CHAPTER THIRTY

THE EXCELLENCE OF IMAM ABU HANIFA رضی اللہ تعالٰی عنہ

Ghair-Muqallid Wahabies (who reject the Four lmams) are severe enemies of Hadrat Imam Abu Hanifa رضی اللہ تعالٰی عنہ and constantly mock his rulings. Some have written that the numerical value of his year of birth is equal to the word "dog" (Allahعزوجل forbid!). In reply to this, some Hanafis have said that the numerical value of "Wahabi" is equal to the word vulture. Like vultures who eat dead flesh, so too do Wahabies eat the flesh of the Friends of Allahعزوجل that have passed away by backbiting about them. Even the Quran has equated backbiting to eating the flesh of a corpse. The numerical value of "Wahabi" also equals the word rat. Like rats which nibble away at things, so too do Wahabies corrode the pure deen of lslam. To explain and demonstrate to Muslims the great excellence Hadrat Imam Abu Hanifa رضی اللہ تعالٰی عنہ occupies in Islam, 1 pen the following,

THE NAME & GENEOLOGY OF IMAM-E-AZAMرضی اللہ تعالٰی عنہ

Nu'man ibn Thaabit ibn Zuti is the blessed name of Imam Abu Hanifa رضی اللہ تعالٰی عنہ.His paternal grandfather, