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Fatwa CenterThe seven jurists of Madeenah
Question
Salaamu Alaykum, you always mention "the seven jurists". May I know who they are? And what do they represent? Jazakallah
Answer
All perfect praise be to Allaah, The Lord of the Worlds. I testify that there is none worthy of worship except Allaah, and that Muhammad 
is His slave and Messenger.
What is meant by the seven jurists 
are the seven jurists of Al-Madeenah at the time of the Taabi’is (the generation that followed the Companions 
), and they were as follows:
1. ‘Ubaydullaah ibn ‘Abdullaah ibn ‘Utbah ibn Mas‘ood.
2. ‘Urwah ibn Az-Zubayr ibn Al-‘Awwaam.
3. Al-Qaasim ibn Muhammad ibn Abi Bakr As-Siddeeq.
4. Sa‘eed ibn Al-Musayyib ibn Hazn.
5. Abu Bakr ibn ‘Abdur-Rahmaan.
6. Sulaymaan ibn Yasaar.
7. Khaarijah ibn Zayd ibn Thaabit.
They were described in poetic verses as "the seven seas of knowledge".
The knowledgeable scholar ‘Abdul Mohsin Al-‘Abbaad 
said while interpreting Sunan Abu Daawood: “The seven jurists mean the seven of the Taabi’is, there is no difference of opinion about six of them among the seven jurists; as regards the seventh, there are three opinions about him. The six upon whom the scholars agreed to count them among the seven jurists were the following: (1)‘Ubaydullaah ibn ‘Abdullaah ibn ‘Utbah ibn Mas‘ood, (2) ‘Urwah ibn Az-Zubayr ibn Al-‘Awwaam, (3) Khaarijah ibn Zayd ibn Thaabit, (4) Al-Qaasim ibn Muhammad ibn Abi Bakr As-Siddeeq, (5) Sa‘eed ibn Al-Musayyib ibn Hazn, (6) Sulaymaan ibn Yasaar. These are the six which are agreed upon to be counted among the seven jurists of Al-Madeenah. As regards the seventh, there are three opinions about him: it was said: it was Abu Salamah ibn ‘Abdur-Rahmaan ibn ‘Awf, it was also said that he was Saalim ibn ‘Abdullaah ibn ‘Umar ibn Al-Khattaab, and it was said: it was Abu Bakr ibn ‘Abdur-Rahmaan ibn Al-Haarith ibn Hishaam.”
Anyway, they were among the prominent jurists and they were the most knowledgeable people of their time, in addition to (their excellence in) worship and piety. It is for this reason that their statements and the Ahaadeeth which they narrated were mentioned in the books of Fiqh and books of Sunnah. May Allaah have mercy upon them.
Allaah Knows best.
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