Laysi

Laysi Madhhab (Arabic: الْمُذْهَبُ اللَّيْثِيُّ) was a school of Sunni Islam made in the 8th century. It was based on the religious opinions (fatwas) of Imam Lays Ibn Saad. This school started in Egypt and Imam Lays was a famous scholar at that time. He lived at the same time as other famous scholars like Imam Malik and Imam Abu Hanifa.

One special thing about the Laysi Madhhab was that it did not follow the rules and traditions of Maliki people called 'Amalu Ahlul Madina' (the ways of people of Medina).^[1]

The Laysi Madhhab did not last long. After Imam Lays died in 791 CE, this school disappeared. Even though it was not very big, it is important in the history of Fiqh.^[2]

Imam Lays Ibn Saad was born in 716 CE in Egypt, but his family came from Persia. He learned almost all branches of Islamic knowledge and became the main Islamic scholar of Egypt. He had many arguments with Imam Malik about Fiqh, especially about following the traditions of Medina. Imam Lays thought that in Sharia, traditions should have less role. The main sources should be the Quran, Hadith, and reason.^[2]

Imam Lays followed the Quran, Sunnah, and Ijma when giving fatwas. He also used Qiyas and people’s opinions.^[3]

He disagreed with many opinions of his contemporary Imam Malik, especially when Malik used the ways of Medina people as a special base for Fiqh. Lays did not accept this.^[4]

Imam Lays only relied on Sahih Hadith and the Ijma of the companions. ^[5][6]

In a letter to Malik, he said: "The companions of Allah’s Messenger, in the times of Abu Bakr, Umar, and Uthman, did what they did in Egypt, Sham, and Iraq until they died, and people are still doing it the same way. We think it is not right for Muslims now to do the opposite of what they did." ^[7]

He believed that all practices done regularly by the Prophet were wajib (necessary). For example, reading the first Tashahhud in Maghrib and four-rak‘ah prayers.^[8][9]

He also thought it is okay to make a general rule from Hadith even if the Quran gives a general command. For example, the imam reads Quran loudly, but the people praying must say Al-Fatihah. He followed the Hadith that says: "If a person does not read Surah Al-Fatihah, his prayer is not valid." ^[10]

He explained the Quran verse: "When the Quran is recited, listen to it quietly and carefully" (Surah A‘raf 7:204) with this Hadith.

Sheikh Mustafa Abdur Razzaq said that Lays led his Fiqh thinking in a moral and spiritual way. He used many Hadiths that guide good character and manners, and also explain limits and trade rules.^[11]

Even though Malik Ibn Anas was known as the leader of the scholars, Imam Shafi‘i said: "Lays Ibn Saad was more careful in following Hadith than Malik." ^[8]

The school ended soon after Imam Lays died. Imam Shafi‘i said: "Lays was a bigger scholar than Malik, but his followers could not keep him." ^[12]

The main reason it ended was because Imam Shafi‘i came to live in Egypt. After Lays died, Shafi‘i arrived, and his school became popular. This made the Laysi Madhhab almost disappear.^[2]

People say Laysi Madhhab ended for three reasons:

• Imam Lays did not write down his Fiqh opinions or ask others to write them. So few were saved in history.
• He had very few students, and none became important scholars, so the school did not spread.
• Imam Shafi‘i came to Egypt which led to the Shafi'i school replacing the Laysi school.^{[13] [1]}

Egyptian thinker Ahmad Amin said in his book "Juha al-Islam" that Lays’ Madhhab disappeared because he did not try enough to save it.^[14]