Al-Muwatta

Author: Imam Malik ibn Anas

Al-Muwatta was Malik's book, the best, most beneficial, and most influential of all the books written up to that time. Caliph Abu Ja'far al-Mansur (d. 158 AH) approached Imam Malik during the Hajj season, asking him to author a book on Fiqh that would consolidate scattered knowledge and organize authorship according to scientific standards he outlined, saying: "O Abu Abdullah, compile Fiqh and write books from it. Avoid the strictness of Abdullah ibn Umar, the concessions of Abdullah ibn Abbas, and the unusual opinions of Abdullah ibn Mas'ud. Aim for moderation and what the Imams and Companions agreed upon, so that, God willing, people will follow your work and your books. We will spread them throughout the regions and instruct them not to deviate from them." Al-Mansur requested Imam Malik to unite the people upon his book, but Malik did not agree, which reflected his complete knowledge and fairness. He said: "Indeed, people have collected and come across things we have not encountered." - From the sciences of Hadith by Al-Hafiz Ibn Kathir