Islamic scholarHanafi8th centuryJurist

Muhammad al-Shaybani

Arab jurist Imam Muhammad al-Shaybani was pivotal in Islamic jurisprudence and international law, known as the 'Grotius of Islam'.

1. Early Life and Education

Muhammad al-Shaybani's early life and extensive education laid the foundation for his profound contributions to Islamic legal scholarship.

1.1. Birth and Early Life

Abū ʿAbd Allāh Muḥammad ibn al-Ḥasan ibn Farqad ash-Shaybānī was born in Wāsiṭ, Iraq, in 750 CE. Shortly after his birth, his family relocated to Kufa, a renowned intellectual center and the hometown of the esteemed jurist Abu Hanifa. Although he was born into a family with a military background, al-Shaybani showed a strong inclination towards intellectual pursuits rather than a military career from a young age.

1.2. Teachers and Education

Al-Shaybani began his legal studies in Kufa as a pupil of Abu Hanifa, the eponym of the Hanafi school of Islamic jurisprudence. He studied under Abu Hanifa for two years until his teacher's death in 767 CE, when al-Shaybani was just 18 years old. Following Abu Hanifa's passing, al-Shaybani continued his training under Abu Yusuf, a senior disciple of Abu Hanifa and a leading figure in the Hanafi school.

His intellectual development was further enriched by other prominent scholars of his time, including Sufyan al-Thawri and al-Awzāʿī. Demonstrating a broad approach to legal knowledge, al-Shaybani also traveled to Medina, where he spent two to three years studying with Malik ibn Anas, the founder of the Maliki school of fiqh. This diverse educational background allowed al-Shaybani to become a highly accomplished jurist at a remarkably early age, reportedly teaching in Kufa by the age of twenty, around 770 CE.

2. Career and Judicial Service

Al-Shaybani's professional life was marked by his relocation to Baghdad and significant appointments as a judge, demonstrating his respected position within the Abbasid Caliphate.

2.1. Move to Baghdad and Judicial Appointments

After his formative years of education in Kufa and Medina, al-Shaybani moved to Baghdad, the intellectual and political heart of the Abbasid Caliphate, where he continued to deepen his learning and exert his influence. His scholarly reputation grew to such an extent that Harun al-Rashid, the Abbasid Caliph, appointed him as a qadi (judge) in Raqqa, the capital city, sometime after 796 CE. This appointment underscored the high regard in which his legal expertise was held.

2.2. Relationship with Caliph Harun al-Rashid

Al-Shaybani served under Caliph Harun al-Rashid, playing a significant role in judicial and administrative matters. He was relieved of his judicial position in Raqqa in 803 CE, after which he returned to Baghdad and resumed his educational activities, a period during which he exerted his widest influence. It was during this time that he taught Muhammad ibn Idris ash-Shafi`i, who would become one of his most prestigious pupils and later the founder of the Shafi'i school of fiqh. Despite later disagreements, ash-Shafi'i maintained immense admiration for his teacher.

Caliph Harun al-Rashid later reinstated al-Shaybani in a judicial capacity. Al-Shaybani accompanied the caliph to Greater Khorasan, where he continued to serve as a qadi until his death in 805 CE in Rey, Iran. His passing on the same day and in the same place as the eminent Kufan philologist and grammarian Al-Kisaʾi prompted Caliph al-Rashid to famously remark that he had "buried law and grammar side by side."

3. Scholarly Contributions

Muhammad al-Shaybani's academic and legal achievements profoundly shaped Islamic jurisprudence and laid the groundwork for Islamic international law.

3.1. Systematization of Hanafi Jurisprudence

Al-Shaybani played a crucial role in the development and systematization of the Hanafi school of Fiqh. As a direct disciple of Abu Hanifa and Abu Yusuf, he was instrumental in organizing, codifying, and completing the positive law aspects of Hanafi jurisprudence. His efforts solidified the structure of the Hanafi school, making its principles more accessible and coherent, and establishing it as one of the most influential legal traditions in Islam.

