Stealing titles

We have always heard about stealing fortune, goods, jewellery, money, etc. However, we are now hearing about people stealing titles also. Nowadays people want to steal the title of Taabi'i from Imam Abu Hanifah (Rahmatullahi 'alayh). Yet, according to a considerable amount of scholars of Hadith, Imam Abu Hanifah (Rahmatullahi 'alayh) had the honour of seeing the Sahaabi Hazrat Anas (Radiyallahu Anhu). Some even said that he related Hadith from certain Sahaabi. For a Muslim to become a Taabi'i, it suffices to meet a Sahaabi in the state of Imaan. This shows that Imam Abu Hanifah (Rahmatullahi 'alayh) is a Taabi'i. When Allah Ta’ala gives a title to a person, why must one try to snatch that honour from him? Whoever tries to do such a thing, will cause harm to himself, because the truth will remain the truth. So, Imam Abu Hanifah (Rahmatullahi 'alayh) will remain a Taabi'i despite all the efforts of the irresponsible ones.

[English version of "Coquin titre" – Al Jamiat – Vol.2 No.10]