Hazrat Imam Shafi was born 150 AH (767 CE) in Gaza. His full name is Abu Abdullah Muhammad ibn Idrees Ash-Shafi. Imam Shafi belonged to a tribe called Quraish, this is the same tribe to which Hazrat Muhammad belonged to.

His father died when he was very young and was brought up by his mother. When he was around two years of age, Imam Shafi and his mother migrated to Makkah where he grew up.

It is said that Imam Shafi memorised the Holy Quran at the age of seven, then he memorised Imam Malik's book Al-Muwatta (The Approved) at the age of ten.

At the age of around thirteen he went to Madina and learned under Imam Malik ibn Anas. Imam Malik was very impressed by his student's memory and intelligence. He learned from many scholars of his time and became an expert of fiqh (Islamic jurisprudence).

Imam Shafi authored many books during his lifetime but his two most important works are Al-Risala and Kitab-ul-Umm.

Imam Shafi was taken as a prisoner because of political problems in the time of Khalifa (Caliph) Haroon Ar-Raheed but the charges were dropped when he was found innocent.

Imam Shafi died in 204 AH (819 CE) in Egypt and is also buried there.