Shafi Inamdar (1949 – 13 March 1996) was an Indian actor. He started his film career with the film Vijeta and continued it in Ardh Satya. He acted in a number of television serials including Yeh Jo Hai Zindagi. Shafi married actress Bhakti Barve. He died on 13 March 1996. His wife died in a road accident on 12 February 2001. Shafi's most notable film roles include the inspector in Aaj Ki Awaz, the villain in Awam (film) and the friend of the hero in films like Nazrana, Anokha Rishta and Amrit (film). Some of his other films are 'Kudrat Ka Kanoon', 'Jurm', 'Sadaa Suhagan' and 'Love 86', all successful films.

Background[link]

Shafi Inamdar received his education at St. Joseph's High School in Umerkhadi (Dongri) in Mumbai, India. He is particularly known for playing the common man's role. He has acted in numerous television shows. One of his memorable performances on television was in 'Teri bhi chup Meri bhi chup'. .He also played the role of an advocate in the Hindi film Yeshwant, which was released after his death. He got noticed in Ramesh Sippy's film Saagar. He also directed a film titled 'Hum Dono', starring Nana Patekar, Rishi Kapoor and Pooja Bhatt. The film was a hit and he was considered a good director.

Filmography[link]

Television[link]

Awards and nominations[link]

• 1985: Nominated: Filmfare Best Supporting Actor Award for Aaj Ki Awaaz

External links[link]

• Shafi Inamdar at the Internet Movie Database
• Shafi Inamdar at IndiaFM

v t e Bollywood (Hindi cinema) Directors · Actors · Playback singers · Music Directors · Songs · Bibliography Hindi films A–Z—Highest-grossing Films by year: 1930s · 1940 · 1941 · 1942 · 1943 · 1944 · 1945 · 1946 · 1947 · 1948 · 1949 · 1950 · 1951 · 1952 · 1953 · 1954 · 1955 · 1956 · 1957 · 1958 · 1959 · 1960 · 1961 · 1962 · 1963 · 1964 · 1965 · 1966 · 1967 · 1968 · 1969 · 1970 · 1971 · 1972 · 1973 · 1974 · 1975 · 1976 · 1977 · 1978 · 1979 · 1980 · 1981 · 1982 · 1983 · 1984 · 1985 · 1986 · 1987 · 1988 · 1989 · 1990 · 1991 · 1992 · 1993 · 1994 · 1995 · 1996 · 1997 · 1998 · 1999 · 2000 · 2001 · 2002 · 2003 · 2004 · 2005 · 2006 · 2007 · 2008 · 2009 · 2010 · 2011 · 2012

This article about an Indian actor or actress is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it. v t e

Part of a series on
Sunni Islam
Beliefs
Monotheism Prophethood / Messengership Holy Books · Angels Judgement Day · Predestination
Five Pillars
Declaration of Faith · Prayer Charity · Fasting · Pilgrimage
Rightly guided Caliphs
Abu Bakr · Umar ibn al-Khattab Uthman ibn Affan · Ali ibn Abi Talib
Schools of Law (Shariah)
Hanafi · Maliki · Shafi'i · Hanbali Zahiri · Awza'i · Laythi
Schools of Theology
Ash'ari · Athari · Maturidi
Movements
Salafi · Barelvi · Deobandi · Sufi
Hadith collections
Sahih al-Bukhari · Sahih Muslim Al-Sunan al-Sughra Sunan Abu Dawood Sunan al-Tirmidhi Sunan ibn Majah · Al-Muwatta Sunan al-Darimi
v t e

The Shafi'i (Arabic: شافعي‎ Šāfiʿī ) madhhab is one of the schools of fiqh, or religious law, within the Sunni branch of Islam. Named after Imām ash-Shafi'i, it is followed by approximately 35% of Muslims worldwide in Southeast Asia, Northeast Africa, the Middle East, and parts of the Indian subcontinent.

Principles[link]

The Shafi'i school of thought stipulates authority to four sources of jurisprudence, also known as the Usul al-fiqh. In hierarchical order, the usul al-fiqh consist of: the Quran, the Sunnah of the Islamic prophet Muhammad, ijmā' ("consensus"), and qiyas ("analogy").

The Shafi'i school also refers to the opinions of Muhammad's companions (primarily Al-Khulafa ar-Rashidun). The school, based on Shafi'i's books ar-Risala fi Usul al-Fiqh and Kitab al-Umm, which emphasizes proper istinbaat (derivation of laws) through the rigorous application of legal principles as opposed to speculation or conjecture.

Shafi'i's treatise ar-Risala fi Usul al-Fiqh is not to be mistaken or confused with the al-Risala of Imam Malik.

Imam Shafi'i approached the imperatives of the Islamic Shariah (Canon Law) distinctly in his own systematic methodology. Imam Shafi'i, Imam Malik and Imam Ahmad ibn Hanbal almost entirely exclude the exercise of private judgement in the exposition of legal principles. They are wholly governed by the force of precedents, adhering to the Scripture and Traditions. They also do not admit the validity of a recourse to analogical deduction of such an interpretation of the Law, whereby its spirit is adapted to the circumstances of any special case.

Shafi'i is also known as the "First Among Equals" for his exhaustive knowledge and systematic methodology to religious science.

The Imam[link]

Shafi'i's [150 – 206 AH] full name is Abū ‘Abd Allāh Muhammad ibn Idrīs ibn al-Abbās ibn ‘Uthmān ibn Shāfi‘ ibn as-Sa'ib ibn ‘Ubayd ibn ‘Abd al-Yazīd ibn al-Muttalib ibn ‘Abd Manaf. ‘Abd Manaf was the great great grandfather of Muhammad. Based on this lineage, he is from the Quraish tribe.^[1] He was born in 150 AH (760 CE) in Gaza in the same year Imam Abu Hanifa died.^[2] Al-Nawawī, a prominent Shāfiʻī scholar, cited Sufyan ibn `Uyaynah, one of al-Shafi`i's teachers, as being from "the grandfathers of the Shāfiʻī scholars in their methodology in jurisprudence".^[3]

As a member of the school of Medina, ash-Shafi'i worked to combine the pragmatism of the Medina school with the contemporary pressures of the Traditionalists. The Traditionalists maintained that jurists could not independently adduce a practice as the sunnah of Muhammad based on ijtihad "independent reasoning" but should only produce verdicts substantiated by authentic hadith.

Based on this claim, ash-Shafi'i devised a method for systematic reasoning without relying on personal deduction. He argued that the only authoritative sunnah were those that were both of Muhammad and passed down from Muhammad himself. He also argued that sunnah contradicting the Quran were unacceptable, claiming that sunnah should only be used to explain the Quran. Furthermore, ash-Shafi'i claimed that if a practice is widely accepted throughout the Muslim community, it cannot be in contradiction of sunnah.

Ash-Shafi'i was also a significant poet. His poetry is noted for its beauty, wisdom, despite the fact that during his lifetime he stood off becoming a poet because of his rank as an Islamic scholar. He said once:

و لولا الشعر بالعلماء يزري

لكنت اليوم أشعر من لبيد

For scholars, if poetry did not degrade,

I would have been a finer poet than Labīd.

However, the beauty of his poetry made people collect it in one famous book under the name Diwān Imām al-Shafi'i. Many verses are popularly known and repeated in the Arab world as proverbs:

نعيب زماننا و العيب فينا

و ما لزماننا عيب سوانا

و نهجو ذا الزمان بغير ذنب

و لو نطق الزمان لنا هجانا

We blame our time though we are to blame.

No fault has time but only us.

We scold the time for all the shame.

Had it a tongue, it would scold us.^[4]

The Qur'an has brought a transformation to the Arabic language, especially in Arabic poetry and prose. It has thus shaped the form and essence of contemporary Arabic literature.

Importance of the Shafi'i School[link]

Demographics[link]

According to this map the Shafi`i madhhab (in dark blue) is predominant in Kurdistan, Northeast Africa, parts of the Arabian Peninsula and Southeast Asia. Though this map is controversial and needs critical analysis.

The Shafi'i school is followed throughout the Ummah and is the official school of thought of many traditional scholars and leading Sunni authorities. It is also recognized as the official school of thought by the governments of Brunei Darussalam and Malaysia. In addition, the government of Indonesia uses this madhab for the Indonesian compilation of sharia law.

It is the dominant school of thought amongst Muslims in Yemen, Lower Egypt, Syria, the Palestinian Territories, Jordan, North Caucasus, Kurdistan (East Turkey, North west Iran, North Iraq, Northern Syria), Djibouti, Ethiopia, Eritrea, Somalia, Sudan, Maldives, Malaysia, Brunei Darussalam and Indonesia.

It is also practised by large communities in Kuwait, Saudi Arabia (in the Hejaz and Asir), the United Arab Emirates, Israel, the Swahili Coast, Mauritius, Singapore, South Africa, Thailand, Vietnam, Cambodia, the Philippines, Sri Lanka, Kazakhstan (by Chechens) and Indian States of Kerala (most of the Mappilas), Karnataka (Bhatkal, Mangalore and Coorg districts), Maharashtra (by Konkani Muslims) and Tamil Nadu.

In terms of followers, Shafi'i is the second largest school of the Sunni branch of Islam after the Hanafi madhab. It is practiced by approximately a third (32%) of Sunni Muslims, or around 29% of all Muslims worldwide.

Historical[link]

The Shafi'i madhab was adopted as the official madhab during periods of the Abbasid Caliphate, in the first century of the Great Seljuq Empire, Zengid dynasty, Ayyubid dynasty and later the Mamluk Sultanate (Cairo), where it saw its greatest development and application. It was also adopted by the Kathiri state in Hadhramawt and most of rule of the Sharif of Mecca and Hijaz.

Early European explorers speculated that T'ung-kan (Hui people, called "Chinese Mohammedan") in Xinjiang originated from Khorezmians who were transported to China by the Mongols, and that they were descended from a mixture of Chinese, Iranians, and Turkic peoples. They also reported that the T'ung-kan were Shafi'ites, which the Khorezmians were as well.^[5]

Famous Shafi'i's[link]

According to the great Indian Hanafi scholar, Shah Waliullah, The Shafi'i Madhab is distinguished among all the Sunni Schools in having the most illustrious Islamic scholars in history, in all fields, among its followers.^[6] As Imam al-Shafi'i emphasized the importance of muttasil hadith (connected) and undermined the relevance of mursal (skipped) hadith, his madhab found particular favour among hadith scholars.

Polymaths:

• Al-Ghazali, Authority in Sufism, Aqidah, Fiqh, Usul al-Fiqh, and Logic.
• Yahya ibn Sharaf al-Nawawi, Sunni's second highest authority in Hadith, principal Shafi'i jurist; author of the Sahih Muslim commentary.
• Suyuti, Sunni authority in history, Quran, Fiqh, Tafsir, and Hadith
• Fakhr al-Din al-Razi
• Ibn al-Nafis

In Hadith:

• Muhammad al-Bukhari, Sunni's most prominent Hadith authority in verification
• Muslim ibn al-Hajjaj, student of Imam Bukhari.
• Al-Tirmidhi, Sunni authority in Hadith
• al-Nasa'i, Sunni authority in Hadith.
• Al-Bayhaqi, Sunni authority in Hadith; Shafiite authority in Fiqh
• Ibn Majah, Sunni authority in Hadith
• Hakim al-Nishaburi, Sunni authority in Hadith
• al-Tabarani, Sunni authority in Hadith
• Ibn Khuzaymah
• Ibn al-Salah, hadith specialist
• Yusuf ibn Abd al-Rahman al-Mizzi
• Dhahabi, Sunni authority in Hadith
• Ibn Hajar al-Asqalani, Sunni's foremost authority in Hadith, author of the authoritative commentary of Sahih Bukhari.
• Al-Sakhawi
• Al-Khatib al-Baghdadi, A renowned Sunni expert in Hadith methodology and jurisprudence
• Abd al-Rahim ibn al-Husain al-'Iraqi
• Al-Qastallani

In Tafsir:

• Ibn Jarir al-Tabari, Sunni most respected exegete
• Ibn Kathir, top-notch Sunni expert in Tafsir, Hadith, Biography and Fiqh.
• Al-Baghawi, Also known as "Reviver of Sunnah", well-known for his Ma'alim Al-Tanzil in Tafsir.
• Baidawi
• Ahmad ibn Muhammad al-Tha'labi
• Said Nursî
• Hamka

In Fiqh:

• Al-Mawardi, Sunni authority in Legal ordinances, history and Islamic governance.
• Al-Juwayni
• Zakariyya al-Ansari
• Ibn Hajar al-Haytami
• Sayf al-Din al-Amidi
• Ahmad ibn Naqib al-Misri
• Zainuddin Makhdoom al-Mallibari I and II, The Jurist and Historian (respectively) of Kerala
• Ibn Nuhaas

In Aqidah:

• Abu al-Hasan al-Ash'ari, Leader of Ash'ari Aqidah.

