imam calmly said, "May Allah forgive you. He knows well I am not what you accuse me of."

After saying this, the imam began to cry. “I hope Allah will forgive me!”, he exclaimed, “I cry in fear of being punished.” As thoughts of punishment intensified, he began crying uncontrollably and eventually fainted, collapsing to the ground. Upon regaining consciousness, he said, "O Allah! Forgive the one who spoke ill of me!"^[1]

Dear Islamic brothers! Look at the amazing conduct of Imam Abū Ḥanīfa رَحْمَةُ الـلّٰـهِ عَـلَيْه. He responded to abuse and curses with kindness and forgiveness, setting an extraordinary example.

If only we could follow in his footsteps and forgive those who wrong or curse us. May Allah grant us the ability to do this.  

Worship throughout the night

Ibn Ḥajar Ḥaytamī al-Shafi’ī رَحْمَةُ الـلّٰـهِ عَـلَيْه writes:

Imām Abū Ḥanīfa spent entire nights in worship and would perform tahajjud, as evidenced by mass-transmitted reports. Due to the sheer length of time he spent standing in salah, he was known as al-Watad – the Nail (due to being fixed in place).

For 30 years, he recited the entire Quran in a single unit of salah, and for 40 years, he performed fajr salah with the wudu of ʿIshāˈ.^[2]

Once, a person began backbiting Imām Abū Ḥanīfa رَحْمَةُ الـلّٰـهِ عَـلَيْه in front of ꜤAbdullāh b. Mubārak, who responded by saying: