Muhammad ibn Idris al-Shafi'i

Muhammad ibn Idris al-Shafi'i (767–820 CE) was a prominent Islamic scholar and jurist who founded the Shafi'i school of Islamic law. He emphasized the importance of the Quran and Hadith (sayings and actions of Prophet Muhammad) as primary sources for legal rulings. Al-Shafi'i developed systematic methods for interpreting religious texts and balancing tradition with reason, shaping legal thought across many Muslim communities. His work helped unify diverse practices and influenced the development of Islamic jurisprudence (fiqh), making his approach one of the four main Sunni legal schools still followed today.