In Sufism

• Harith al-Muhasibi
• Junayd al-Baghdadi
• Ibn Khafif
• Abd al-Karīm ibn Hawāzin Qushayri
• Abu Talib al-Makki
• Imam al-Haddad
• Ahmad Ghazali
• Ayn al-Quzat Hamadani
• Abu al-Najib Suhrawardi
• Shahab al-Din Suhrawardi
• Yusuf Hamdani
• Ahmed ar-Rifa'i
• Shams Tabrizi
• Safi-ad-din Ardabili Is'haq Ardabili
• Kamal Khujandi
• Yusuf an-Nabhani

In History

• Ali ibn al-Athir
• Ibn 'Asakir
• Ibn Khallikan

In Arabic Language Studies

• Raghib Isfahani
• Fairuzabadi

Statesmen

• Saladin
• Nizam al-Mulk

Contemporary Shafi'i Scholars[link]

• Wahba Zuhayli - Professor of Jurisprudence at Damascus University.
• Muhammad Sa'id Ramadan al-Buti - Head of Theology at Damascus University.
• Ali Gomaa - Grand Mufti of Egypt.
• Habib Umar bin Hafiz - Founder of Dar al-Mustafa, a leading Islamic educational institute in Tarim, Yemen.
• Habib Ali al-Jifri - Popular scholar from Yemen.
• Abdullah al-Harari (1910 – September 2, 2008) - Started the Ahbash or Habashi movement, also known as the Association of Islamic Charitable Projects at AICP.org.
• Afifi al-Akiti - University Research Lecturer in Islamic Studies at University of Oxford.
• Taha Karan- A leading scholar and teacher from South Africa (ash-Shāfi‘ī as-Sagīr (A title given to Ml. Taha by the renowned Shaykh, Khalil Ibrahim Mula Khatir from Madinah al-Munawwarah)).
• Hasyim Muzadi - Former chairman of Nahdlatul Ulama, the largest Islamic organisation in Indonesia.
• Aboobacker Ahmad - A. P. Sunni leader in Kerala and General Secretary of the Sunni Scholars’ Organisation of India.
• Nuh Ha Mim Keller - Translator of Imam Nawawi's Al-Maqasid and Ahmad ibn Naqib al-Misri's Umdat al-Salik wa Uddat al-Nasik.
• Mohammad Salim Al-Awa - Leading Islamist thinker from Egypt.
• Ahmed Kuftaro - Former Grand Mufti of Syria.
• Ahmad Syafi'i Maarif - Prominent Indonesian intellectual.
• Syed Muhammad Naquib al-Attas - Leading Malaysian intellectual.
• Taha Jabir Alalwani - Leading scholar in the United States.
• Zaid Shakir - Prominent American scholar.

See also[link]

• Islamic schools and branches

Notes[link]

References[link]

• Yahia, Mohyddin (2009). Shafi'i et les deux sources de la loi islamique, Turnhout: Brepols Publishers, ISBN 978-2-503-53181-6
• Rippin, Andrew (2005). Muslims: Their Religious Beliefs and Practices (3rd ed.). London: Routledge. pp. 90–93. ISBN 0-415-34888-9.
• Calder, Norman, Jawid Mojaddedi, and Andrew Rippin (2003). Classical Islam: A Sourcebook of Religious Literature. London: Routledge. Section 7.1.
• Schacht, Joseph (1950). The Origins of Muhammadan Jurisprudence. Oxford: Oxford University. pp. 16.
• Khadduri, Majid (1987). Islamic Jurisprudence: Shafi'i's Risala. Cambridge: Islamic Texts Society. pp. 286.
• Abd Majid, Mahmood (2007). Tajdid Fiqh Al-Imam Al-Syafi'i. Seminar pemikiran Tajdid Imam As Shafie 2007.
• al-Shafi'i,Muhammad b. Idris,"The Book of the Amalgamation of Knowledge" translated by A.Y. Musa in Hadith as Scripture: Discussions on The Authority Of Prophetic Traditions in Islam, New York: Palgrave, 2008

External links[link]

• Shafi'i Fiqh Legal Resource with Questions and Answers etc.
• Detailed Biography of Imam Shafi'i
• Short Biography of Imam Shafi'i
• Concise Summary of Imam Shafi'i
• Contribution of Imam Shafi'i
• Urdu Translation of Imam Shafi'is Kitaab-ur-Risala by Mubashir Nazir
• Review of Imam Shafi'i's al-Risala

Part of a series on
Sunni Islam
Beliefs
Monotheism Prophethood / Messengership Holy Books · Angels Judgement Day · Predestination
Five Pillars
Declaration of Faith · Prayer Charity · Fasting · Pilgrimage
Rightly guided Caliphs
Abu Bakr · Umar ibn al-Khattab Uthman ibn Affan · Ali ibn Abi Talib
Schools of Law (Shariah)
Hanafi · Maliki · Shafi'i · Hanbali Zahiri · Awza'i · Laythi
Schools of Theology
Ash'ari · Athari · Maturidi
Movements
Salafi · Barelvi · Deobandi · Sufi
Hadith collections
Sahih al-Bukhari · Sahih Muslim Al-Sunan al-Sughra Sunan Abu Dawood Sunan al-Tirmidhi Sunan ibn Majah · Al-Muwatta Sunan al-Darimi
v t e

Abū ʿAbdullāh Muhammad ibn Idrīs al-Shāfi‘ī (Arabic: ابو عبدالله محمد بن إدريس الشافعيّ‎) was a Muslim jurist, who lived from 767 CE to 820 CE. He was active in juridical matters and his teaching eventually led to the Shafi'i school of fiqh (or Madh'hab) named after him. Hence he is often called Imam al-Shafi'i. He is considered the founder of Islamic jurisprudence.^[2]:1

Introduction[link]

The biography of al-Shāfi‘ī is difficult to trace. The oldest surviving biography goes back to Ibn Abi Hatim al-Razi (died 327H/939) and is no more than a collection of anecdotes, some of them fantastic. The first real biography is by Ahmad Bayhaqi (died 458H/1066) and is filled with pious legends. The following is what seems to be a sensible reading.

Family[link]

al-Shāfi‘ī belonged to the Qurayshi clan Banu Muttalib which was the sister clan of the Banu Hashim to which Muhammad and the Abbasid caliphs belonged. Hence he had connections in the highest social circles, but he grew up in poverty.

767 – 786: Al-Mansur to Al-Hadi's era[link]

Early life, studies with az-Zanji in Mecca[link]

He was born in Gaza in the town of Asqalan and moved to Mecca when he was about two years old. He is reported to have studied under Muslim Ibn Khalid az-Zanji, the Mufti of Mecca at his time and is considered the first teacher of Imam ash-Shafi'i. ^[3]

Studies with Imam Malik in Madinah[link]

He moved to Madinah to teach others of the message of Islam and be taught by Malik ibn Anas. He memorized Muwatta Imam Malik at a very early age whereby Imam Malik was very impressed with his memory and knowledge. ^[4]

786 – 809: Harun al-Rashid's era[link]

After that he lived in Mecca, Baghdad and finally Egypt.

