Malik ibn Anas (93 AH- 179 AH) alizaliwa na kufariki Madinah. Asili ya familia yake ilikuwa Yemen. Baada ya kuzaliwa kwa Uislamu, mababu zake waliokuwa wamesilimu walihamia na kuishi Madinah. Alipata elimu yake Madinah, ambayo ilikuwa kituo cha juu kabisa cha elimu katika Dola kubwa ya Kiislamu, na ambayo ilikuwa na Maswahaba wengi mashuhuri wa Mtume ﷺ (ra). Alisoma chini ya Abdur-Rahman ibn Hormuz, ambaye alimshauri Malik kwamba: “Mwanachuoni (‘Alim) anapaswa kuwafundisha watu kusema: ‘Sijui’.” Imam Malik alifuata na kushikamana na ushauri huu katika maisha yake yote. Siku moja mtu mmoja alihudhuria Halaqah yake na kumuuliza swali, ambalo Imam Malik alijibu: “Sijui; hakuna mwingine aliyewahi kuuliza swali hili... wanachuoni wa zamani hawakuwahi kujadili mada kama hii.” Kisha Imam Malik alimwambia mtu huyo arudi siku iliyofuata, naye angeona kama angeweza kutoa jibu. Mtu huyo aliporudi siku iliyofuata, Imam Malik tena alimwambia kwamba hana jibu. Mtu huyo akamwambia kwamba alikuwa amesikia kwamba Imam Malik ndiye mtu mwenye elimu kubwa zaidi duniani, hivyo kama Imam Malik hajui, basi ni nani mwingine atakayejua. Imam Malik alishikilia jibu lake kwamba hajui.

Malik ibn Anas (93 AH- 179 AH) was born and passed away in Madinah. His ancestral place was Yemen. After the birth of Islam, his ancestors who had become Muslims migrated to and settled in Madinah. He received his education in Madinah, which was the highest place of learning in the vast Islamic State and housed most of the distinguished Sahabah (ra) of the Prophet (saw).He studied under Abdur-Rahman ibn Hormuz, who advised Malik that: “The „Alim (Scholar) should teach the people to say: “I do not know”. Imam Malik followed and adhered to this advice throughout his life. Once a man attended his Halaqah and asked him a question to which Imam Malik replied: “I do not know, no-one else ever asked this question.... the scholars from before never discussed such a topic.” Then Imam Malik told the man to come back the following day and he would see if he would be able to supply the answer. When the man returned the following day, Imam Malik again told him that he had no answer. The man then told him that he had heard that Imam Malik was the most knowledgeable man in the world, and so if Imam Malik did not know, then who else would know. Imam Malik kept with his answer that he did not know.

Imamu Malik pia alisoma na Ibn Shihaab Az-Zuhri, Nafi‟ aliyekuwa mtumwa aliyeachiwa huru wa Abdullah bin Umar, Yahya ibn Sa‟eed, Rabiah ar-Ra‟ee, na Jafar As-Sadiq. Imamu Malik alijifunza Ar-Ra‟ee kutoka kwa Rabiah na kutoka kwa Yahya ibn Sa‟eed, na alijifunza Hadith kutoka kwa Naafi‟ na kutoka kwa Ibn Shihaab Az-Zuhri. Kwa hiyo, tunaweza kusema kwamba Imamu Malik alisoma kutoka shule zote mbili za Hadith na Ra‟ee, kwa kuwa Ra‟ee pia ilikuwa ikifundishwa huko Al-Madinah.

Imam Malik also studied with Ibn Shihaab Az-Zuhri, Nafi‟ the ex-slave of Abdullah bin Umar, Yahya ibn Sa‟eed; Rabiah ar-Ra‟ee; and Jafar As-Sadiq. Imam Malik learned Ar-Ra‟ee from Rabiah and from Yahya ibn Sa‟eed, and he learned Hadith from Naafi‟ and from Ibn Shihaab Az-Zuhri. Therefore, we can say that Imam Malik had studied from both schools of Hadith and Ra‟ee, since Ra‟ee was also being taught in Al-Madinah.

Imam Malik alijulikana kwa kumbukumbu yake kali sana na fikra za haraka. Alikuwa akifikiri kwa bidii na kwa makini sana ili kufikia maamuzi yake, na hakuwahi kukimbilia kutoa Fatwa. Siku moja, mtu alimuuliza swali, na mtu mwingine alisema kuwa swali hilo ni rahisi sana. Imam Malik alijibu kuwa hakuna chochote kilicho rahisi au dogo kuhusu kutoa hukumu. Imam Malik pia hakupenda hoja ndefu. Siku moja aliulizwa kwamba ikiwa mtu ana ujuzi mkubwa katika Hadith na Sunnah, je, mtu huyo aendelee kubishana na hoja yake? Imam Malik alijibu kuwa mtu wa namna hiyo anapaswa tu kutoa maoni yake pamoja na ushahidi wake, bila kujihusisha na majadiliano au mabishano mengi.

