Book Name:Faizan-e-Imam Azam
Dear Islamic brothers! This fact is ‘اَظۡهَرُ مِنَ الشَّمۡسِ وَ اَبۡيَنُ مِنَ الۡاَمۡس’ (i.e., brighter than the sun and more certain than the past), that our Beloved and Blessed Rasool صَلَّى اللهُ تَعَالٰى عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم has got knowledge of Ghayb by the bestowal of Allah عَزَّوَجَلَّ hence he صَلَّى اللهُ تَعَالٰى عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم gave the news of Imam-e-A’zam’s excellent scholarly competence and ability even before the blessed birth of Imam-e-A’zam رَحْمَةُ اللهِ تَعَالٰی عَلَيْه. The way our Beloved Rasool صَلَّى اللهُ تَعَالٰى عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم mentioned, it happened the same way. When Sayyiduna Imam-e-A’zam رَحْمَةُ اللهِ تَعَالٰی عَلَيْه came into this world, the popularity of his blessed knowledge spread in all directions and knowledge spread everywhere.
If we look at the literal meaning of his blessed name, “Nu’man”, we find that he is surely the testimony of his blessed name. Shaykh-ul-Islam Shahabuddin, Imam Ahmad Ibn Hajar Haytami Makki Shaafi’i رَحْمَةُ اللهِ تَعَالٰی عَلَيْه has said: Islamic scholars have consensus that his name is “Nu’man”, and a very pleasant and graceful factor lies in his blessed name. And that is, Nu’man’s actual meaning is such blood which forms [the skeleton of] human body, so the reason behind calling Sayyiduna Imam-e-A’zam رَحْمَةُ اللهِ تَعَالٰی عَلَيْه by the name of ‘Nu’man’ is that he رَحْمَةُ اللهِ تَعَالٰی عَلَيْه is the foundation of Islamic jurisprudence. (Al-Khayraat-ul-Hisaan, pp. 31)
صَلُّوۡا عَلَى الۡحَبِيۡب صَلَّى اللّٰهُ تَعَالٰى عَلٰى مُحَمَّد
His blessed name is Nu’man, his father’s name is Saabit and his Kunyah is Abu Hanifah [and his title is Imam-e-A’zam]. He was born in 80 AH in ‘Kufa’ and passed away [on the 2nd Sha’ban-ul-Mu’azzam] 150 AH at the age of 70. (Nuzha-tul-Qaari, vol. 1, pp. 219)
His blessed shrine is situated in the graveyard of Baghdad and is the centre of attraction of people even today. (Tareekh Baghdad, vol. 13, pp. 325) All four Imams of Fiqh, (viz. Imam Abu Hanifah, Imam Shaafi’i, Imam Maalik and Imam Ahmad Bin Hanbal رَحِمَهُمُ الـلّٰـهُ تَـعَالٰی) are rightful and their followers of correct belief are brothers to one another. Sayyiduna Imam-e-A’zam Abu Hanifah’s rank is the highest among all four Imams. One of the reasons for this is that he is the