1. Founder: Imam Malik ibn Anas (711–795 CE)

The Maliki Madhhab is named after Imam Malik ibn Anas, one of the most respected early Muslim scholars. Born in Medina, he lived during the Umayyad and early Abbasid periods, and spent his life in the Prophet's city, making him deeply connected to the living tradition of the Sahabah (Companions) and Tabi‘in (Successors).

Imam Malik authored the Muwatta’, the first organized book of Islamic law and hadith, which gathered the practice of the people of Medina along with reliable narrations of the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ.

2. Core Sources of Maliki Jurisprudence

Maliki fiqh is grounded in the following primary sources:

1. The Qur’an

2. The Sunnah (especially practices transmitted by the people of Medina)

3. ‘Amal Ahl al-Madinah (Practice of the people of Medina): Malik gave exceptional weight to this, viewing it as a living tradition of the Prophet’s actions.

4. Ijma‘ (Consensus)

5. Qiyās (Analogy)

6. Istislāh (Maslahah Mursalah – public interest): A distinctive Maliki principle allowing rulings based on the welfare of society.

7. Istihsān (Juristic preference): Used with caution, but accepted when necessary.

8. Sadd al-Dharā‘i (Blocking the means to harm): Proactive measures to prevent sinful outcomes.

This balance between textual sources and practical social awareness made the Maliki school adaptable while remaining rooted in tradition.

3. Imam Malik's Legacy and Students

Imam Malik was respected by both Umayyads and Abbasids but remained politically cautious. When compelled to endorse an oath of allegiance by force, he ruled that coerced oaths were invalid, which led to his arrest and flogging. Despite this, his reputation only grew.

Prominent students of Imam Malik include:

• Abd al-Rahman ibn al-Qasim

• Ashhab

• Yahya ibn Yahya al-Laythi (who brought the Maliki madhhab to Andalusia)

• Imam al-Shafi‘i, who studied under Malik before developing his own madhhab.

4. Spread and Establishment

The Maliki madhhab spread widely through North and West Africa, Andalusia (Muslim Spain), and parts of the Arabian Peninsula. Its expansion was largely due to the respect for Imam Malik and the legal and educational support of local dynasties.

Main regions of influence:

• North Africa: Tunisia, Algeria, Morocco, Libya – the official school under various Berber and Arab dynasties.

• West Africa: Mali, Senegal, Niger, Nigeria – adopted through trade, scholars, and Sufi orders.

• Andalusia (Spain/Portugal): Dominant school under the Umayyads of Córdoba.

• Sudan and parts of the Hijaz, especially Medina.

5. Notable Maliki Scholars

• Ibn Abd al-Barr (d. 1071) – Master of hadith and author of al-Tamhid and al-Istidhkar.

• Qadi Iyad (d. 1149) – Renowned jurist and author of ash-Shifa.

• Ibn Rushd (Averroes, d. 1198) – A polymath who authored Bidayat al-Mujtahid.

• Khalil ibn Ishaq (d. 14th century) – His Mukhtasar became the standard legal text in North and West Africa.

• Ahmad Baba of Timbuktu (d. 1627) – Scholar who defended the Maliki tradition in West Africa.

6. Methodological Features

Distinctive traits of the Maliki school include:

• Strong reliance on the living tradition of Medina as a form of continuous Sunnah.

• Use of maslahah (public benefit) to adapt rulings for societal welfare.

• Careful integration of local custom (‘urf) when not contradictory to the Shari‘ah.

• Emphasis on communal practice and cohesion over strict textual literalism when necessary.

7. Influence in Governance and Society

The Maliki school was often the official madhhab of state courts in Muslim Spain, the Maghreb, and much of sub-Saharan Africa. Its rulings influenced Islamic governance, commercial law, marriage and family law, and endowment systems (waqf).

Sufi orders, especially the Tijaniyyah and Qadiriyyah, also played a major role in maintaining and spreading Maliki jurisprudence in Africa.

8. Maliki Madhhab Today

Today, the Maliki madhhab remains dominant in:

• Morocco

• Algeria

• Tunisia

• Libya

• Mauritania

• Mali

• Senegal

• Gambia

• Niger

• Parts of Nigeria, Ghana, and Chad

• Medina (historically)

It is taught in major Islamic universities such as Al-Qarawiyyin (Morocco), Zaytuna (Tunisia), and Al-Azhar (Egypt), though Al-Azhar incorporates all four Sunni schools.

Conclusion

The Maliki Madhhab is a tradition of deep reverence for the Sunnah as practiced by the people of Medina, combined with a pragmatic, community-oriented approach to law. Imam Malik’s emphasis on stability, societal welfare, and prophetic tradition has given this school a lasting legacy, especially in Africa and Andalusia. With its unique legal philosophy and continued scholarly vitality, the Maliki madhhab remains a key pillar of Sunni jurisprudence.