Imam Malik was known for his very sharp memory and quick thinking. He used to think very hard and carefully to arrive at his opinions and never rushed to issue a Fatwa. Once someone asked him a question, and another person remarked that the question was very easy. Imam Malik replied that there is nothing easy or trivial with regard to giving a rule. Imam Malik also disliked lengthy arguments. He was once asked that if a person was very knowledgeable in the Hadith and Sunnah, should that person continue arguing his point. Imam Malik replied that such a person should just issue his opinion and his evidence without engaging in too much of a discussion or debate.

Madarasa za Imam Malik zilikuwa na sifa ya utulivu, nidhamu na heshima kubwa aliyopewa mwalimu wake mwenye elimu na wanafunzi wake. Siku moja, wakati wa safari yake ya Madinah, Haroon ar Rashid alitaka kusikiliza Muwatta (mkusanyiko wa hadithi za Imam Malik). Haroon alimtuma mtu amwite Imam, naye akamshauri akisema, "Rashid, hadithi ni elimu ambayo mababu zako walikuwa wakiitunza. Walikuwa wakiiheshimu sana. Ikiwa wewe kama Khalifa hutaiheshimu, hakuna mwingine atakayeiheshimu. Zaidi ya hayo, watu ndio wanaokuja kutafuta elimu, lakini elimu haiwafuati watu." Khalifa Haroon ar Rashid alikubali kusikiliza Muwatta pamoja na wanafunzi wengine.

Imam Malik‟s classes were characterised by their serenity, discipline and high sense of respect, exhibited by the students for their learned teacher. Once, during his visit to Madinah, Haroon ar Rashid wanted to hear the Muwatta (collection of traditions by Imam Malik). Haroon sent for the Imam who advised him saying, “Rashid, tradition is a learning that used to be patronised by your ancestors. They had utmost regard for it. If you do not respect it as a Khaleefah, no one else will. Furthermore, people come to seek knowledge but knowledge doesn‟t seek people.” Khaleefah Haroon ar Rashid agreed to listen to the Muwatta and his students.

Miongoni mwa watu walionufaika na elimu ya Imam Malik ni Makhalifa kama Mansoor, Hadi, Haroon na Mamun. Pia, wanazuoni kama Abu Hanifah, Shafi‘i na Abu Yusuf, kutaja wachache tu, walinufaika na mafundisho ya Imam Malik.

Among the persons who benefited from Imam Malik‟s learning were Khulafa such as Mansoor, Hadi, Haroon, and Mamun. Scholars like Abu Hanifah, Shafi‟i, and Abu Yusuf to name just a few, also benefited from the teachings of Imam Malik.

Imamu Malik aliishi chini ya utawala wa Bani Umayya na Bani Abbas. Hakukubaliana kikamilifu na utawala wao, wala hakujiunga na waasi, bali alishauri kwamba watu wasivumilie maovu yao. Hakuwa salama kutokana na matatizo na watawala, hasa wakati wa Abu Ja'far al-Mansoor. Imamu Malik alipokea Hadith ambamo Nabii ﷺ alisema:

Imam Malik lived under the rule of the Ummayyads and the Abbassids. He did not entirely agree with their rule, nor did he join the rebels, but rather he advised that the people should not tolerate their wrong doings. He was not exempt from problems with the rulers, especially during the era of Abu Jafar al-Mansoor. Imam Malik had reported a Hadith in which the Prophet (saw) said:

“Hakuna kiapo kikiwa kimetolewa chini ya shinikizo.” Wakati huo baadhi ya Shi‟a, chini ya uongozi wa Muhammad Nafsul Zakiyyah, walikuwa wakiongoza uasi dhidi ya Khalifa, wakitumia Hadith hii kama msingi wa uasi wao. Abu Jafar al-Mansoor alituma mjumbe kwa Imam Malik ili kuthibitisha kama Hadith hii kweli ilisimuliwa na kuungwa mkono na Imam Malik. Imam Malik alimwambia mjumbe kwamba alikuwa ameisimulia riwaya hiyo kweli, na hivyo Khalifa akaelewa kutokana na jibu hilo kwamba Imam Malik alikuwa sehemu ya uasi wa Shi‟a. Alifungwa na kupigwa kwa ukali sana hadi mikono yake ikaharibika (baada ya hapo Imam Malik alikuwa akiswali huku mikono yake ikiwa kando ya mwili). Baadaye, Abu Jafar alijaribu kupatanishwa na Imam Malik. Imam Malik alisema mara moja:

“There is no oath if given under duress.” At that time some of the Shi‟a, under the leadership of Muhammad Nafsul Zakiyyah were leading a revolt against the Khaleefah, using this Hadith as a basis for their revolt. Abu Jafar al-Mansoor sent a messenger to Imam Malik to ascertain if this Hadith had in fact been reported and supported by Imam Malik. Imam Malik told the Messenger that he had in fact reported that Riwayah, and so the Khaleefah understood from the reply that Imam Malik was a part of the Shi‟a‟s rebellion. He was imprisoned and was beaten very severely to the point that his hands became deformed (Imam Malik after this used to pray with his hands at his side). Afterwards, Abu Jafar tried to reconcile with Imam Malik. Imam Malik once said:

“Nilipomrudia Abu Jafar wakati wa msimu wa Hija, aliniambia: „Naapa kwa Allah, sijamwagiza yeyote kwa kile kilichokupata. Watu wa Al-Haramayn wataendelea kuwa katika hali nzuri muradi wewe uko pamoja nao. Allah ameinyanyua Ummah huu muradi wewe uko pamoja nao. Nilimwamuru Wali aliyekuwa na jukumu hilo aje kwangu, nikamweka gerezani, nikamdhalilisha, nikamtukana na kumwadhibu kwa zaidi ya kile ulichoadhibiwa wewe.”

“When I returned to meet Abu Jafar during the Hajj season, he told me: „I swear by Allah, I did not instruct anyone with what happened to you. The people of Al-Haramayn will remain in a good condition as long as you are with them. Allah lifted up this Ummah as long as you are with them. I ordered the Wali who was responsible to come to me and I have put him in jail, humiliated, insulted and punished him with more than what you were punished”.

Imam Malik aliendelea, "Allah akupe afya njema na makazi mema siku ya Hukumu. Nimemsamehe Wali huyo kwa kuwa ni jamaa wa Mtume ﷺ."

Imam Malik continued, “May Allah give you good health and a good destination on the day of Judgment. I have forgiven that Wali since he is a relative of the Prophet (saw).”

Kitabu chake Al-Muwatta ni mojawapo ya makusanyo ya mwanzo kabisa ya Hadith. Imam Malik alikuwa mmoja wa wanazuoni wakubwa katika fani ya Hadith. Pia alikuwa miongoni mwa wachache walioandika matokeo ya Isnad yake (mnyororo wa wapokezi) katika mkusanyo wake wa Hadith kwa manufaa ya vizazi vilivyofuata.

His book Al-Muwatta is one of the earliest collections of Ahadith. Imam Malik was one of the greatest scholars in the field of Hadith. He was also one of the few who wrote down the results of his Isnad (chain of reporters) in his collection of Hadith for the benefit of later generations.

Alianza kuandika kitabu hiki wakati wa utawala wa Al Mansoor na akakimaliza wakati wa utawala wa Al Mahdi. Haroon Ar-Rashid alitaka kukifanya kuwa chanzo cha sheria za Dola ya Kiislamu, lakini Imam Malik alikataa, na pia alipinga wazo la kutundika nakala yake katika Al Kaaba. Kitabu cha Al Mudawan Al Kubrah pia kinahusishwa naye.

He began writing it during the era of Al Mansoor and finished it during the era of Al Mahdi. Haroon Ar-Rashid wanted to adopt it as a legislative source of Islamic State‟s canons but Imam Malik refused, and was also against the idea of hanging a copy in the Ka‟aba. The book of Al Mudawan Al Kubrah is also attributed to him.

Wanazuoni mashuhuri wa madhehebu ya Maliki ni pamoja na:

Well-recognised Maliki scholars include:

Abdur-Rahman ibn Qasim.

 Abdur-Rahman ibn Qasim.

Abdul Wahab Ali al Baghdadi.

 Abdul Wahab Ali al Baghdadi.

Ali ibn Hazm.

 Ali ibn Hazm.

Qadi Iyad.

 Qadi Iyad.

Abu Bakr Muhammad al Baqillani.

 Abu Bakr Muhammad al Baqillani.

Ibn Rushd aliyeandika Bidayatul Mujtahid.

 Ibn Rushd who wrote Bidayatul Mujtahid.