3.2. Development of Islamic International Law (Siyar)

Al-Shaybani is widely recognized for his foundational work on Siyar, the branch of Islamic law dealing with inter-state relations, often referred to as Islamic international law. His theoretical considerations and detailed treatises on this subject earned him the title "Grotius of Islam." He authored significant works such as the Introduction to the Law of Nations (likely Siyar al-Saghir) in the late 8th century, followed by a more advanced treatise (likely Siyar al-Kabir). These works provided comprehensive guidelines for the conduct of jihad, diplomatic relations, and the treatment of various groups during times of conflict and peace. His writings covered both public international law and private international law, applying Islamic ethics, Islamic economic jurisprudence, and Islamic military jurisprudence to international legal concepts.

3.2.1. Principles of Warfare and Conduct

In his seminal works on Siyar, al-Shaybani meticulously outlined the principles governing warfare in Islam. He addressed fundamental questions such as when fighting is justified, who constitutes a legitimate target, and how combat should be conducted. For al-Shaybani, a just cause for war included the expansion of the Islamic empire, either by increasing the territory of Muslim states or by establishing client states. Other justifications encompassed suppressing rebellions (whether by Muslims, dhimmis, or apostates), punishing brigandry, and ensuring the safety of lives and property from violence. He stipulated that only those who posed a direct military threat were legitimate targets for deadly force. Al-Shaybani also explored the use of weapons like "hurling machines" (catapults or similar siege engines) that might inadvertently harm non-combatants. He deemed their use permissible as long as care was taken to aim at combatants and efforts were made to avoid killing non-combatants.

3.2.2. Treatment of Non-combatants and Civilians

A significant aspect of al-Shaybani's legal framework was its emphasis on humanitarian safeguards during conflict. He strictly prohibited the killing of non-combatants, including women, children, old men, the disabled, and the insane. This reflects an early recognition of the need to protect vulnerable populations during hostilities, laying a framework for military ethics that prioritized the preservation of innocent lives.

3.2.3. Law of Treaties and Diplomacy

Al-Shaybani's writings also extensively covered diplomatic relations and the law of treaties between states. He addressed various aspects of international diplomacy, including peace treaties, the exchange of prisoners of war, and the payment of ransoms and tributes. Historical records indicate that the Umayyad and Abbasid Caliphs engaged in continuous diplomatic negotiations with the Byzantine Empire on such matters, showcasing the practical application of these legal principles.

3.2.4. Treatment of POWs, Refugees, and Asylum Seekers

His works provided detailed guidelines for the humane treatment of prisoners of war (POWs), refugees, and individuals seeking asylum. Al-Shaybani differentiated between captives based on their combatant status, noting that male captives might be spared or killed depending on the commander's assessment of the best course of action. His comprehensive approach to these issues reflected an early form of humanitarian law within the Islamic legal tradition.

3.2.5. Status of Non-Muslims under Muslim Rule

Al-Shaybani also addressed the rights and treatment of non-Muslim subjects living within Islamic states. His views contributed to the development of concepts related to minority protection and the legal status of non-Muslim communities under Muslim governance, ensuring their rights and obligations were clearly defined within the framework of Islamic law.

3.2.6. Humanitarian Aspects and Social Impact

The ethical and humanitarian considerations embedded within al-Shaybani's legal framework had significant social implications. His emphasis on protecting non-combatants, humane treatment of prisoners, and established diplomatic protocols fostered a legal environment that sought to regulate conflict and promote justice in inter-state relations. These principles contributed to a more structured approach to interfaith and inter-state interactions, reflecting a concern for human dignity even amidst conflict.

3.4. Major Juristic Works

Al-Shaybani authored several key treatises that remain foundational texts in Islamic legal history. His major works include:

  • Introduction to the Law of Nations (often identified with Kitāb al-Siyar al-Ṣaghīr, or the Small Siyar), which provided initial guidelines on international law.
  • Kitāb al-Siyar al-Kabīr (The Great Siyar), a more advanced and comprehensive treatise on Islamic international law.
  • al-Jāmi' al-Kabīr (The Great Collection), a significant compilation of legal opinions and principles, central to Hanafi legal thought.
  • al-Jāmi' al-Ṣaghīr (The Small Collection), another important collection of legal rulings.
  • Kitāb al-Ziyādāt (The Book of Additions or Supplement), which further elaborated on legal issues.

These works systematized Hanafi jurisprudence and established the foundational principles of Islamic international law, influencing generations of jurists.

4. Influence and Legacy

Muhammad al-Shaybani's scholarship left an indelible mark on Islamic legal thought, shaping the development of both jurisprudence and international law for centuries to come.

4.1. Key Pupils and the Spread of the Hanafi School

Al-Shaybani's influence extended significantly through his numerous students, among whom Muhammad ibn Idris ash-Shafi`i, the founder of the Shafi'i school of fiqh, stands out as the most prestigious. Even when ash-Shafi'i later developed his own distinct legal methodology and occasionally disagreed with his teacher, he maintained profound admiration for al-Shaybani. Beyond ash-Shafi'i, al-Shaybani fostered a large number of disciples during his stay in Greater Khorasan. The dissemination of his teachings by these students played a crucial role in the expansion and consolidation of the Hanafi school, particularly facilitating its spread into regions like Central Asia.

4.2. Impact on Islamic Jurisprudence and International Law

Al-Shaybani's works profoundly influenced subsequent Islamic legal scholarship. His systematic approach to Hanafi jurisprudence helped solidify its structure and methodology, ensuring its continued prominence as one of the four main Sunni schools of law. More notably, his pioneering treatises on Siyar established the foundational concepts of Islamic international law. These works provided a comprehensive framework for inter-state relations, covering principles of warfare, diplomacy, and humanitarian treatment. His contributions were instrumental in shaping how Islamic legal scholars approached issues of global governance and ethical conduct in international affairs, influencing legal thought both within and beyond the Islamic world.

4.3. Historical Reputation and Evaluation

Due to his groundbreaking work in defining the legal framework for relations between Islamic and non-Islamic states, Muhammad al-Shaybani is widely celebrated as the "Father of Muslim International Law." His systematic and comprehensive approach to the subject has also led to his comparison with Hugo Grotius, the Dutch jurist often regarded as the father of modern international law, earning al-Shaybani the appellation "Grotius of Islam." The remark by Caliph Harun al-Rashid upon al-Shaybani's death, that he "buried law and grammar side by side," further underscores the profound and widespread recognition of his contributions to legal thought and scholarship during his lifetime and throughout history.

5. Prominent Hanafi Scholars

The Hanafi school of jurisprudence, significantly systematized by al-Shaybani, has been upheld and developed by numerous scholars across centuries. These include:

5.1. 8th Century CE (2nd Hijri Century)

  • Abu Hanifa (founder of the school; 699-767)
  • Abu Yusuf (738-798)
  • Ibn al-Mubarak (726-797)
  • Muhammad al-Shaybani (749-805)
  • Waki' ibn al-Jarrah (d. 812)

5.2. 9th Century CE (3rd Hijri Century)

  • Isa ibn Aban (d. 836)
  • Ahmad ibn Abi Du'ad (777-854)
  • Yahya ibn Aktham (d. 857)
  • Al-Hakim al-Tirmidhi (d. 869)
  • Al-Ḫaṣṣāf (d. 874)
  • Abu Bakr al-Samarqandi (d. 882)

5.3. 10th Century CE (4th Hijri Century)

  • Al-Tahawi (843-933)
  • Abu Mansur al-Maturidi (853-944)
  • Al-Hakim al-Samarqandi (b. 874)
  • Al-Jassas (917-981)
  • Abu al-Layth al-Samarqandi (944-983)

