Malik ibn Anas was a prominent Islamic scholar and jurist born in 711 CE in Medina. He is best known for founding the Maliki school of thought, one of the four major Sunni legal schools. His teachings emphasized the importance of the practices of the people of Medina as a source of Islamic law, alongside the Qur'an and Hadith. Malik's most famous work is the Muwatta, a collection of sayings and actions of the Prophet Muhammad and his companions. He played a significant role in shaping Islamic jurisprudence and is respected for his contributions to the development of Islamic law and ethics. His influence continues to be felt in the Muslim world today.