الرحلةThe Journey

ابن أبي زيد القيرواني

Ibn Abi Zayd (RH)

Ibn Abi Zayd al-Qayrawani

Also known as: Malik al-Saghir

310–386 AH · 922–996 CE

Fiqh Maliki

'Malik the Younger', author of al-Risala, the classic first book of Maliki law.

Ibn Abi Zayd led the Maliki scholars of al-Qayrawan at a time when the Fatimids ruled North Africa, and he defended Sunni teaching under that pressure. His mastery of the school earned him the title 'Malik the Younger'.

His al-Risala, a compact summary of belief, worship and law written for teaching children, became one of the most studied Maliki texts from Morocco to West Africa. His al-Nawadir wa al-Ziyadat gathers the opinions of the school in great detail.

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Life journey

  1. 922 CE al-Qayrawan القيروان
    Died 996 CE · 386 AH

Key works

  • al-Risala (of Ibn Abi Zayd) الرسالة
    The Epistle
    A compact Maliki primer on belief, worship and law, written for teaching.

Places in their life

The Great Mosque of al-Qayrawan
The Great Mosque of al-Qayrawan
Photo: Keith Roper, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Sources

  • al-Qadi 'Iyad, Tartib al-Madarik
  • al-Dhahabi, Siyar A'lam al-Nubala'
Draft, awaiting scholarly review.