Godly Men
The view of senior scholars on Imam Abu Hanifah
Maulana Muhammad Faizan Sarwar Misbahi
(Teacher at Jamia-tul-Madinah Faizan-e-Attar, Nepal)
Imam Abu Hanifah Numan Bin Thabit رَحْمَةُ الـلّٰـهِ عَـلَيْه possessed monumental knowledge on Hadith and Islamic Jurisprudence. The great jurists (fuqaha) and scholars of Hadith (muhaditheen) of their time have sung his praises and considered the great imam to be unparalleled. The following sayings of this Ummah’s great scholars provide a glimpse of Imam Abu Hanifah’s knowledge.
* Imam Abu Zakariyya Yahya Bin Mueen رَحْمَةُ الـلّٰـهِ عَـلَيْه (d. 233 AH) states: ‘Abu Hanifah was trustworthy (thiqah). He would only mention the Hadith that he had memorised, otherwise he would not mention it.’[1]
* Sayyiduna Saalih bin Muhammad al-Asadi رَحْمَةُ الـلّٰـهِ عَـلَيْه (d. 293 AH) states: ‘Imam Yahya Bin Mueen رَحْمَةُ الـلّٰـهِ عَـلَيْه stated that Abu Hanifah was trustworthy in the science of Hadith.’[2]
* Imam Muhammad Bin Idrees al-Shaafi’i رَحْمَةُ الـلّٰـهِ عَـلَيْه (d. 204 AH) mentions that Imam Malik رَحْمَةُ الـلّٰـهِ عَـلَيْه was asked if he had seen Imam Abu Hanifah رَحْمَةُ الـلّٰـهِ عَـلَيْه. He replied: ‘Yes. If he was to tell you that this pillar is made of gold, he would prove it using evidence.’[3]
* Imam al-Shaafi’i رَحْمَةُ الـلّٰـهِ عَـلَيْه further mentions that whoever desires to gain a deeper understanding of Islamic Jurisprudence is reliant upon Imam Abu Hanifah رَحْمَةُ الـلّٰـهِ عَـلَيْه.[4]
* Imam Sufyan al-Thawri رَحْمَةُ الـلّٰـهِ عَـلَيْه (d. 161 AH) states that Imam Abu Hanifah was the greatest expert in Islamic Jurisprudence (faqeeh) of the time.[5]
* Sayyiduna Ali Bin Aasim رَحْمَةُ الـلّٰـهِ عَـلَيْه (d. 700 AH) expresses that if Imam Abu Hanifah’sرَحْمَةُ الـلّٰـهِ عَـلَيْه knowledge was to be compared against the knowledge of the people of the time, his knowledge would still be greater.[6]
* Sayyiduna Abdullah Bin Mubarak رَحْمَةُ الـلّٰـهِ عَـلَيْه (d. 181 AH) states: ‘I have not seen anyone with as much honour, dignity, good manners and forbearance as Imam Abu Hanifah رَحْمَةُ الـلّٰـهِ عَـلَيْه.’[7]
* Sayyiduna Abdullah Bin Dawood al-Khuraybi رَحْمَةُ الـلّٰـهِ عَـلَيْه (d. 211 AH) states that people should supplicate for Imam Abu Hanifah in their Salah because he protected the Sunnah and Islamic Jurisprudence for people.[8]
* Sayyiduna Hafs bin Ghiyaas رَحْمَةُ الـلّٰـهِ عَـلَيْه (d. 191 AH) states that in matters of Islamic Jurisprudence, Imam Abu Hanifah’s speech was finer than poetry. Only the ignorant could attempt to find faults in him.[9]
* Imam Shu’bah Bin al-Hajjaj رَحْمَةُ الـلّٰـهِ عَـلَيْه (d. 160 AH) said: ‘I swear by Allah that Imam Abu Hanifah رَحْمَةُ الـلّٰـهِ عَـلَيْه possessed immense intellect and understanding and had a strong memory.’[10]
* The teacher of Imam al-Bukhari, Shaykh Makki Bin Ibrahim رَحْمَةُ الـلّٰـهِ عَـلَيْه (d. 211 AH) said that Imam Abu Hanifah رَحْمَةُ الـلّٰـهِ عَـلَيْه was the greatest scholar on Earth.[11]
* Imam Yahya Bin Saeed al-Qattaan رَحْمَةُ الـلّٰـهِ عَـلَيْه (d. 198 AH) states: ‘We swear by Allah that we did not hear any opinion better than the opinion of Imam Abu Hanifah. We have adopted the majority of his sayings.’[12]
* Imam Abu Na’eem al-Asfahani رَحْمَةُ الـلّٰـهِ عَـلَيْه (d. 430 AH) mentions that Imam Abu Hanifahرَحْمَةُ الـلّٰـهِ عَـلَيْه would delve into the depths of rulings.[13]
* Sayyiduna Shaykh Asad Bin Umar رَحْمَةُ الـلّٰـهِ عَـلَيْه (d. 181 AH) mentions that Imam Abu Hanifah رَحْمَةُ الـلّٰـهِ عَـلَيْه performed Fajr Salah with the wudu of Isha consistently for 40 years. In normal nights, he would recite the entire Quran in once cycle (rakah) of prayer. He could be heard weeping and crying throughout the night, such that the neighbours would feel compassion towards him.[14]
* Imam Ibn Hajar al-Asqalani al-Shaafi’i رَحْمَةُ الـلّٰـهِ عَـلَيْه (d. 852 AH) states that there are many praiseworthy things about Imam Abu Hanifah. May Allah be pleased with him and grant him a place in Jannah al-Firdaus.[15]
Death and burial
Imam Abu Hanifah رَحْمَةُ الـلّٰـهِ عَـلَيْه passed away in Sha’ban 150 AH. Approximately 50,000 people participated in the funeral prayer. Speaking of his stay in Baghdad, Imam al-Shaafi’i رَحْمَةُ الـلّٰـهِ عَـلَيْه said: ‘I acquire blessings from Imam Abu Hanifah رَحْمَةُ الـلّٰـهِ عَـلَيْه. Whenever I need something, I offer two cycles of prayer, visit his grave and supplicate to Allah, and my need is fulfilled.’ Even today, his shrine in Baghdad is a place where people visit to gain blessings.[16]
[1] Siyar Aalam al-Nubala, vol. 6, p. 532
[2] Tahzeeb al-Kamaal, vol. 7, p. 339
[3] Siyar Aalam al-Nubala, vol. 6, p. 534
[4] al-Bidayah wa al-Nihayah, vol. 7, p. 87
[5] al-Bidayah wa al-Nihayah, vol. 7, p. 87
[6] Siyar Aalam al-Nubala, vol. 6, p. 537
[7] Siyar Aalam al-Nubala, vol. 6, p. 535
[8] Tareekh Baghdad, vol. 13, p. 344
[9] Siyar Aalam al-Nubala, vol. 6, p. 537
[10] al Khayraat al-Hisaan li Ibn Hajar al-Makki, p. 48
[11] al-Bidayah wa al-Nihayah, vol. 7, p. 87
[12] Siyar Aalam al-Nubala, vol. 6, p. 537
[13] Tahzeeb al-Tahzeeb, vol. 8, p. 517
[14] Tareekh Bagdad, vol. 13, p. 353
[15] Tahzeeb al-Tahzeeb, vol. 8, p. 518
[16] Siyar Aalam al-Nubala, vol. 6, p. 537; Akhbar Abi Hanifah wa Ashabihi, p. 94; al-Khayraat al-Hisaan, p. 94
Comments