The Muwatta of Imaam Maalik (rahimahullah) is among the reliable and authentic compilations of Hadith. It was compiled before Saheeh Bukhaari and Saheeh Muslim. It is for this reason that Imaam Shaafi‘ee (rahimahullah) once said, “There is no kitaab on the surface of the earth, after the kitaab of Allah Ta‘ala (the Qur’aan Majeed), which is more authentic and correct than the Muwatta of Imaam Maalik (rahimahullah).

The Ulamaa explain that after the Saheeh Bukhaari and Saheeh Muslim were compiled and received universal acceptance, they rank higher than the Muwatta of Imaam Maalik (rahimahullah). Nevertheless, the statement of Imaam Shaafi‘ee (rahimahullah) bears testimony to the esteemed and high rank of the Muwatta of Imaam Maalik (rahimahullah).

In regard to the authenticity of the Muwatta, Imaam Abu Zur‘ah (rahimahullah) once said, “If a person has to take an oath that his wife will be divorced if the Ahaadith in the Muwatta of Imaam Maalik (rahimahullah) are not authentic, then his wife will not be divorced (as all the Ahaadith contained in the Muwatta are authentic). However, if a person has to take such an oath in regard to the Ahaadith of any other kitaab, then we will say to him that he should wait until we can investigate the authenticity of each Hadith.” (This statement was made before the compilation of Saheeh Bukhaari and Saheeh Muslim)

‘Amr bin Abi Salamah (rahimahullah) mentions, “After I read Kitaab-ul-Jaami (a certain section) in the Muwatta of Imaam Maalik (rahimahullah), I had a dream in which I was told, ‘This is certainly the blessed speech of Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam).’” (Tazyeen-ul-Mamaalik pg. 90-93)