Among his teachers were Malik ibn Anas and Muḥammad ibn al-Ḥasan al-Shaybānī, whom he studied under in Madinah and Baghdad.

He was appointed as a judge in Najran in the time of Harun ar-Rashid. Sunnis portray that his devotion to justice, even when it meant criticizing the governor, caused him some problems, and he was taken before the Caliph, falsely accused of aiding the Alawis in a revolt. al-Shaybānī was the chief justice at the time, and his defense of ash-Shafi'i, coupled with ash-Shafi'i’s own eloquent defense, convinced Harun ar-Rashid to dismiss the charge, and he directed al-Shaybānī to take ash-Shafi'i to Baghdad. He was also a staunch critic of Al-Waqidi's writings on Sirah.

In Baghdad, he developed his first madh'hab, influenced by the teachings of both Imam Abu Hanifa and Imam Malik. Thus, his work there is known as “al Madhab al Qadim lil Imam as Shafi’i,” or the Old School of ash-Shafi'i.

809 – 813: Al-Amin's era[link]

Muhammad ibn Harun al-Amin (787–813) (Arabic: محمد الأمين بن هارون الرشيد‎), Abbasid Caliph. He succeeded his father, Harun al-Rashid in 809 and ruled until he was killed in 813.

813 – 820: Al-Ma'mun's era[link]

Death[link]

He died at the age of 54 on the 30th of Rajab in 204 AH (820 AD). He was buried in al-Fustat, Egypt.

Legacy[link]

Saladin built a madrassa and a shrine on the site of his tomb. Saladin's brother Afdal built a mausoleum for him in 1211 after the defeat of the Fatamids. It remains a site where people petition for justice.^[5]

al-Shāfi‘ī developed the science of fiqh unifying 'revealed sources' - the Quran and hadith - with human reasoning to provide a basis in law. With this systematization of shari'a he provided a legacy of unity for all Muslims and forestalled the development of independent, regionally based legal systems. The four Sunni legals schools or madhhabs- keep their traditions within the framework that Shafi'i established.

al-Shāfi‘ī gives his name to one of these legal schools Shafi'i fiqh - the Shafi'i school - which is followed in many different places in the Islamic world: Indonesia, Malaysia, Egypt, Somalia, Yemen as well as Sri Lanka and southern parts of India.

Today, many English speaking Muslims are introduced to the madh'hab of Imam al-Shāfi‘ī through the translated works Umdat as Salik (Reliance of the Traveller) and al Maqasid, both done by Sheikh Nuh Ha Mim Keller.

Among the followers of Imam al-Shāfi‘ī’s school were:

• Muhammad al-Bukhari
• Muslim ibn al-Hajjaj^{[citation needed]}
• Abu Da'ud^{[citation needed]}
• Al-Tirmidhi^{[citation needed]}
• Al-Nasa'i^{[citation needed]}
• Ibn Majah^{[citation needed]}
• Ibn Jarir at-Tabari (b.224 A.H.-d.310 A.H.)
• Ibn Hibban (d.354 A.H.)
• Imam al-Hakim (d.405 A.H.)
• Imam Baihaqi (b.384A.H.- d.458 A.H.)
• Al-Khatib al-Baghdadi (b.392 A.H.-d.463 A.H.)
• Imam Juwaini Imam al-Haramain (d.478A.H.)
• Imam Ghazali (b.450 A.H.- d.505 A.H.)
• Imam Rafi’i (b. 557 A.H)
• Ibn Asakir (d.571 A.H.)
• Imam an-Nawawi (d.631A.H.)
• Al-’Izz ibn ‘Abdu’s-Salam (d.660 A.H.)
• Ibn Daqiqul ‘Eid (d.702 A.H.)
• Imam Dhahabi (b.673A.H.-d.748 A.H)
• Ibn Kathir (b.701 A.H.-d.774A.H.)
• Imam as-Subki (b.728 A.H.- d.771 A.H.)
• Ibn Nuhas (d.814 A.H.)
• Ibn Hajr al-Asqalani (b.773 A.H.-d.852 A.H.)
• Ibn Hajar al-Haythami (b.909 A.H.-d.874.A.H)
• As-Sakhawi (b.831 A.H.-903 A.H.)
• As-Suyuti (b.849 A.H.-d.911 A.H)

Works[link]

He authored more than 100 books.

• Al-Risala — The best known book by al-Shafi'i in which he examined usul al-fiqh (sources of jurisprudence): the Qur'an, the Sunnah, qiyas (analogy), and ijma' (scholarly consensus). There is a good modern translation.
• Kitab al-Umm - his main surviving text on Shafi'i fiqh
• Musnad ash-Shafi'i (on hadith) - it is available with arrangement, Arabic 'Tartib', by Ahmad ibn Abd ar-Rahman al-Banna

Sunni view[link]

Many stories are told about the childhood and life of ash-Shafi'i, and it is difficult to separate truth from myth:

Tradition says that he memorized the Qur’an at the age of seven; by ten, he had memorized the Muwatta of Imam Malik; he was a mufti (given authorization to issue fatwa) at the age of fifteen. He recited the Qur’an every day in prayer, and twice a day in Ramadan. Some apocryphal accounts claim he was very handsome, that his beard did not exceed the length of his fist, and that it was very black. He wore a ring that was inscribed with the words, “Allah suffices Muhammad ibn Idris as a reliance.” He was also known to be very generous.

He was also an accomplished archer, a poet, and some accounts call him the most eloquent of his time. Some accounts claim that there were a group of Bedouin who would come and sit to listen to him, not for the sake of learning, but just to listen to his eloquent use of the language. Even in latter eras, his speeches and works were used by Arabic grammarians. He was given the title of Nasir al Sunnah, the Defender of the Sunnah.

He loved Muhammad very deeply. Al Muzani said of him, “He said in the Old School: ‘Supplication ends with the invocation of blessings on the Prophet, and its end is but by means of it.’” Al-Karabisi said: “I heard al-Shafi’i say that he disliked for someone to say ‘the Messenger’ (al-Rasul), but that he should say ‘Allah’s Messenger’ (Rasul Allah) out of veneration for him.” He divided his night into three parts: one for writing, one for praying, and one for sleeping.

Apocryphal accounts claim that Imam Ahmad said of ash-Shafi'i, “I never saw anyone adhere more to hadith than al-Shafi’i. No one preceded him in writing down the hadith in a book.” Imam Ahmad is also claimed to have said, “Not one of the scholars of hadith touched an inkwell nor a pen except he owed a huge debt to al-Shafi’i.”

