Most hold that it was due to the scholars of al-Andalus travelling to Medina, then when they returned they spoke of the excellence of Malik, his wide knowledge and great station, so they honoured him and preferred his Madhhab.
[citation needed] So, Imam Malik said to the person who told him, ‘We ask Allaah to enlighten our sacred precincts with your rule.’ This was transmitted to the ruler of al-Andalus, who already knew of the knowledge, excellence and piety of Malik; so he led the people to accept his Madhhab and ordered that the madhhab of al-Awza’i be abandoned.
Later, the kings of Morocco and the west agreed that the rulings and actions should be according to the preferences of Ibn al-Qaasim al-`Utaqi (a famous student of Malik) only.[when?
The judge, Abu Zar'ah Muhammad ibn Uthmaan, began a practice where one hundred dinars would be given to anyone who memorized Mukhtasr al-Muzanee, a basic book of Shafi'i Fiqh.
This practice caused the Shafi'i school to spread rapidly in Syria and led to a decline in Awza'i followers, until none were found in the eleventh century.