MALIK IBN ANAS

born c. 715 died 795, Medina, Arabia [now Saudi Arabia] in full Abu 'abd Allah Malik Ibn Anas Ibn Al-harith Al-asbahi Muslim legist who played an important role in formulating early Islamic legal doctrines. Few details are known about Malik ibn Anas' life, most of which was spent in the city of Medina. He became learned in Islamic law and attracted a considerable number of students, his followers coming to be known as the Maliki school of law. His prestige involved him in politics, and he was rash enough to declare during a rebellion that loyalty to the caliph was not a religious necessity, since homage to him had been given under compulsion. The caliph, however, was victorious, and Malik received a flogging for his complicity. This only increased his prestige, and during later years he regained favour with the central government. Malik ibn Anas produced one major bookthe Muwatta'. This is the oldest surviving compendium of Islamic law.