Yahya al-Laithi

Abu Muhammad Yahya al-Laithi ibn Yahya ibn Kathir ibn Wislasen ibn Shammal ibn Mangaya (died 848), better known as Yahya ibn Yahya, was a prominent Andalusian Muslim scholar. He was responsible for introducing the Maliki school of jurisprudence in Al-Andalus. Furthermore, he is considered the most important transmitter of Malik ibn Anas' Muwatta.

He was born in the area of Algeciras to a family of Masmuda Berber origin. His grandfather had participated in the Muslim conquest of Iberia by Tariq ibn Ziyad. Later his grandfather was given the gouvernership of the Algeciras and Medina-Sidonia area by the first emir of Cordoba, Abd al-Rahman. His descendants, the Banu Abi 'Isa, would subsequently rise to power in Andalusi society.

Yahya ibn Yahya traveled to the East at a young age and studied with Malik ibn Anas, becoming an ardent follower of his. Al-Andalus in his time was dominated by the Hanifa school, as was the rest of the 8th century Islamic world. Returning to Al-Andalus, he focused on his scholarly work. As a member of the shura (the advisory board that the emir and judges had to consult), he had an enormous influence on the nomination of legal positions. Still, he himself never accepted a legal position. In his role as member of the shura he became close to the ruler of Al-Andalus, who was apparently impressed with his intelligence and authority on Islamic matters. He thus grew to become the most imfluential member of the shura, giving him the opportunity to nominate judges who also favored the Maliki school. At the end of his life, the Maliki school was the most important in Al-Andalus.

At one point he was accused of taking part in a rising, after which he fled Cordoba to live amongst the Masmuda tribes near Toledo. He was pardoned by emir Al-Hakam I and allowed to return.

His descendants, the Banu Abu 'Isa, too became powerful players in Cordoban politics.

al-Laith refers to an Arab tribe, members of which were responsible for converting his ancestors in Morocco. Wislasen is a Berber name meaning he who hears/listens.

Imaam Malik—was reading in the Masjid, narrating the hadith of the Prophet and with him was Yahya ibn Yahya Al Layth the narrator of his Muwatta—he and the other students were around Imaam Malik.

A caller screamed out: Great elephants have come to Al Medina!

The people of Al Medina had not seen elephants because elephants do not live in this country. All of the students rushed to see the elephants and they left Malik; except for Yahya ibn Yahya Al Layth; only.

Malik said to him: Why? Have you seen elephants before?

He said: I travelled to see Malik not to see elephants.

And for this reason Allah the Exalted rewarded him such that the narration which is now spread throughout the East of the earth and the West of it, and relied upon for the Muwatta of Imaam Malik, it is the narration of Yahya ibn Yahya Al Layth; despite him being from his minor students. There are narrations from people greater than him, but it was not written that they be granted acceptance.

Muslim Scholars of the Maliki School 2nd Islamic Century (100 - 199 AH) (8th century AD) Malik ibn Anas (founder of the school) Ibn al-Qasim Ibn Wahb Ibn Bashir Ali ibn Ziyad 3rd Islamic Century (200 - 299 AH) (9th century AD) Ashhab Ibn Nafi' Ibn 'Abd al-Hakam Asad ibn al-Furat Ibn al-Majishun Ibn Nafi' az-Zubayri Ibn Maslama al-Makhzumi Mutarrif Ibn Maslama al-Qa'nabi Yahya al-Laithi Al-Asbagh Ibn Habib Sahnun Al-'Utbi Ibn Sahnun Muhammad ibn 'Abd al-Hakam Ibn al-Mawwaz Qadi Isma'il 4th Islamic Century (300 - 399 AH) (10th century AD) Ibn al-Jallab Ibn Sha'ban Ibn Shiblun Al-Abhari Ibn Abi Zayd 5th Islamic Century (400 - 499 AH) (11th century AD) Al-Baqillani Ibn 'Abd al-Barr Al-Baji Al-Lakhmi Qadi 'Abd al-Wahhab 6th Islamic Century (500 - 599 AH) (12th century AD) Ibn Rushd al-Jadd At-Turtushi Sanad ibn 'Inan Al-Maziri Qadi Ayyad Averroes Abu Bakr ibn al-Arabi 7th Islamic Century (600 - 699 AH) (13th century AD) Ibn Shas Ibn al-Hajib Ibn Daqiq al-Eid al-Qurtubi al-Qarafi 8th Islamic Century (700 - 799 AH) (14th century AD) Ibn al-Haj Ibn Farhun Ash-Shatibi Ibn Juzayy Khalil ibn-Ishaq Al-Fakihani 9th Islamic Century (800 - 899 AH) (15th century AD) Ibn Marzuq Al-Mawwaq Ibn 'Arafa Ibn Khaldun Ahmad Zarruq 10th Islamic Century (900 - 999 AH) (16th century AD) Al-Akhdari At-Tata'i Al-Hattab 'Abd ar-Rahman al-Ujhuri Nasir ud-Deen al-Laqqani Ali ibn Qasim al-Zaqqaq Al-Wansharisi 11th Islamic Century (1000 - 1099 AH) (17th century AD) Al-Ujhuri Al-Laqqani Az-Zurqani Ibn Ashir Mayyara 12th Islamic Century (1100 - 1199 AH) (18th century AD) Al-Kharashi Al-'Adawi An-Nafrawi Al-Bannani Ad-Dardir 13th Islamic Century (1200 - 1299 AH) (19th century AD) Ad-Desouki As-Sawi 'Illish Al-'Adawi 14th Islamic Century (1300 - 1399 AH) (20th century AD) Abdallah Bin Bayyah Muhammad Alawi al-Maliki Mohamed Taher Ben Achour Mohamed Fadhel Ben Achour Al-Habib Bin Tahir Hamza Yusuf

References

• Ibn Khallikan (2010). Ibn Khallikan's Biographical Dictionary, Vol. IV. translated: William Macguckin De Slane. Cosimo.inc. pp. 29–33. ISBN 978-1-61640-338-6. 
• John Nawas Monique Bernards (2005). Patronate And Patronage in Early And Classical Islam (Islamic History and Civilization). Brill Academic Pub. p. 204. ISBN 90-04-14480-3.