "I heard al-Shafi'i say: 'Whoever learns the Quran, his value increases; whoever speaks in jurisprudence, his stature grows; whoever writes hadith, his argument becomes strong; whoever examines language, his nature becomes refined; whoever examines arithmetic, his opinion becomes precise; and whoever does not guard himself, his knowledge does not benefit him.'"
Ahmad ibn Hanbal said: "Whenever al-Shafi'i was certain about a report (hadith), he would follow it, and the best quality he had was that he did not crave argument, but his concern was fiqh."
Al-Rabi' said: "I heard al-Shafi'i say: 'Disputing in religion hardens the heart and breeds enmity.' He also said: 'I have never debated with anyone except with the intention of advising.'"
Al-Shafi'i also said: "Whoever stubbornly opposes the truth and rejects it falls in my estimation, but whoever accepts it, I hold him in esteem and seek his friendship."
Al-Shafi'i said: "Everything I have said that contradicts the words of the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, that are proven authentic, then his words are more deserving, and do not follow me (blindly)."
Al-Shafi'i divided his night into three parts: one third for writing, one third for prayer, and one third for sleep. He would complete the Quran sixty times in the month of Ramadan.
Al-Rabi' said: "I heard al-Shafi'i say: 'I have not eaten to fullness in sixteen years except once, and then I put my fingers in my throat and vomited it out because satiety makes the body heavy, hardens the heart, removes insight, brings sleep, and weakens one for worship.'"
Al-Shafi'i said: "I have never sworn by Allah truthfully or falsely."
Al-Shafi'i was the most generous of people with dinars, dirhams, and food. He said: "I have gone bankrupt three times in my life, selling both my little and much, including the jewelry of my daughter and wife, but I have never pawned anything."
Al-Shafi'i also said: "Whenever I raise someone above his station, he lowers me by the same degree that I raised him."
He also said: "If you fear for your deeds being marred by vanity, then remember the pleasure of whom you seek, the bliss you desire, and the punishment you fear. Whoever reflects on that will consider his deeds insignificant."
Abdul Rahman ibn Mahdi said: "I do not perform a prayer except that I supplicate for al-Shafi'i in it."
Ahmad ibn Hanbal said: "Whenever I am asked about a matter and do not find a hadith regarding it, I say according to the opinion of al-Shafi'i because he is an Imam from the Quraysh, and it has been narrated that the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, said: 'A scholar of Quraysh will fill the earth with knowledge.' Ahmad also said: 'I have been supplicating for al-Shafi'i for forty years in my prayer.'"
Al-Shafi'i also had knowledge of medicine, as reported by several individuals. Al-Shafi'i said: "I do not know any knowledge after halal and haram (lawful and unlawful) more noble than medicine, but the People of the Book (Jews and Christians) have outdone us in it."
Al-Shafi'i was among the most knowledgeable of people in genealogy. Once, he spent the whole night discussing the genealogies of women until morning, saying: "The genealogies of men are known to everyone."
Yunus ibn Abd al-Ala said: "When al-Shafi'i explained the Quran, it was as if he had witnessed its revelation."
Al-Mubarrad said: "Al-Shafi'i was one of the most eloquent, educated, and knowledgeable people in Quranic recitations."
Qutaybah ibn Sa'id said: "When al-Thawri died, asceticism died. When al-Shafi'i died, the traditions died. When Ahmad ibn Hanbal dies, innovations will appear."
Abu Thawr al-Kalbi said: "I have never seen anyone like al-Shafi'i, and he never saw anyone like himself."