Muwatta Imam Malik

Muwatta Imam Malik holds the distinction of being the earliest surviving comprehensive collection of hadith and Islamic jurisprudence, compiled by Imam Malik ibn Anas (93-179 AH/711-795 CE), the imam of Madinah. This pioneering work combines prophetic traditions with the legal opinions and practices of the Companions and their successors in Madinah. Containing 1,720 narrations, the Muwatta presents the lived Islam of the Prophet's city, reflecting the continuous practice passed down through generations. Imam Malik spent forty years refining this work, which served as the foundation for the Maliki school of jurisprudence. The collection's name 'Muwatta' (the well-trodden path) reflects its methodology of presenting widely accepted practices. Its unique blend of hadith, legal rulings, and the practices of Madinah's scholars makes it a foundational text that influenced all subsequent hadith collections and established principles for preserving prophetic traditions.