Imam Muhammad al-Shaybani said, “If the scholars of hadith speak, it is in the language of al Shafi’i.”

Shah Waliullah, a 18th century Sunni Islamic scholar stated ^[6]:

According to many accounts he was said to have a photographic memory. One anecdote states that he would always cover one side of a book while reading because a casual glance at the other page would commit it to memory.

He claimed that the game of chess was an image of war, and it was possible to play chess as a mental exercise for the solution of military tactics. Chess could not be played for a stake, but if a player was playing for a mental exercise, he was not doing anything illegal. Provided the player took care that his fondness for chess did not cause him to break any other rule of life, he saw no harm in playing chess. He played chess himself, defending his practice by the example of many of his companions.

Sayings[link]

• He who seeks pearls immerses himself in the sea.^[7]

See also[link]

• Fiqh
• Shafi'i
• Mujaddid

References[link]

• Ruthven Malise, Islam in the World. 3rd edition Granta Books London 2006 ch. 4

• "al-Shafi'i's Risala: Treatise on the Foundation of Islamic Jurisprudence" Majid Khadduri. Original 1961, reprinted 1997. ISBN 0-946621-15-2.

• al-Shafi'i,Muhammad b. Idris,"The Book of the Amalgamation of Knowledge" translated by Aisha Y. Musa in Hadith as Scripture: Discussions on The Authority Of Prophetic Traditions in Islam, New York: Palgrave, 2008

External links[link]

Arabic Wikisource has original text related to this article: Shafi`i

• The Biography of Imam ash-Shafi'i
• Short Biography of Imam Shafi'i
• Concise Summary of Imam Shafi'i
• Diagram of teachers and students of Imam Shafi'i

Part of a series on
Sunni Islam
Beliefs
Monotheism Prophethood / Messengership Holy Books · Angels Judgement Day · Predestination
Five Pillars
Declaration of Faith · Prayer Charity · Fasting · Pilgrimage
Rightly guided Caliphs
Abu Bakr · Umar ibn al-Khattab Uthman ibn Affan · Ali ibn Abi Talib
Schools of Law (Shariah)
Hanafi · Maliki · Shafi'i · Hanbali Zahiri · Awza'i · Laythi
Schools of Theology
Ash'ari · Athari · Maturidi
Movements
Salafi · Barelvi · Deobandi · Sufi
Hadith collections
Sahih al-Bukhari · Sahih Muslim Al-Sunan al-Sughra Sunan Abu Dawood Sunan al-Tirmidhi Sunan ibn Majah · Al-Muwatta Sunan al-Darimi
v t e

Mālik ibn Anas ibn Mālik ibn Abī 'Āmir al-Asbahī (Arabic مالك بن أنس) (c. 711 – 795) (93 AH – 179 AH ) is known as "Imam Malik," the "Sheikh of Islam", the "Proof of the Community," and "Imam of the Abode of Emigration." ^[1] He was one of the most highly respected scholars of fiqh in Sunni Islam. Imam Shafi`i, who was one of Malik's students for nine years and a scholarly giant in his own right, stated, "when scholars are mentioned, Malik is the star."^[2] The Maliki Madhab, named after Malik, is one of the four schools of jurisprudence that are followed by Sunni Muslims to this day.

Biography[link]

His full name was Abu Abdullah Mālik ibn Anas ibn Mālik Ibn Abī 'Āmir Ibn 'Amr Ibnul-Hārith Ibn Ghaimān Ibn Khuthail Ibn 'Amr Ibnul-Haarith.

Malik was born the son of Anas ibn Malik (not the Sahabi) and Aaliyah bint Shurayk al-Azdiyya in Medina circa 711. His family was originally from the al-Asbahi tribe of Yemen, but his great grandfather Abu 'Amir relocated the family to Medina after converting to Islam in the second year after hijra (623). According to Al-Muwatta, he was tall, heavyset, imposing of stature, very fair, with white hair and beard but bald, with a huge beard and blue eyes.^[1]

Teachers[link]

Living in Medina gave Malik access to some of the most learned minds of early Islam. He memorized the Quran in his youth, learning recitation from Imam Abu Suhail Nafi' ibn 'Abd ar-Rahman, from whom he also received his Sanad, or certification and permission to teach others. He studied under various famed scholars including Hisham ibn Urwah, Ibn Shihab al-Zuhri, and—along with Imam Abu Hanifa, the founder of the Hanafi Sunni Madh'hab-- and under the household of the prophets lineage, Imam Jafar al Sadiq^[3] This fact may explain the mutual respect and relative peace that has often existed between the Hanafi and Maliki Sunnis, on one hand, and the Shias on the other.

Golden Chain of Narration[link]

Imam Malik's chain of narrators was considered the most authentic and called Silsilat ul-Zhahab or "The Golden Chain of Narrators" by notable hadith scholars including Imam Bukhari.^[4] The 'Golden Chain' of narration (i.e., that considered by the scholars of Hadith to be the most authentic) consists of Malik, who narrated from Nafi', who narrated from ibn Umar, who narrated from Muhammad.

Views[link]

Reluctance in rendering religious verdicts[link]

Malik took advantage of the fact that he was contemporary to many of the Tabi‘in to formulate his school of thought, which gave precedence to the acts of the people of Medina over the Hadith if they were in conflict. This was done due to the sizeable amount of scholars, and companions of Muhammad residing in the city where Malik's reputation grew immensely. Malik nevertheless showed hesitancy in issuing religious verdicts explaining in one of his more famous statements that:

The shield of the scholar is, 'I do not know,' so if he neglects it, his statement is attacked.^[5]

Textualist interpretation of hadith on God's attributes[link]

Malik adhered to a textual interpretation of hadith in relation to God's attributes. Al-Daraqutni relates that Malik was asked about the attributes of Allah, to which Malik answered, "Pass them on as they come."^[6] Furthermore, Qadi Iyad relates that Malik was asked whether people would be looking toward Allah given the narration, "And some faces shall be shining and radiant upon that day, looking at their Lord." Malik ensuingly answered, "Yes, with these two eyes of his," though his student replied, "there are a people who say he will not be looking at Allah, that 'looking' means a reward" to which Malik answered, "They lied, rather they will look at Allah."

