The four learned doctors of the faith were alik ibn Anas, Imam Abu Hanifa, Imam us Shafi, • nd Imam Ahmad bin Hanbal.
Malik ibn Anas, a native of Medina, born A.D. 713-14, A.D. 95, died A.D. 795, A.H. 179, in his 84th year. He wrote the treatise called Muwatta; the Beaten Path, classifying the oral traditions. It formed a system of jurisprudence which prevailed throughout Spain and Northern Africa, its exten sion in Spain having been aided by Yahia ibn Yahia, a Berber, who had visited Medina to sit under the teaching of Malik ibn Anas. He re turned to Spain, where he had much influence.
Imam Abu Hanifa, a Noman of Persian origin, was born at Basra, in the Hijira year 80 (A.D. 699-700). He was a learned and devout man, humble in spirit. He passed most of his life in Kufa, and was famous as a lawyer. He refused to be kadi of Kufa, on which Ibn Omar ibn Hobaira, governor of the two Iraks, ordered him to be daily flogged until he consented. Ten strokes of a whip were consequently inflicted daily for twelve days, and, being still a recusant, he was set at liberty. He died in prison A.II. 150, A.D. 767.
Imam us Shall, of the tribe of Koresh, was born A.D. 150, A.D. 767-68, and was brought up in Mecca, but at the age of 45 went to Baghdad, and afterwards to Old Cairo, where he remained till his death in A.D. 204, A.D. 820. He was an eclectic. Ills doctrines were taught in the schools of Cairo, Irak, Khorasan, and in the regions beyond the Oxus. Between the Hanifa and Shafi sects there were controversies and animosities, and when the Mongols of Chengiz Khan appeared before Rite, the Shaft sect offered to deliver up the city on the condition that all the Hamill were slain. This was acted on, but a few days afterwards the Mongol slew also all the Shall, and the bodies of the members of the two sects were thrown to gether.
Imam Ahmad bin Hanbal was the fourth and last of the great orthodox Imams. Ile was born Am. 164, A.D. 780, at Merou or Baghdad. His teachings differed from those of Shafi, in that he did not allow the principle of deductions. His system never extended beyond Baghdad, and is now obsolete.—Osborn's Islam ; Pottinger's Travels, Burton's Scinde ; llfakolm's Persia, ii. p. 345.