Ibn Abi Zayd

ibn Abi Zayd (922–996), fully Abu Muhammad 'Abd allah ibn Abi Zayd 'Abd al-Rahman al nafzawi ibn Abi Zayd al-Qayrawani, was a Maliki scholar from Kairouan in Tunisia. His best known work is Al-Risala or the Epistle, an instructional book devoted to the education of young children. He was a member of the Nafzawah Berber tribe and lived in Kairouan. In addition, he served as the Imam (spiritual leader) of one of the mosques' that followed the Maliki School tradition. Al-Qayrawani was the leader of the Maliki school in Kairouan (present day Tunisia) and was also an active proponent of Ash'ari thought.