Imam Al-Shafi'i was a prominent Islamic scholar and the founder of the Shafi'i school of thought in Islamic jurisprudence. Born in 767 CE in Gaza, he traveled extensively to study under various scholars, including Imam Malik and Imam Abu Hanifa. His works emphasized the importance of the Qur'an and Hadith as primary sources of law, along with reasoning and consensus. Al-Shafi'i is best known for his book, Al-Risala, which laid the foundations for usul al-fiqh (principles of Islamic jurisprudence). His teachings have had a lasting impact on Muslim communities, particularly in regions like Southeast Asia and East Africa, where the Shafi'i school remains influential today.