Opposition to bid'ah or innovation in beliefs[link]

Malik was vehemently opposed to bid'ah and even directed others not to extend the Islamic greeting of Salam to the people of bidah, stating, "how evil are the People of Innuendo, we do not give them felicitations."^[7] Malik explained that "he who establishes an innovation in Islam regarding it as something good, has claimed that Muhammad has betrayed his trust to deliver the message as God says, 'this day have I perfected for you your religion'. And whatsoever was not part of the religion then, is not part of the religion today."^[8]

Prohibiting Kalam[link]

Malik sternly prohibited theological rhetoric and philosophical speech, frequently referred to as kalam.^[9] Malik believed that Kalam was rooted in heretical doctrines taken up and followed by controversial theologians such as Jahm bin Safwan.^[10] When asked about an individual who delved into Kalam, Malik answered, "He establishes his innuendo with kalaam, and if kalaam had been knowledge, the Companions and the tabi'in would have spoken about it, just as they spoke about the rules and regulations.^[11]

Death[link]

Imam Malik died at the age of 86 in Medina in 795 and is buried in the famous Jannat ul-Baqi cemetery across from the Masjid al Nabawi. Malik's last words were related by one Isma'il Ibn Abi Uways who said, "Malik became sick, so I asked some of our people about what he said at the time of his death. They said, `He recited the shahadah (testification of faith), then he recited:

Their affair is for Allah, before and after.^[12]

Works[link]

Imam Malik wrote Al-Muwatta, "The Approved," which was said to have been regarded by Imam Shafi'i to be the soundest book on Earth after the Qur'an.

• Al-Muwatta
• Al-Mudawwana al-Kubra

Quotes[link]

"The reform of the later generations of this Ummah will take place in the same way as reformed its earlier generations." taken from Islahi Khutbat (Discourse on Islamic Way of Life)

See also[link]

• Taba Taba'een
• Salaf
• The Seven Fuqaha of Medina

References[link]

External links[link]

Arabic Wikisource has original text related to this article: Malik ibn Anas

• Life of Imam Malik
• Biography of Imam Malik
• A comprehensive Biography of Imam Malik
• Al-Muwatta' of Imam Malik
• Muslims of Norwich A Maliki community
• (French) The lifestyle of Imâm Mâlik Ibn Anas (at-tawhid.net)

The Mothers of Invention
"The Grandmothers", composed of former Mothers of Invention bandmembers, in 2000.
Background information
Also known as	The Soul Giants, Mothers, The Muthers, The Mothers
Genres	Experimental rock, progressive rock, psychedelic rock, blues rock, jazz fusion
Years active	1964-1971; 1973-1975
Labels	Verve, Reprise, Bizarre, DiscReet
Associated acts	Canned Heat Little Feat The Turtles Ruben and the Jets Flo & Eddie Captain Beefheart
Past members
See below

The Mothers of Invention was an American rock band from California that served as the backing musicians for Frank Zappa, a self-taught composer and performer whose diverse musical influences led him to create music that was often impossible to categorize. Their work is marked by the use of sonic experimentation, innovative album art, and elaborate live shows.

Originally an R&B band called The Soul Giants, the band's original lineup included Ray Collins, David Coronado, Roy Estrada and Jimmy Carl Black. Zappa was asked to take over as the band's guitarist following a fight between Collins and the band's original guitarist. Zappa insisted that the band perform original material, changing their name to The Mothers. Founded in 1964, the band first became popular playing in California's underground music scene in the late 1960s. Under Zappa's leadership, the band signed to Verve Records, releasing a début album, Freak Out! (1966), with a lineup which consisted of Zappa, Collins, Black, Estrada and Elliot Ingber.

Under Zappa's leadership and a fluctuating lineup, the band released a series of acclaimed albums, including Absolutely Free, We're Only in It for the Money and Uncle Meat, before being disbanded by Zappa in 1969. In 1970, Zappa formed a new lineup of The Mothers which included Ian Underwood, Jeff Simmons, George Duke, Aynsley Dunbar and singers Mark Volman and Howard Kaylan, formerly of The Turtles, who were credited as The Phlorescent Leech & Eddie for contractual reasons. Later adding another ex-Turtle, bassist Jim Pons, this lineup lasted until the end of 1971, when Zappa was injured by an audience member during a concert.

Zappa focused on big-band and orchestral music while recovering from his injuries, and later formed the Mothers' final lineup in 1973, which included Ralph Humphrey, Sal Marquez, George Duke, Tom and Bruce Fowler and Ruth and Ian Underwood. The final album using the Mothers as a backing band, Bongo Fury (1975), featured guitarist Denny Walley and drummer Terry Bozzio, who continued to play for Zappa on non-Mothers releases.

History[link]

The Soul Giants was formed in 1964. In 1965, Frank Zappa was approached by Ray Collins who asked him to take over as the guitarist in local R&B band The Soul Giants, following a fight between Collins and the group's original guitarist.^[1] Zappa accepted, and convinced the other members that they should play his music to increase the chances of getting a record contract.^[2] Original leader David Coronado did not think that the band would be employable if they played original material, and left the band.^[2] Zappa soon assumed leadership and the role as co-lead singer, even though he never considered himself a singer.^[3]

The band was renamed The Mothers, coincidentally on Mother's Day.^[4] The group increased their bookings after beginning an association with manager Herb Cohen, while they gradually gained attention on the burgeoning Los Angeles underground music scene.^[5] In early 1966, they were spotted by leading record producer Tom Wilson when playing "Trouble Every Day", a song about the Watts Riots.^[6] Wilson had earned acclaim as the producer for singer-songwriter Bob Dylan and the folk-rock act Simon & Garfunkel, and was notable as one of the few African Americans working as a major label pop music producer at this time.

Wilson signed The Mothers to the Verve Records division of MGM Records, which had built up a strong reputation in the music industry for its releases of modern jazz recordings in the 1940s and 1950s, but was attempting to diversify into pop and rock audiences. Verve insisted that the band officially rename themselves because "Mother", in slang terminology, was short for "motherfucker" — a term that apart from its profane meanings can denote a skilled musician.^[7] The label suggested the name "The Mothers Auxiliary", which prompted Zappa to come up with the name "The Mothers of Invention."

[edit] Debut album: Freak Out! (1966)

With Wilson credited as producer, The Mothers of Invention, augmented by a studio orchestra, recorded the groundbreaking Freak Out! (1966) which, preceded by Bob Dylan's Blonde on Blonde, was the second rock double album ever released. It mixed R&B, doo-wop, musique concrète,^[8] and experimental sound collages that captured the "freak" subculture of Los Angeles at that time.^[9] Although he was dissatisfied with the final product—in a late '60s radio interview (included in the posthumous MOFO Project/Object compilation) Zappa recounted that the side-long closing track "Return of the Son of Monster Magnet" was intended to be the basic track for a much more complex work which Verve did not allow him to complete—Freak Out immediately established Zappa as a radical new voice in rock music, providing an antidote to the "relentless consumer culture of America".^[10] The sound was raw, but the arrangements were sophisticated. While recording in the studio, some of the additional session musicians were shocked that they were expected to read the notes on sheet music from charts with Zappa conducting them, since it was not standard when recording rock music.^[11] The lyrics praised non-conformity, disparaged authorities, and had dadaist elements. Yet, there was a place for seemingly conventional love songs.^[12] Most compositions are Zappa's, which set a precedent for the rest of his recording career. He had full control over the arrangements and musical decisions and did most overdubs. Wilson provided the industry clout and connections to get the group the financial resources needed.^[13]

	"Hungry Freaks Daddy" noicon The opening track on Freak Out!. The album has "consistently been voted as one of top 100 greatest albums ever made".[10]
Problems listening to this file? See media help.

