only Taabi’i among these four. ‘Taabi’i refers to the one who met any blessed companion رَضِىَ اللهُ تَعَالٰی عَـنْهُ in the state of Iman [faith] and also passed away in the state of Iman’. (Nuzha-tul-Qaari, pp. 113)

According to different narrations, Sayyiduna Imam-e-A’zam رَحْمَةُ اللهِ تَعَالٰی عَلَيْه was privileged to meet few blessed companions رَضِىَ الـلّٰـهُ تَعَالٰی عَـنْهُم and he رَحْمَةُ اللهِ تَعَالٰی عَلَيْه has also heard the blessed sayings of the Beloved Rasool صَلَّى اللهُ تَعَالٰى عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم directly from some of the blessed companions رَضِىَ الـلّٰـهُ تَـعَالٰی عَـنْهُم. (Al-Khayraat-ul-Hassan, pp. 33)

صَلُّوۡا عَلَى الۡحَبِيۡب              صَلَّى اللّٰهُ تَعَالٰى عَلٰى مُحَمَّد

Attributes of Imam-e-A’zam

Sayyiduna Abu Nu’aym رَحْمَةُ اللهِ تَعَالٰی عَلَيْه has stated: The appearance and state, face, clothes and shoes of Imam-e-A’zam Abu Hanifah رَحْمَةُ اللهِ تَعَالٰی عَلَيْه were good; he رَحْمَةُ اللهِ تَعَالٰی عَلَيْه would help everyone who would visit him. (Akhbar Abi Hanifah-o-Ashaabah, pp. 16)

He رَحْمَةُ اللهِ تَعَالٰی عَلَيْه was of medium height; he would converse with all people in           a very good manner and would abundantly use fragrance (‘Itr). When he             رَحْمَةُ اللهِ تَعَالٰی عَلَيْه would go out, he would be recognized due to his pleasant fragrance. (Akhbar Abi Hanifah-o-Ashaabah, pp. 17)

Sayyiduna Imam-e-A’zam رَحْمَةُ اللهِ تَعَالٰی عَلَيْه would recite the Holy Quran along with propagating Islamic knowledge throughout the day and would spend the whole night in worship and spiritual exercise. Sayyiduna Mis’ar Bin Kidaam رَحْمَةُ اللهِ تَعَالٰی عَلَيْه has said: I once went to the Masjid of Imam-e-A’zam Abu Hanifah رَحْمَةُ اللهِ تَعَالٰی عَلَيْه, I saw that after offering Salat-ul-Fajr, he رَحْمَةُ اللهِ تَعَالٰی عَلَيْه imparted Islamic knowledge to the people throughout the day. During this time, he only took breaks for Salah. After Salat-ul-‘Isha, he went to his home.

After a short while, he رَحْمَةُ اللهِ تَعَالٰی عَلَيْه came to the Masjid in simple clothes, wearing much fragrance and with a luminous face became busy offering Nafl Salah in a corner of the Masjid until the dawn. Thereafter, he رَحْمَةُ اللهِ تَعَالٰی عَلَيْه returned home and came back after changing his dress and offered Fajr Salah