Imam Ar-Rafi'i

Abd al-Karīm b. Muḥammad Ibn 'Abd al-Karīm b. al-Faḍl b. al-Ḥusayn b. al-Ḥasan Imām al-Din Abū al-Qāsim al-Rāfi'i al-Qazwini, who was better known as Abū al-Qāsim al-Rāfi'i was a Sunni Muslim scholar based in Qazvin. He was a well-known jurisconsult, legal theoretician, hadith scholar, Qur'anic exegete, historian, ascetic, and muhaqqiq (researcher). Shah Waliullah Dehlawi categorized al-Rafi'i as one of the scholars who attained (absolute/autonomous ijtihad). Al-Rāfi'i, along with al-Nawawi, are leading jurists of the earlier classical age, known by the Shafi'i school as the Two Shaykhs (al-Shaykhayn). As per Taj al-Din al-Subki, the purpose of this title is to indicate their superior standing within the school, as al-Rāfi'i and al-Nawawi were the primary sources for the later school's legal doctrines. Furthermore, al-Rafi'i was chosen by a host of scholars to be the mujaddid of the sixth/twelfth century.

Lineage Imam al-Rāfi'i said, the basis of his name to al-Rāfi'i refers to al-Rāfi'iyyah, that is, the Arabs who settled in Qazwin during era of the Tabi'un or Tabi' al-Tabi'in. He also stated that his lineage is linked to Rafi Ibn Khadij, a companion of the Islamic prophet Muhammad.

Early life Birth Al-Rāfi'i was born in the year of 555 AH / 1160 AD in the city of Qazvin which is the capital of the Qazvin province, which is located approximately 130 kilometres west of Tehran, the national capital of Iran.

This can be observed through what Imam al-Rāfi'i himself said about his father's concern by saying: "He (al-Rāfi'i's father) loved his children very much and was concerned about their affairs. Very strict in disciplining and educating them. Among his greatest kindnesses to me was his careful attitude in my education matters from the aspect of food and clothing". In fact, his father was very careful in the matter of the sustenance given to his children where he did not give food and clothing to al-Rāfi'i and the other children except from something good. This shows how al-Rāfi'i's father cares about providing an atmosphere that can stimulate his children to follow in his footsteps as an heir of knowledge and continue his father's legacy as a Qazwin scholar. Al-Rāfi‘i is not the only one who inherited his father's knowledge, even his other brother Abū al-Fa'ail was also born as a jurist and hadith expert.

Al-Rāfi'i constantly attend all of his lessons since from a very young age and meet many knowledge seekers who would flock to his father. Under his father, he would study the branches of Fiqh including its principles. He would study Tafsir, Hadith, and Arabic sciences until he mastered them.

Teachers His most prominent teachers include:

The emergence of Imam al-Rāfi'i was very significant with the reality of the development of the madhab at that time. This is because since the death of Imam al-Shafi'i until the time of Imam al-Rafi'i, the jurisprudential writings of the Shafi'i school have been produced in great abundance. Over the course of four centuries, the works of the scholars of the school have been scattered all over the place. The authors come from various academic and geographical backgrounds, starting from Egypt in the west to the east reaching Central Asia or called Bilad Ma Wara' al-Nahr which today covers the countries of Uzbekistan, Tajikistan and southwestern Kazakhstan. Due to the lack of modern communication technology, it is certain that the works that are produced in various forms and at different times have deficiencies that need to be corrected, whether it is a mistake in reciting a law that contradicts the proposal of a school, a successful legal practice or ijtihads that are strange (shadhdhah).

He lived in the time where fiqh began to be abandoned and was in a period of division and confusion among the Shafi'i school. His appearance was considered timely when the Shafi'i school was split into two streams, namely al-Iraqiyyin and al-Khurasaniyyin who demanded an effort to integrate the two schools and unite them under the same path.