Wilson nominally produced The Mothers' second album Absolutely Free (1967), which was recorded in November 1966, and later mixed in New York, although by this time Zappa was in de facto control of most facets of the production. It featured extended playing by The Mothers of Invention and focused on songs that defined Zappa's compositional style of introducing abrupt, rhythmical changes into songs that were built from diverse elements.^[14] Examples are "Plastic People" and "Brown Shoes Don't Make It", which contained lyrics critical of the hypocrisy and conformity of American society, but also of the counterculture of the 1960s.^[15] As Zappa put it, "[W]e're satirists, and we are out to satirize everything."^[16]

New York period (1966–1968)[link]

The Mothers of Invention played in New York in late 1966 and were offered a contract at the Garrick Theater during Easter 1967. This proved successful and Herb Cohen extended the booking, which eventually lasted half a year.^[17] As a result, Zappa and his wife, along with The Mothers of Invention, moved to New York.^[18] Their shows became a combination of improvised acts showcasing individual talents of the band as well as tight performances of Zappa's music. Everything was directed by Zappa's famous hand signals.^[19] Guest performers and audience participation became a regular part of the Garrick Theater shows. One evening, Zappa managed to entice some U.S. Marines from the audience onto the stage, where they proceeded to dismember a big baby doll, having been told by Zappa to pretend that it was a "gook baby".^[20]

Situated in New York, and only interrupted by the band's first European tour, The Mothers of Invention recorded the album widely regarded as the peak of the group's late 1960s work, We're Only in It for the Money (released 1968).^[21] It was produced by Zappa, with Wilson credited as executive producer. From then on, Zappa produced all albums released by The Mothers of Invention and as a solo artist. We're Only in It for the Money featured some of the most creative audio editing and production yet heard in pop music, and the songs ruthlessly satirized the hippie and flower power phenomena.^[22] The cover photo parodied that of The Beatles' Sgt Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band.^[23] The cover art was provided by Cal Schenkel whom Zappa met in New York. This initiated a life-long collaboration in which Schenkel designed covers for numerous Zappa and Mothers albums.^[24]

Reflecting Zappa's eclectic approach to music, the next album, Cruising with Ruben & the Jets (1968), was very different. It represented a collection of doo-wop songs; listeners and critics were not sure whether the album was a satire or a tribute.^[25] Zappa has noted that the album was conceived in the way Stravinsky's compositions were in his neo-classical period: "If he could take the forms and clichés of the classical era and pervert them, why not do the same ... to doo-wop in the fifties?"^[26] A theme from Stravinsky's The Rite of Spring is heard during one song.

Zappa and The Mothers of Invention returned to Los Angeles in the summer of 1968. Despite being a success with fans in Europe, The Mothers of Invention were not faring well financially.^[27] Their first records were vocally oriented, but Zappa wrote more instrumental jazz and classical oriented music for the band's concerts, which confused audiences. Zappa felt that audiences failed to appreciate his "electrical chamber music".^[28][29]

In 1969 there were nine band members and Zappa was supporting the group himself from his publishing royalties whether they played or not.^[27] 1969 was also the year Zappa, fed up with MGM's interference, left MGM Records for Warner Bros. Records' Reprise Records subsidiary where Zappa/Mothers recordings would bear the Bizarre Records imprint. In late 1969, Zappa broke up the band. He often cited the financial strain as the main reason,^[30] but also commented on the band members' lack of sufficient effort.^[31] Many band members were bitter about Zappa's decision, and some took it as a sign of Zappa's concern for perfection at the expense of human feeling.^[29] Others were irritated by 'his autocratic ways',^[13] exemplified by Zappa's never staying at the same hotel as the band members.^[32] Several members would, however, play for Zappa in years to come. Remaining recordings with the band from this period were collected on Weasels Ripped My Flesh and Burnt Weeny Sandwich (both released in 1970).

Rebirth of The Mothers and filmmaking (1970)[link]

Mark Volman performing with the Mothers in 1971.

Later in 1970, Zappa formed a new version of The Mothers (from then on, he mostly dropped the "of Invention"). It included British drummer Aynsley Dunbar, jazz keyboardist George Duke, Ian Underwood, Jeff Simmons (bass, rhythm guitar), and three members of The Turtles: bass player Jim Pons, and singers Mark Volman and Howard Kaylan, who, due to persistent legal and contractual problems, adopted the stage name "The Phlorescent Leech and Eddie", or "Flo & Eddie".^[33]

This version of The Mothers debuted on Zappa's next solo album Chunga's Revenge (1970),^[34] which was followed by the double-album soundtrack to the movie 200 Motels (1971), featuring The Mothers, The Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, Ringo Starr, Theodore Bikel, and Keith Moon. Co-directed by Zappa and Tony Palmer, it was filmed in a week at Pinewood Studios outside London.^[35] Tensions between Zappa and several cast and crew members arose before and during shooting.^[35] The film deals loosely with life on the road as a rock musician.^[36] It was the first feature film photographed on videotape and transferred to 35 mm film, a process which allowed for novel visual effects.^[37] It was released to mixed reviews.^[38] The score relied extensively on orchestral music, and Zappa's dissatisfaction with the classical music world intensified when a concert, scheduled at the Royal Albert Hall after filming, was canceled because a representative of the venue found some of the lyrics obscene. In 1975, he lost a lawsuit against the Royal Albert Hall for breach of contract.^[39]

After 200 Motels, the band went on tour, which resulted in two live albums, Fillmore East - June 1971 and Just Another Band From L.A.; the latter included the 20-minute track "Billy the Mountain", Zappa's satire on rock opera set in Southern California. This track was representative of the band's theatrical performances in which songs were used to build up sketches based on 200 Motels scenes as well as new situations often portraying the band members' sexual encounters on the road.^[40][41]

Accident, attack and their aftermath (1971–1972)[link]

In December 1971, there were two serious setbacks. While performing at Casino de Montreux in Switzerland, The Mothers' equipment was destroyed when a flare set off by an audience member started a fire that burned down the casino.^[42] Immortalized in Deep Purple's song "Smoke on the Water", the event and immediate aftermath can be heard on the bootleg album Swiss Cheese/Fire, released legally as part of Zappa's Beat the Boots II compilation. After a week's break, The Mothers played at the Rainbow Theatre, London, with rented gear. During the encore, an audience member pushed Zappa off the stage and into the concrete-floored orchestra pit. The band thought Zappa had been killed—he had suffered serious fractures, head trauma and injuries to his back, leg, and neck, as well as a crushed larynx, which ultimately caused his voice to drop a third after healing.^[42] This accident resulted in him using a wheelchair for an extended period, forcing him off the road for over half a year. Upon his return to the stage in September 1972, he was still wearing a leg brace, had a noticeable limp and could not stand for very long while on stage. Zappa noted that one leg healed "shorter than the other" (a reference later found in the lyrics of songs "Zomby Woof" and "Dancin' Fool"), resulting in chronic back pain.^[42] Meanwhile, The Mothers were left in limbo and eventually formed the core of Flo and Eddie's band as they set out on their own.