5.4. 11th Century CE (5th Hijri Century)

  • Abu al-Husayn al-Basri (d. 1044)
  • Karima al-Marwaziyya (969-1069)
  • Ali Hujwiri (1009-1072)
  • Al-Bazdawi (1010-1089)
  • Al-Sarakhsi (d. 1090)
  • Abu al-Yusr al-Bazdawi (1030-1100)
  • Abu al-Mu'in al-Nasafi (d. 1115)
  • Abu al-Thana' al-Lamishi

5.5. 12th Century CE (6th Hijri Century)

  • Abu Ishaq al-Saffar al-Bukhari (d. 1139)
  • Ibn al-Malāḥimī (d. 1141)
  • Yusuf Hamadani (1062-1141)
  • Abu Hafs Umar al-Nasafi (1067-1142)
  • Al-Zamakhshari (1074-1143)
  • Siraj al-Din al-Ushi (d. 1180)
  • Nur al-Din al-Sabuni (d. 1184)
  • Fatima al-Samarqandi (d. 1185)
  • Al-Kasani (d. 1191)
  • Jamal al-Din al-Ghaznawi (d. 1197)
  • Burhan al-Din al-Marghinani (1135-1197)

5.6. 13th Century CE (7th Hijri Century)

  • Rumi (1207-1273)
  • Jalaluddin Tabrizi (d. 1228)
  • Qutbuddin Bakhtiar Kaki (1173-1235)
  • Mu'in al-Din Chishti (1143-1236)
  • Baba Farid (1173-1266)
  • Abu Tawwama (d. 1300)
  • Abu al-Barakat al-Nasafi (d. 1310)

5.7. 14th Century CE (8th Hijri Century)

  • Nizamuddin Auliya (1238-1325)
  • Uthman bin Ali Zayla'i (d. 1342)
  • Shah Jalal Mujarrad (1271-1346)
  • Uthman Siraj ad-Din (1258-1357)
  • Ala al-Haq (1301-1384)
  • Jahaniyan Jahangasht (1308-1384)
  • Akmal al-Din al-Babarti (d. 1384)
  • Al-Taftazani (1322-1390)
  • Ibn Abi al-Izz (1331-1390)
  • Shams al-Din al-Samarqandi (1350-1410)
  • Al-Sharif al-Jurjani (1339-1414)

5.8. 15th Century CE (9th Hijri Century)

  • Nur Qutb Alam (d. 1416)
  • Bande Nawaz (1321-1422)
  • Shams al-Din al-Fanari (1350-1431)
  • 'Ala' al-Din al-Bukhari (1377-1438)
  • Husam ad-Din Manikpuri (d. 1449)
  • Badr al-Din al-Ayni (1361-1451)
  • Al-Kamal ibn al-Humam (1388-1457)
  • Ali Qushji (1403-1474)
  • Khidr Bey (b. 1407)

5.9. 16th Century CE (10th Hijri Century)

  • Zenbilli Ali Cemali Efendi (1445-1526)
  • Ibn Kemal (1468-1536)
  • Abdul Quddus Gangohi (1456-1537)
  • Ibrāhīm al-Ḥalabī (1460-1549)
  • Fahreddin-i Acemi (d. 1460)
  • Muhammad Ghawth (1500-1562)
  • Nagore Shahul Hamid (1504-1570)
  • Mosleh al-Din Lari (1510-1572)
  • Muhammad Birgivi (1522-1573)
  • Ebussuud Efendi (1490-1574)
  • Hamza Makhdoom (1494-1576)
  • Wajihuddin Alvi (1490-1580)
  • Taşköprülüzade Ahmet (1495-1561)
  • Yaqub Sarfi Kashmiri (1521-1595)
  • Sadeddin Efendi (1536-1599)
  • Mustafa Selaniki (d. 1600)
  • Ali al-Qari (d. 1606)

5.10. 17th Century CE (11th Hijri Century)

