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al-Shāfiʿi, Abū ʿAbd Allāh Muḥammad

The Concise Oxford Dictionary of World Religions | 1997 | 654 words | Copyright

al-Shāfiʿi, Abū ʿAbd Allāh Muḥammad (d. 820 (AH 204)). Founder of the Shāfiʿite school of Muslim law (sharīʿa). He was taught by Mālik b. Anas (amongst many others), but differed from him in paying particular attention to the methods of applying Qurʾān and sunna, and for that reason is regarded as the founder of uṣūl al-fiqh (the principles of fiqh). Thus he attempted to establish rules governing the exercise of qiyās (analogy); but having done so, he was prepared to use it to establish a middle way between conservative traditionalism and innovation.

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JOHN BOWKER. "al-Shāfiʿi, Abū ʿAbd Allāh Muḥammad." The Concise Oxford Dictionary of World Religions. 1997. Encyclopedia.com. 27 May. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>.

JOHN BOWKER. "al-Shāfiʿi, Abū ʿAbd Allāh Muḥammad." The Concise Oxford Dictionary of World Religions. 1997. Encyclopedia.com. (May 27, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O101-alShfiiAbAbdAllhMuammad.html

JOHN BOWKER. "al-Shāfiʿi, Abū ʿAbd Allāh Muḥammad." The Concise Oxford Dictionary of World Religions. 1997. Retrieved May 27, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O101-alShfiiAbAbdAllhMuammad.html

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