Top 10 album (1973–1975)[link]

Frank Zappa in concert, Hordern Pavilion, Sydney, May 1973

After releasing two solo jazz-oriented albums with large bands, Zappa formed and toured with smaller groups that variously included Ian Underwood (reeds, keyboards), Ruth Underwood (vibes, marimba), Sal Marquez (trumpet, vocals), Napoleon Murphy Brock (sax, flute and vocals), Bruce Fowler (trombone), Tom Fowler (bass), Chester Thompson (drums), Ralph Humphrey (drums), George Duke (keyboards, vocals), and Jean-Luc Ponty (violin).

Zappa continued a high rate of production through the first half of the 1970s, including the solo album Apostrophe (') (1974), which reached a career-high No. 10 on the Billboard pop album charts^[43] helped by the chart single "Don't Eat The Yellow Snow".^[44] Other albums from the period are Over-Nite Sensation (1973), which contained several future concert favorites, such as "Dinah-Moe Humm" and "Montana", and the albums Roxy & Elsewhere (1974) and One Size Fits All (1975) which feature ever-changing versions of a band still called The Mothers, and are notable for the tight renditions of highly difficult jazz fusion songs in such pieces as "Inca Roads", "Echidna's Arf (Of You)" and "Be-Bop Tango (Of the Old Jazzmen's Church)".^[45] A live recording from 1974, You Can't Do That on Stage Anymore, Vol. 2 (1988), captures "the full spirit and excellence of the 1973–75 band".^[45]

Zappa released Bongo Fury (1975), which featured live recordings from a tour the same year that reunited him with Captain Beefheart for a brief period.^[46] They later became estranged for a period of years, but were in contact at the end of Zappa's life.^[47] Bongo Fury constituted the last new album to be credited to The Mothers.

In 1993, Zappa released Ahead Of Their Time, an album of previously recorded material by the original Mothers of Invention lineup.

Band members[link]

The Soul Giants (c. April 1965)

• Ray Collins - vocals
• Frank Zappa - guitar
• David Coronado - sax
• Roy Estrada - bass
• Jimmy Carl Black - drums

The Mothers of Invention (1966–1969)

• Frank Zappa - musical director, guitar & vocals
• Ray Collins - lead vocals, harmonica, tambourine, finger cymbals, bobby pin & tweezers 1966-early 1967, September 1967 - August 1968
• Jim Black - drums
• Roy Estrada - bass & guitarrón, boy soprano
• Henry Vestine - alternate lead & rhythm guitar, mid 1965 - early 1966
• Elliot Ingber - alternate lead & rhythm guitar, early 1966 - September 1966
• Jim Fielder - guitar, piano, late 1966 - February 1967
• Don Preston - keyboards, November 1966 - August 1969
• Bunk Gardner - woodwinds, November 1966 - August 1969
• Billy Mundi - drums, November 1966 - December 1967
• Euclid James Motorhead Sherwood - soprano, tambourine, baritone saxophone & roadie, 1966, September 1967 - August 1969
• Ian Underwood - woodwinds, saxophone, July 1967 - August 1969
• Arthur Dyer Tripp III - drums, timpani, vibes, marimba, xylophone, wood blocks, bells, small chimes, December 1967 - August 1969
• Lowell George - rhythm guitar, November 1968 - May 1969
• Buzz Gardner, November 1968 - August 1969

The Mothers (1970–1971)

• Frank Zappa - guitar & vocals
• Ian Underwood - rhythm guitar, keyboards & woodwinds
• Jeff Simmons - bass & vocal, 1970 - January 1971
• George Duke - organ, May - December 1970
• Aynsley Dunbar - drums
• The Phlorescent Leech & Eddie (Mark Volman and Howard Kaylan) - vocals
• Jim Pons - bass, February 1971 - December 1971
• Don Preston - keyboards, August - December 1971
• Bob Harris - keyboards, May – August 1971

Frank Zappa and the Mothers of Invention (1973–1975)

• Frank Zappa - guitar & vocals
• Ralph Humphrey - drums, early 1973 - May 1974
• Jean-Luc Ponty - violin, February - August 1973
• Sal Marquez - trumpet & vocals, March - July 1973
• George Duke - keyboards & synthesizer, 1973 - December 1974, April - May 1975
• Jeff Simmons - bass & vocals, December 1973 - July 1974
• Tom Fowler - bass, 1973 - May 1975
• Bruce Fowler - trombone, 1973 - May 1974, April - May 1975
• Ruth Underwood - marimba, vibes & percussion, 1973 - December 1974
• Ian Underwood - flute, clarinet, alto & tenor sax, February - September 1973
• Napoleon Murphy Brock - flute and tenor sax, vocals, October 1973 - May 1975
• Chester Thompson - drums, October 1973 - December 1974
• Terry Bozzio - drums, April - May 1975
• Denny Walley - slide guitar & vocals, April - May 1975

Discography[link]

• Freak Out! (1966)
• Absolutely Free (1967)
• We're Only in It for the Money (1968)
• Cruising with Ruben & the Jets (1968)
• Ahead of Their Time (recorded 1968, released 1993)
• Uncle Meat (1969)
• Burnt Weeny Sandwich (1970)
• Weasels Ripped My Flesh (1970)
• Fillmore East - June 1971 (1971)
• Just Another Band from L.A. (1972)
• Over-Nite Sensation (1973)
• Roxy & Elsewhere (1974)
• One Size Fits All (1975)
• Bongo Fury (1975)

References[link]

External links[link]

Wikimedia Commons has media related to: The Mothers of Invention

Frank Zappa portal

• The Mothers of Invention at Allmusic
• Jimmy Carl Black website
• "The Grande Mothers Re:Invented" - MySpace page
• The Mothers of Invention interviewed on the Pop Chronicles (1969).