  • Ahmad Sirhindi (1564-1624)
  • Esad Efendi (1570-1625)
  • Kadızade Mehmed (1582-1635)
  • 'Abd al-Haqq al-Dehlawi (1551-1642)
  • Mehmed Efendi (1595-1654)
  • Kâtip Çelebi (1609-1657)
  • Jana Begum
  • Shihab al-Din al-Khafaji (1569-1659)
  • Khayr al-Din al-Ramli (1585-1671)
  • Syed Rafi Mohammad (d. 1679)
  • Mir Zahid Harawi (d. 1689)
  • Syed Inayatullah (d. 1713)

5.11. 18th Century CE (12th Hijri Century)

  • Shah Abdur Rahim (1644-1719)
  • Zinat-un-Nissa Begum (1643-1721)
  • Syed Hayatullah (d. 1722)
  • Abd al-Ghani al-Nabulsi (1641-1731)
  • Syed Mohammad Zaman (d. 1756)
  • Hashim Thattvi (1692-1761)
  • Shah Waliullah Dehlawi (1703-1762)
  • Shah Nuri Bengali (d. 1785)
  • Mirza Mazhar Jan-e-Janaan (1699-1781)
  • Murtada al-Zabidi (1732-1790)
  • Sanaullah Panipati (1730-1810)
  • Syed Mohammad Rafi (d. 1803)
  • Majduddin (d. 1813)

5.12. 19th Century CE (13th Hijri Century)

  • Çerkes Halil Efendi (d. 1821)
  • Ghulam Ali Dehlavi (1743-1824)
  • Shah Abdul Aziz (1746-1824)
  • Fatima al-Fudayliya (d. 1831)
  • Syed Ahmad Barelvi (1786-1831)
  • Syed Mir Nisar Ali (1782-1831)
  • Ibn Abidin (1784-1836)
  • Haji Shariatullah (1781-1840)
  • Shah Muhammad Ishaq (1783-1846)
  • Mamluk Ali Nanautawi (1789-1851)
  • Mahmud al-Alusi (1802-1854)
  • Fazl-e-Haq Khairabadi (1796-1861)
  • Dudu Miyan (1819-1862)
  • Karamat Ali Jaunpuri (1800-1873)
  • Al-Maydani (1807-1861)
  • Haji Dost Muhammad Qandhari (1801-1868)
  • Mehr Ali Qadiri (1808-1868)
  • Yusuf Ma Dexin (1794-1874)
  • Naqi Ali Khan (1830-1880)
  • Muhammad Qasim Nanautavi (1832-1880)
  • Ahmad Ali Saharanpuri (1810-1880)
  • Yaqub Nanautawi (1833-1884)
  • Mazhar Nanautawi (1821-1885)
  • Ubaidullah Suhrawardy (1832-1885)
  • Abd al-Hayy al-Lucknawi (1848-1886)
  • Siddiq Bharchundi (1819-1890)
  • Rafiuddin Deobandi (1836-1890)
  • Rahmatullah Kairanawi (1818-1891)
  • Mustafa Ruhi Efendi (1800-1891)
  • Mahmoodullah Hussaini (d. 1894)
  • Syed Ahmad Dehlavi (died 1894)
  • Imdadullah Muhajir Makki (1817-1899)
  • Hafiz Ahmad Jaunpuri (1834-1899)
  • Rashid Ahmad Gangohi (1826-1905)
  • Abdul Wahid Bengali (1850-1905)
  • Syed Ahmadullah Maizbhandari (1826-1906)
  • Fazlur Rahman Usmani (1831-1907)
  • Abd Allah ibn Abbas ibn Siddiq (1854-1907)
  • Muhammad Naimuddin (1832-1907)
  • Hassan Raza Khan (1859-1908)
  • Sayyid Muhammad Abid (1834-1912)
  • Ahmad Hasan Amrohi (1850-1912)
  • Kareemullah Shah (1838-1913)
  • Shibli Nomani (1857-1914)
  • Najib Ali Choudhury (fl. 1870s)

