Taken from 'The Creed Of The Four Imaams'
By Muhammad ibn Abdur Rahmaan al-Khumayyis
(pp 51-52), with slight editions.
Imaam Abu Hanifah an-Nu'maan ibn Thaabit [1]
He is the imaam, the faqeeh, the Scholar of al-'Iraaq, Aboo Haneefah an-Nu'maan Ibn Thaabit Ibn Zawtaa at-Taymee al-Koofee, the master of Banee Taymullaah Ibn Tha'labah, it was said that he was from the sons of al-Faras.
He was born in the year 80H during the lifetime of the younger Companions, and he saw Maalik Ibn Anas when he came to them in al-Koofah. However, not a single letter from them has been confirmed from him.
Ahmad al-'Ijlee said, "Aboo Haneefah at-Taymee was from a group of oil dealers, he used to buy and sell silken fabrics."
And 'Umar Ibn Hammaad Ibn Abee Haneefah said, "As for Zawtaa, then he is from the people of Kaabil and he was born firm upon Islaam. And Zawtaa was in possession of the tribe of Taymullaah Ibn Tha'labah. So he was old and his allegiance was to them, then to the tribe of Qifl." He said, "And Aboo Haneefah was a fabrics merchant, and his shop was known in Daar 'Amr Ibn Hareeth."
And Nadr Ibn Muhammad al-Marwazee said, "From Yahyaa Ibn Nadr who said, "The father of Abee Haneefah was from Nisaa."
And Sulaymaan Ibnur-Rabee' relates from al-Haarith Ibn Idrees who said, "The origin of Aboo Haneefah is from Tirmidh."
And Aboo 'Abdur-Rahmaan al-Muqree said, "Aboo Haneefah was from the people of Baabil."
And Aboo Ja'far Muhammad Ibn Ishaaq Ibnul-Bahlool relates from his father, from his grandfather who said, "Thaabit, the father of Aboo Haneefah was from the people of al-Anbaar."
From Mukrim Ibn Ahmad al-Qaadee who said, Ahmad Ibn 'Abdullaah Ibn Shaadhaan al-Marwazee informed us from his father, from his grandfather: I heard Ismaa'eel saying, Ismaa'eel Ibn Hammaad Ibn Abee Haneefah an-Nu'maan Ibn Thaabit Ibnul-Marzabaan informed us from the sons of Faaris al-Ahraar, by Allaah softness never fell upon us. "My grandfather was born in the year 80H, and Thaabit went to 'Alee whilst he was young. So he supplicated for his blessing and for his offspring, and we hope that this supplications from Alee was answered through us.
Muhammad Ibn Sa'd al-'Awfee said, "I heard Yahyaa Ibn Ma'een saying, 'Aboo Haneefah was reliable (thiqah), and he did not relate any hadeeth, except those that he had memorized, and he did not relate those that he had not memorized.'"
And Saalih Ibn Muhammad said, "I heard Yahyaa Ibn Ma'een saying, `Aboo Haneefah was thiqah in hadeeth.'"
And Ahmad Ibn Muhammad Ibnul-Qaasim Ibn Mahraz relates from Ibn Ma'een, `There was no problem in Aboo Haneefah.' And he said another time. `He was from the people of truthfulness according to us, and he was not faulted with lying.' Indeed Ibn Hubayrah left the judiciary to him, so my father used to be a judge.'
From Shu'ayb Ibn Ayyoob as-Sareefeenee, Aboo Yahyaa al-Himaanee informed us, "I heard Abaa Haneefah saying, `I saw a dream that terrified me. I saw that I was digging up the grave of the Prophet (Sallahhaahu ‘alaihi-Wa-salam). So I came to al-Basrah, so I commanded a man to ask Muhammad Ibn Seereen, so he asked him. So he said, `This man is digging up the narrations of the Messenger of Allaah (Sallahhaahu- ‘alaihi-Wasalam)''"
The muhaddith, Mahmood Ibn Muhammad al-Marwazee said, Haamid Ibn Aadam informed us, Aboo Wahb Muhammad Ibn Mujaahim informed us saying, "I heard 'Abdullaah Ibnul-Mubaarak saying, `If Allaah had not aided me through Abee Haneefah and Sufyaan, I would have been like the rest of the people.'"
From Ahmad Ibn Zubayr, Sulaymaan Ibn Abee Shaykh informed us, Hujr Ibn 'Abdul-Jabbaar informed me saying, "It was said to al-Qaasim Ibn Ma'n, `Are you pleased to be from amongst the boy servants of Aboo Haneefah?' He said, `The people have not sat in circle more beneficial than that of Abee Haneefah.' So al-Qaasim said to him, `Come with me to him.' So when he came to him, he stuck to him, and he said, `I have not seen the likes of this.'"
