Malik ibn Anas was born in Madinah in the year 93 AH and spent nearly all his life there. His circle in the Prophet's Mosque was one of the great centres of learning in the ummah.
His reverence for hadith was remarkable. Biographers relate that before narrating hadith he would bathe, put on perfume and fine clothes, and sit with dignity.
His collection, al-Muwatta', is among the oldest written works of hadith and jurisprudence. It is reported that a caliph wished to compel all regions to follow it; Imam Malik advised against it, because the Companions had spread to many regions and knowledge had reached the people of each.
His famous saying: everyone's word may be accepted or rejected, except the occupant of this grave — pointing to the grave of the Messenger of Allah ﷺ. He died in Madinah in 179 AH.