IMAAM ABU HANIFAH (RAHMATULLAHI ALAYH)

WHO IS IMAAM ABU HANIFAH (RAHMATULLAHI ALAYH)?

[Zahabi (Rahmatullahi 'alayh) - Vol 1 pages 126-127 No. 163]

Imaam Abu Hanifah (Rahmatullahi Alayh) - the greatest Imaam - Faqeeh (jurist) of Iraq – Nu’man bin Saabit bin Zuta at-Taymi (their Maula) al-Kufi.

He was born in the year 80 (Hijri). He saw Hazrat Anas bin Maalik (Radiyallahu Anhu) several times when he came to Kufah. It was narrated by Ibn Sa'd from Sayf bin Jaabir that he heard Imaam Abu Hanifah (Rahmatullahi Alayh) saying this. 

Abu Hanifah (Rahmatullahi Alayh) narrated Hadith from 'Ataa, Naafi', Abdul Rahmaan bin Hurmuz al-A'raj, 'Adi bin Saabit, Salamah bin Kuhail, Abu Ja'far Muhammad bin 'Ali, Qatadah, 'Amr bin Dinaar, Abu I'shaaq and many others.

Zufar bin Huzail, Dawud at-Taai, Qazi Abu Yusuf, Muhammad bin Hassan, Assad bin 'Amr, Hassan bin Ziyaad al-Lulu, Nuh al-Jaami', Abu Muti' al-Balkhi and many others have learned jurisprudence (fiqh) from him.

Abu Hanifah (Rahmatullahi Alayh) acquired jurisprudence (fiqh) from Hammaad bin Sulaiman, etc.

Waki', Yazid bin Harun, Said bin As Swalt, Abu 'Aassim, Abdul Razzaaq, 'Ubaidullah bin Mussa, Abu Nu'aim, Abu Abdul Rahmaan al-Muqri and many other people have narrated Hadith from him. He [Abu Hanifah (Rahmatullahi Alayh)] was an Imaam, had Taqwa, was an 'Aalim, was a practitioner, made a lot of 'Ibaadah and had a great status. He did not accept gifts from kings. Instead, he did business and was earning.

Dwiraar bin Sward says that someone asked Yazid bin Harun: Who is the greatest Faqeeh (jurist): (Sufyaan) As-Sawri or Abu Hanifah (Rahmatullahi Alayh)?

He replied: Abu Hanifah (Rahmatullahi Alayh) is the greatest jurist and Sufyaan had memorised the Hadith.

Ibnul Mubaarak said: Abu Hanifah (Rahmatullahi Alayh) is the greatest Faqeeh (jurist) among the people.

Imaam Shafi’i (Rahmatullahi Alayh) said: In the field of Fiqh, people rely on Abu Hanifah (Rahmatullahi Alayh). Yazid said: “I have not seen anyone more pious and more intelligent than Abu Hanifah (Rahmatullahi Alayh)”.

Ahmad bin Muhammad bin al-Qaasim bin Muhriz has narrated from Yahya bin Ma'in who said: “There is no problem with him (Abu Hanifah (Rahmatullahi Alayh)) (in narrating Hadith from him) - no one had put any blame on him. Certainly, Yazid bin 'Omar bin Hubairah had hit him in order to make him become a judge; but he had refused to become a judge.”

Abu Dawud said: May Allah send His mercy on Imaam Abu Hanifah (Rahmatullahi Alayh) - he was an Imaam.

Bishr bin al-Walid has narrated from Abu Yusuf that he said: (Once) I was walking with Abu Hanifah (Rahmatullahi Alayh) when a person said to another person: "This is Abu Hanifah (Rahmatullahi Alayh) - he does not sleep at night". Abu Hanifah (Rahmatullahi Alayh) said: "By Allah, I will not let people say things about me that I do not do". Since then, he stayed up awake for the entire night and performed Salah and made Dua with devotion.

Az-Zahabi said: “I have compiled the virtues of this Imaam in a book. He died in the year 150 Hijri. May Allah be satisfied with him ...!”

[English version of "Imaam Abou Hanifah Ki sanla Imaam Abou Hanifah (rahmatoullaahi'alaih')?" – Al Jamiat – Vol.1 No.3]