My question is: Imam Al-Shafi said, “After Allah’s book, Malik’s Muwatta is the most authentic book on earth.” If the quote builds the understanding that Muwatta is having all authentic ahadiths, which Imam Shafi verifies, so why did Imam Shafi not follow those ahadith and fiqh?
Country: Pakistan
Answer:
Wa alaykum salam wa rahmatuLlahi wa barakatuHu,
It is reported in Razi’s al-Jarh wa al-Ta’dil v. 1, p. 12 on the authority of Yunus b. ‘Abd al-‘Ala, in Dhahabi’s Tadhkirat al-Huffaz v. 1, p. 154 and his Siyar v. 8, p. 111, in Asbahani’s Hilyah v. 6, p. 329 on the authority of Rabi’ b. Sulayman al-Muradi, from all of them that Imam Shafi’i said:
ما في الأرض كتاب من العلم أكثر صوابا من موطأ مالك
“There is not a book of knowledge on earth more correct than Malik’s Muwatta.”
The statement mentioned in the question is frequently attributed to Imam Shafi’i, Hafiz Ibn Hajar does mention that some report it that way. (Fath al-Bari v. 1, p. 10) However, we have not been able to locate it with a researchable isnad. This version of the statement we have been able to locate is from ‘Abd al-Rahman b. Mahdi. In his Siyar v. 9, p. 205, Hafiz Dhahabi reported on the authority of Bundar that Ibn Mahdi said:
ما نعرف كتابا في الإسلام بعد كتاب الله أصح من موطأ مالك
“We do not know of a book in Islam, after Allah’s Book, more authentic than Malik’s Muwatta.”
Also, there is a similar statement related from Imam Shafi’i:
ما كتاب بعد كتاب الله أنفع من كتاب مالك بن أنس
“There is no book, after Allah’s Book, more beneficial than Malik b. Anas’s book.”
This is related by Asbahani in Hilyah v. 9, p. 70 and Ibn ‘Abd al-Barr in Tamhid v. 1, p. 77 via Yahya b. ‘Uthman b. Salih < Harun b. Sa'id < Imam Shafi'i. Regarding Yahya b. 'Uthman b. Salih, Hafiz Mizzi related that he would narrate material not found with other authorities. (Tahdhib al-Kamal v. 31, p. 462) Hafiz Dhahabi stated, “lahu ma yunkaru.” (Kashif v. 2, p. 371)
What is more, Yunus b. ‘Abd al-‘Ala and Rabi’ b. Sulayman al-Muradi are from Imam Shafi’i’ most senior students, especially Rabi’ as he is the main transmitter of Imam Shafi’i’s books. The way in which they related Imam Shafi’i’s words is reliable and trustworthy.
Imams Dhahabi and Nawawi both point out that Imam Shafi’i stated this before the compilation of Sahih al-Bukhari and Sahih Muslim.
Why didn’t Imam Shafi’i just follow Imam Malik? The answer is simple, mujtahids don’t follow other mujtahids.
And Allah knows best.
Shafiifiqh.com Fatwa Dept.