5.13. 20th Century CE (14th Hijri Century)

  • Mehmet Cemaleddin Efendi (1848-1917)
  • Abdul Awwal Jaunpuri (1867-1921)
  • Azimuddin Hanafi (1838-1922)
  • Medeni Mehmet Nuri Efendi (1859-1927)
  • Hamiduddin Farahi (1863-1930)
  • Machiliwale Shah (d. 1932)
  • Abdur Rab Jaunpuri (1875-1935)
  • Meher Ali Shah (1859-1937)
  • Ghulamur Rahman Maizbhandari (1865-1937)
  • Muhammad Ishaq (1883-1938)
  • Mohammad Abu Bakr Siddique (1845-1939)
  • Abd Allah Siraj (1876-1949)
  • Khwaja Yunus Ali (1886-1951)
  • Nesaruddin Ahmad (1873-1952)
  • Al-Kawthari (1879-1952)
  • Mustafa Sabri (1869-1954)
  • Ghousi Shah (1893-1954)
  • Abdul Khaleque Chhaturawi (1892-1955)
  • Ahmed Ali Enayetpuri (1898-1959)
  • Abdul Batin Jaunpuri (1900-1973)
  • Momtazuddin Ahmad (1889-1974)
  • Muhammad Abu Zahra (1898-1974)
  • Amimul Ehsan Barkati (1911-1974)
  • Ghulam Mohiyuddin Gilani (1891-1974)
  • Abul Wafa Al Afghani (1893-1975)
  • Abdul Majid Daryabadi (1892-1977)
  • Abul A'la Maududi (1903-1979)
  • Abdur Rahim Firozpuri (1918-1987)
  • Muntakhib al-Haqq (fl. 1980s)
  • Abu Zafar Mohammad Saleh (1915-1990)
  • Ahmed Muhyuddin Nuri Shah Jilani (1915-1990)
  • Sayed Moazzem Hossain (1901-1991)
  • Hamid al-Ansari Ghazi (1909-1992)
  • Ayub Ali (1919-1995)
  • Mukhtar Ashraf (1916-1996)
  • Abdul Haque Faridi (1903-1996)
  • Shamsul-hasan Shams Barelvi (1917-1997)
  • Abd al-Fattah Abu Ghudda (1917-1997)
  • Amin Ahsan Islahi (1904-1997)
  • Ghulam Moinuddin Gilani (1920-1997)
  • Naeem Siddiqui (1916-2002)
  • Abdul Latif Fultali (1913-2008)
  • Muhammad Abdullah (1932-2008)
  • Naseeruddin Naseer Gilani (1949-2009)

5.14. 21st Century CE (15th Hijri Century)