And Bishr Ibnul-Waleed relates from al-Qaadee Aboo Yoosuf who said, "Once when I was walking with Aboo Haneefah, I heard a man saying to another, `This Aboo Haneefah does not sleep at night.' So Aboo Haneefah said, `By Allaah, do not relate from me that which I do not do."
'Abdur-Rahmaan Ibn Muhammad Ibnul-Mugheerah said, "I saw Aboo Haneefah pronouncing verdicts for the people at a Masjid in al-Koofah, upon his head was a long black hood."
And Ibnul-Mubaarak said, "I have not seen a man more dignified in his gathering, nor having better' manners and mildness than Aboo Haneefah."
Yazeed Ibn Haaroon said, "I have not seen anyone more easy going than Aboo Haneefah."
Wakee' said, "I heard Abee Haneefah saying, `Urinating in the Masjid is better than some analogical deduction (qiyaas).'"
And from Mu'aawiyah ad-Dareer who said, "Loving Abee Haneefah is from the Sunnah."
And from Mugheeth Ibn Badeel who said, "Aboo Haneefah was called by al-Mansoor to the judiciary, so he refused. So he said, `Do you desire that which we have?' So he said, 'No, I am not appropriate.' He said, `You have lied.' He said, 'So the Leader of the Believers has ruled that I am not appropriate. Since I am a liar, then I am not appropriate. And if I was truthful, I would have informed you that I was not appropriate.' So he was detained."
And Ismaa'eel Ibn Abee Uways relates something similar from ar-Rabee' al-Haajib, and in it Aboo Haneefah said, "By Allaah, I am not safe from pleasure, so how could I be safe from anger? So I am not appropriate for that." So al-Mansoor said, "You have lied. Rather, you are appropriate." So he said, "How is it lawful for you to give authority to one who lies?" And it was said that Aboo Haneefah worked for him. So he judged in one affair and remained for two days, then he complained for six days and died.
And the faqeeh, Aboo 'Abdullaah as-Saymaree said, "He did not accept the position of judge. So he was beaten and detained and he died in jail." And Hayyaan Ibn Moosaa al-Marwazee said, "Ibnul-Mubaarak was asked, `Is Maalik better in fiqh, or Aboo Haneefah?' He said, `Aboo Haneefah.'" And al-Khuryabee said, "No one finds fault with Aboo Haneefah, except one who is jealous, or an ignoramus."
And Yahyaa Ibn Sa'eed al-Qattaan said, "We do not lie in front of Allaah. We have not heard anything better than the opinion of Abee Haneefah. And indeed we have taken many of his statements."
And 'Alee Ibn 'Aasim said, "If the knowledge of Imaam Aboo Haneefah was weighed against the knowledge of the people of his era, he would have outweighed them."
And Hafs Ibn Ghiyaath said, "The speech of Abee Haneefah in fiqh is more intricate than poetry. No one finds fault with it except an ignorant person."
And Jareer said, "Mugheerah said to me, `Sit with Aboo Haneefah to gain fiqh, since if Ibraaheem an-Nakha'ee was living, he would sit with him.' And Ibnul-Mubaarak said, 'Aboo Haneefah had more fiqh than the rest of the people.'"
Footnotes:
[1] The following biography is taken from Siyar A'laamun-Nubalaa (6/394 -403), slightly adapted. For biographies of Aboo Haneefah, refer to: Tabaqaatul-Khaleefah (no. 176-327), Taareekhut-Bukhaaree (8/81), Taareekhus-Sagheer (2/43), al-Jarh wat-Ta'deel (8/449-450), Kitaabul-Majrooheen (3/61), Taareekh Baghdaad (13/323-324), al.Kaamil fit-Taareekh (5/549. 585), Wafiyaatul-A'yaan (5/415-423), Tahdheebul-Kamaal (no. 1414-1417), Tahdheebut-Tahdheeb (1/98/4), Tadhkiratul-Huffaadh (1/168), Meezaanul-I'tidaal (4/265), al'Ibr (1/314), Maraatul-Jinaan (1/309), al-Bidaayah wan-Nihaayah (10/ 107 ), Taqreebut-Tahdheeb (10/449452), an-Nujoomuz-Zaahirah (2/12), al-Jawaahirul-Mudee'ah (1/26-32), Khilaasah Tahdheebul Kamaal (no. 402), Shadhamatudh -Dhahab (1/227-229).
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