What was the real name of Imām al-Shāfi‘ī (RA)?

Q: What was the real name of Imām al-Shāfi‘ī (RA)?

Muhammad bin Idrees - Imām al-Shāfi‘ī (RA), whose real name was Muhammad bin Idrees al-Shāfi‘ī, is regarded as one of the greatest scholars in Islamic history and the founder of the Shafi‘i school of Islamic jurisprudence. He was born in 150 AH (767 CE) in Gaza, Palestine, the same year that Imām Abu Hanifa (RA) passed away, which many scholars consider a symbolic sign of Allah’s wisdom in preserving Islamic scholarship. From an early age, Imām al-Shāfi‘ī (RA) displayed a deep love for knowledge and extraordinary memory. By the age of 7, he had memorized the entire Qur’an, and by the age of 10, he had memorized Imām Malik’s Muwatta, one of the earliest collections of Hadith and Fiqh. He later traveled to Madinah to study under Imām Malik ibn Anas (RA), from whom he learned directly. His method of jurisprudence emphasized a balanced approach: giving importance to the Qur’an, Hadith, consensus (Ijma‘), and analogical reasoning (Qiyas). This structured system became the basis of the Shafi‘i school, which spread widely in regions such as East Africa, Southeast Asia, Egypt, Yemen, and parts of the Middle East. Imām al-Shāfi‘ī (RA) was known not only for his scholarship but also for his humility, piety, and eloquence. His students later became great scholars themselves, further spreading his knowledge. Among his famous works is Al-Risalah, a foundational text in Islamic legal theory (Usul al-Fiqh). He passed away in 204 AH (820 CE) in Egypt, where his tomb is still visited by scholars and students of knowledge. This MCQ is important for learners because it clarifies the real name of Imam Shafi (RA), which is often confused. Knowing his true name, Muhammad bin Idrees, helps in understanding Islamic history accurately and appreciating the legacy of one of the four great Imams of fiqh.

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Muhammad bin Idrees - Imām al-Shāfi&lsquo;ī (RA), whose real name was Muhammad bin Idrees al-Shāfi&lsquo;ī, is regarded as one of the greatest scholars in Islamic history and the founder of the Shafi&lsquo;i school of Islamic jurisprudence. He was born in 150 AH (767 CE) in Gaza, Palestine, the same year that Imām Abu Hanifa (RA) passed away, which many scholars consider a symbolic sign of Allah&rsquo;s wisdom in preserving Islamic scholarship.
From an early age, Imām al-Shāfi&lsquo;ī (RA) displayed a deep love for knowledge and extraordinary memory. By the age of 7, he had memorized the entire Qur&rsquo;an, and by the age of 10, he had memorized Imām Malik&rsquo;s Muwatta, one of the earliest collections of Hadith and Fiqh. He later traveled to Madinah to study under Imām Malik ibn Anas (RA), from whom he learned directly.
His method of jurisprudence emphasized a balanced approach: giving importance to the Qur&rsquo;an, Hadith, consensus (Ijma&lsquo;), and analogical reasoning (Qiyas). This structured system became the basis of the Shafi&lsquo;i school, which spread widely in regions such as East Africa, Southeast Asia, Egypt, Yemen, and parts of the Middle East.
Imām al-Shāfi&lsquo;ī (RA) was known not only for his scholarship but also for his humility, piety, and eloquence. His students later became great scholars themselves, further spreading his knowledge. Among his famous works is Al-Risalah, a foundational text in Islamic legal theory (Usul al-Fiqh).
He passed away in 204 AH (820 CE) in Egypt, where his tomb is still visited by scholars and students of knowledge.
This MCQ is important for learners because it clarifies the real name of Imam Shafi (RA), which is often confused. Knowing his true name, Muhammad bin Idrees, helps in understanding Islamic history accurately and appreciating the legacy of one of the four great Imams of fiqh.

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