Imam Shafi'i was a prominent Islamic scholar and the founder of the Shafi'i school of thought in Sunni Islam. Born in 767 CE in Gaza, he is known for his contributions to Islamic jurisprudence, particularly in the areas of legal theory and methodology. His works emphasized the importance of the Qur'an, Hadith, consensus, and analogy in deriving legal rulings. He traveled extensively throughout the Islamic world, studying under various scholars and sharing his knowledge. His most famous work, Al-Risala, laid the foundation for the principles of Islamic law and remains influential in the study of fiqh (Islamic jurisprudence) today.