Through his contribution into his school, he reviewed all the opinions of his predecessors weighing it according to the strength of the evidence, and determining its ranks. He revised the doctrine, and edited the sayings, opinions, aspects, and methods. He thoroughly investigated the approved or preferred opinion in the Shafi’i school of thought, and collected its methods in brief phrases. He had arguments and preferences for the statements according to the evidence on which he relied, and he did not limit himself to preference in matters of disagreement, but rather worked to liberate and refine the doctrine. He paved the way for those who came after him, and followed his example in the method of weighing evidences. He made additional investigations in comparative jurisprudence and complex issues of disagreement. He was a pioneer who founded many jurisprudential terminologies. He divided it into branches and organized jurisprudence in a way it would be easier for people to learn and understand. He was very knowledgeable in narrations and jurisprudential differences among the Sahaba and those who came after them (Tabi'in) including their interpretations of ahadiths. He would gather all their opinions in order to strengthen each preferred position held by the school. He did this so that the work and fatwa are based on what is most likely when the evidence is strong, since the multiplicity of sayings on a single issue may lead to the confusion of thought among the general public, and their falling into a problem or difficulties which was a common occurrence in his time.

Ibn al-Salah said: “I do not think I have ever seen someone like him in the land of 'Ajam (non-Arab lands). He mastered a variety of knowledge, a commendable personality and has left a valuable contribution.”

Al-Dhahabi said: “He is the Shaykh al-Shafi'iyyah, a scholar for non-Arabs and Arabs and a religious leader."

Taj al-Din al-Subki described Imam al-Rāfi'i as follows: “There is no one who writes like him in any school and does not illuminate the ummah as he illuminates it in the darkness. He is a persistent person in the sciences of sharia whether interpretation, hadith and usul. A person who stood out in his time in imparting knowledge, research, giving guidance and also writing. In the field of jurisprudence, he is a pillar for those who seek the certainty and support of the authors, as if jurisprudence was dead and then he revived, spread and established its pillar after being killed and buried by ignorance.”

Ibn Kathir when recording the character of Imam al-Rāfi'i said: "He is the storehouse of knowledge of the Imams of the Shafi'i school who stands out for those who research. He is referred to by all the jurists among our followers in this era in most districts and states.

Works As a prolific writer, Imam al-Rāfi'i has left a treasure of his writings which are very valuable not only in the field of jurisprudence as a pioneer in the purification of the school in his time but also in other fields such as interpretation, Hadith and history. Among his main works are as follows:

, known also as al-Sharh al-Kabir ("The Great Commentary"), this book is considered his magnum opus and it's a multi-voluminous commentary of the book al-Wajiz written by Imam al-Ghazali. Al-Sharh al-Saghir (The Minor Commentary), this book is also a commentary of the book al-Wajiz by Imam al-Ghazāli but the commentary is more concise than the book Al-‘Aziz Sharh al-Wajiz. Al-Muharrar, this book is a description of al-Wajiz written by Imam al-Ghazāli which was later summarized in Minhaj al-Talibin authored by Imam al-Nawawi. This book brings together the laws of fiqh in addition to the opinions that have been taught by Imam al-Rāfi'i. Al-Tadwin fi Dhikr Akhbar Qazvin ("The Chronicle in Mentioning the Reports of Qazvin"), is a popular book regarding the history of the Qazvin and listing all the notable biographies who lived or visited the city. Sharh al-Musnad al-Shafi'i, is a famous commentary on Musnad al-Shafi'i authored by Imam al-Shafi'i in two large volumes. Al-Tadhnib, also a fiqh book that discusses furu' problems in the madhhab. Al-Amāli, a book that brings together Hadiths along with their sanads (chains) that he quoted from his teachers about surah al-Fatihah which also included his own commentary. Al-Ijāz Fi Akhtār al-Hijāz, is a brief treatise about the benefits obtained by Imam al-Rāfii while traveling while performing Hajj. According to Tāsh Kubrā Zādah (1985) there was a mistake when copying the title of the book by the copyist. Its real title is al-Khatarāt or Khawātir al-Hijaz Al-Mahmoud fi Al-Fiqh, is an extensive work on jurisprudence ranging in 8 volumes. However, the author did not complete it.