Imam Abu Hanifah, May Allah Mercy Be Upon Him: A Beacon of Knowledge in The Realm of Scholars and Hadith Masters (Part Three)
The Position of Imam Abu Hanifah (R.A) and Scholars’ Definition of Him
Imam Abu Hanifah (may Allah have mercy on him) is the first of the four leaders of the Islamic Ummah. He was born before all of them and passed away before all of them.
Imam Abu Hanifah (may Allah have mercy on him) is not merely a man of low status or rank, whose only distinction lies in his precedence in birth and death. Rather, he was a profound personality in many respects. He was successful and victorious in his worldly endeavors and exhibited remarkable genius in the pursuit of knowledge and understanding. His noble character made him deserve of companionship and fellowship with the distinguished leaders of early Islam. Ultimately, he established a notable status for himself in a society where injustice, bias, and oppression were prevalent. He earned the title “Imam A’zam” (The Greatest Imam), a designation that illuminated the horizons of the world. When we consider this glorious title alongside his identification as “The Jurist of Iraq” and “The Imam of Opinion,” we understand why Abdullah ibn Mubarak remarked, “Abu Hanifa is the brain of knowledge,” and why Ibn Jurayj stated, “Indeed, he is the unique jurist!”
The status and position of Imam Abu Hanifah among scholars is as clear as the sun at noon, and the scholars of his time praised him and acknowledged his superiority.
1. Imam Yahya ibn Ma’in (may Allah have mercy on him) said: “Imam Abu Hanifah (may Allah have mercy on him) was trustworthy; he narrated what he had memorized and did not speak about what he had not memorized.”
2. Hazrat Ali ibn Aasim (may Allah have mercy on him) stated: “If the knowledge of Imam Abu Hanifah (may Allah have mercy on him) is weighed against the knowledge of the scholars of his time, the knowledge of Imam Abu Hanifah will prevail!”
3. Imam Shafi’i (may Allah have mercy on him) remarked: “People are in need of Abu Hanifa in jurisprudence, and he is their dependency.” He also said, “Whoever wants to learn jurisprudence should remain with Abu Hanifah (may Allah have mercy on him) and his companions.”
4. Abdullah ibn Mubarak said: “When known reports and narratives are established and there is a need for opinion and insight, it is important to note that the opinions are those of Imam Malik, Sufyan al-Suri, and Abu Hanifa (may Allah have mercy on them), and among them, Abu Hanifa’s opinion is superior. He is the most astute among them and the deepest in jurisprudence, making him the most knowledgeable of these three.”
5. Sufyan ibn ‘Uyaynah (may Allah have mercy on him) stated: “I did not think that two things would surpass the bridge of Kufa, yet they reached all horizons: the recitation of Hamzah and the opinion and insight of Imam Abu Hanifa (may Allah have mercy on him).”
6. Ma’mar ibn Rashid (may Allah have mercy on him) said: “I do not know anyone who can speak about jurisprudence more knowledgeably and eloquently than Imam Abu Hanifa (may Allah have mercy on him), or who can compare with his breadth of heart, or who can explain the path of salvation to a person.”
Among the indications of the respect and veneration that the great predecessors had for Abu Hanifa (may Allah have mercy on him) is the account of when the brother of Sufyan al-Suri passed away. Many people came to console Sufyan, and Abu Hanifa (may Allah have mercy on him) was among them. Sufyan stood up for him, honored him, and seated him in his place before sitting down himself. When the people dispersed, Sufyan’s companions remarked, “We saw that you treated this man in a remarkable manner!” Sufyan replied: “This man has a position in knowledge. If I do not stand for him because of his knowledge, I should do so because of his age. If I do not stand for his age, I should do so because of his jurisprudence. If I do not stand for his jurisprudence, I should do so because of his piety and righteousness.”