  • Israr Ahmed (1932-2010)
  • Marghubur Rahman (1914-2010)
  • Abu Saeed Muhammad Omar Ali (1945-2010)
  • Naseer Ahmad Khan Bulandshahri (1918-2010)
  • Zafeeruddin Miftahi (1926-2011)
  • Azizul Haque (1919-2012)
  • Abdus Sattar Akon (1929-2012)
  • Shah Saeed Ahmed Raipuri (1926-2012)
  • Fazlul Haque Amini (1945-2012)
  • Wahbi Sulayman Ghawji (1923-2013)
  • Muhammad Fazal Karim (1954-2013)
  • Qazi Mu'tasim Billah (1933-2013)
  • Zubairul Hasan Kandhlawi (1950-2014)
  • Nurul Islam Farooqi (1959-2014)
  • Ahmad Naruyi (1963-2014)
  • Asad Muhammad Saeed as-Sagharji (d. 2015)
  • Abdur Rahman Chatgami (1920-2015)
  • Abdul Majeed Ludhianvi (1935-2015)
  • Abdullah Quraishi Al-Azhari (1935-2015)
  • Sibtain Raza Khan (1927-2015)
  • Muhiuddin Khan (1935-2016)
  • Abdul Jabbar Jahanabadi (1937-2016)
  • Shah Turab-ul-Haq (1944-2016)
  • Saleemullah Khan (1921-2017)
  • Yunus Jaunpuri (1937-2017)
  • Alauddin Siddiqui (1938-2017)
  • Muhammad Abdul Wahhab (1923-2018)
  • Salim Qasmi (1926-2018)
  • Akhtar Raza Khan (1943-2018)
  • Iftikhar-ul-Hasan Kandhlawi (1922-2019)
  • Yusuf Motala (1946-2019)
  • Ghulam Nabi Kashmiri (1965-2019)
  • Khalid Mahmud (1925-2020)
  • Tafazzul Haque Habiganji (1938-2020)
  • Muhammad Abdus Sobhan (1936-2020)
  • Abdul Momin Imambari (1930-2020)
  • Saeed Ahmad Palanpuri (1940-2020)
  • Salman Mazahiri (1946-2020)
  • Shah Ahmad Shafi (1945-2020)
  • Adil Khan (1957-2020)
  • Khadim Hussain Rizvi (1966-2020)
  • Nur Hossain Kasemi (1945-2020)
  • Azizur Rahman Hazarvi (1948-2020)
  • Nizamuddin Asir Adrawi (1926-2021)
  • Muhammad Ali al-Sabuni (1930-2021)
  • Muhammad Wakkas (1952-2021)
  • Noor Alam Khalil Amini (1952-2021)
  • Usman Mansoorpuri (1944-2021)
  • Junaid Babunagari (1953-2021)
  • Wali Rahmani (1943-2021)
  • Ebrahim Desai (1963-2021)
  • Abdus Salam Chatgami (1943-2021)
  • Abdur Razzaq Iskander (1935-2021)
  • Nurul Islam Jihadi (1916-2021)
  • Faizul Waheed (1964-2021)
  • Wahiduddin Khan (1925-2021)
  • AbdulWahid Rigi (d. 2022)
  • Abdul Halim Bukhari (1945-2022)
  • Rafi Usmani (1936-2022)
  • Delwar Hossain Sayeedi (1940-2023)
  • Shahidul Islam (1960-2023)
  • Saifur Rahman Nizami (b. 1916)
  • Ghulam Rasool Jamaati (b. 1923)
  • Syed Waheed Ashraf (b. 1933)
  • Syed Abdul Qadir Jilani (b. 1935)
  • Muhibbullah Babunagari (b. 1935)
  • Ziaul Mustafa Razvi Qadri (b. 1935)
  • Abdul Qadir Pakistani (b. 1935)
  • Nematullah Azami (b. 1936)
  • Yusuf Ziya Kavakçı (b. 1938)
  • Madni Miyan (b. 1938)
  • Qamruddin Ahmad Gorakhpuri (b. 1938)
  • Sultan Zauq Nadvi (b. 1939)
  • Zia Uddin (b. 1941)
  • Arshad Madani (b. 1941)
  • Taqi Usmani (b. 1943)
  • Kamaluddin Zafree (b. 1945)
  • Muneeb-ur-Rehman (b. 1945)
  • Qamaruzzaman Azmi (b. 1946)
  • Abdolhamid Ismaeelzahi (b. 1946)
  • Abul Qasim Nomani (b. 1947)
  • Idrees Dahiri (b. 1947)
  • Farid Uddin Chowdhury (b. 1947)
  • Farid Uddin Masood (b. 1950)
  • Mahmudul Hasan (b. 1950)
  • Mukhtaruddin Shah (b. 1950)
  • Ilyas Qadri (b. 1950)
  • Kafeel Ahmad Qasmi (b. 1951)
  • Tahir-ul-Qadri (b. 1951)
  • Abul Kalam Qasmi Shamsi (b. 1951)
  • Yaseen Akhtar Misbahi (b. 1953)
  • Tariq Jamil (b. 1953)
  • Zulfiqar Ahmad Naqshbandi (b. 1953)
  • Abdul Khaliq Madrasi (b. 1953)
  • Sufyan Qasmi (b. 1954)
  • Nadeem al-Wajidi (b. 1954)
  • Nurul Islam Walipuri (b. 1955)
  • Sajjad Nomani (b. 1955)
  • Ghousavi Shah (b. 1955)
  • Ameen Mian Quadri (b. 1955)
  • Pir Sabir Shah (b. 1955)
  • Abu Taher Misbah (b. 1956)
  • Kaukab Noorani Okarvi (b. 1957)
  • Hamid Saeed Kazmi (b. 1957)
  • Rahmatullah Mir Qasmi (b. 1957)
  • AFM Khalid Hossain (b. 1959)
  • Najibul Bashar Maizbhandari (b. 1959)
  • Abdul Aziz Ghazi (b. 1960)
  • Shakir Ali Noori (b. 1960)
  • Ruhul Amin (b. 1962)
  • Mizanur Rahman Sayed (b. 1963)
  • Hanif Jalandhari (b. 1963)
  • Sajidur Rahman (b. 1964)
  • Ibrahim Mogra (b. 1965)
  • Saad Kandhlawi (b. 1965)
  • Faiz-ul-Aqtab Siddiqi (b. 1967)
  • Abdullah Maroofi (b. 1967)
  • Arshad Misbahi (b. 1968)
  • Abu Reza Nadwi (b. 1968)
  • Mahfuzul Haque (b. 1969)
  • Ilyas Ghuman (b. 1969)
  • Bilal Abdul Hai Hasani Nadwi (b. 1969)
  • Qasim Rashid Ahmad (b. 1970)
  • Asjad Raza Khan (b. 1970)
  • Syed Rezaul Karim (b. 1971)
  • Riyadh ul Haq (b. 1971)
  • Arif Jameel Mubarakpuri (b. 1971)
  • Obaidullah Hamzah (b. 1972)
  • Raza Saqib Mustafai (b. 1972)
  • Manzoor Mengal (b. 1973)
  • Syed Faizul Karim (b. 1973)
  • Mamunul Haque (b. 1973)
  • Husamuddin Fultali (b. 1974)
  • Abdur Rahman Mangera (b. 1974)
  • Faraz Rabbani (b. 1974)
  • Ishtiaque Ahmad Qasmi (b. 1974)
  • Adnan Kakakhail (b. 1975)
  • Muhammad al-Kawthari (b. 1976)
  • Harun Izhar (b. 1977)
  • Amer Jamil (b. 1977)
  • Yasir Nadeem al Wajidi (b. 1982)
  • Shahinur Pasha Chowdhury (b. 1985)
  • Abbas Siddiqui (b. 1987)
  • Kaif Raza Khan (b. 2001)
  • Ghulam Mohammad Vastanvi
  • Tauqeer Raza Khan
  • Subhan Raza Khan
  • Abdul Malek Halim
  • Izharul Islam Chowdhury
  • Amjad M. Mohammed
  • Anwar-ul-Haq Haqqani
  • Mukarram Ahmad
  • Abdul Khabeer Azad
  • Muzaffar Qadri

6. Personal Life

Details about Muhammad al-Shaybani's personal life are limited in historical records. It is known that he was born into a family with a military background, but he chose to pursue an intellectual career from a young age, dedicating his life to the study and development of Islamic law.

7. Death

Muhammad al-Shaybani died in 805 CE in Rey, Iran, while accompanying Caliph Harun al-Rashid to Greater Khorasan. He passed away on the same day and in the same location as Al-Kisaʾi, a renowned Kufan philologist and grammarian. This coincidence led Caliph al-Rashid to make his famous remark about burying law and grammar together, highlighting the significant loss felt by the intellectual community at the passing of these two great scholars.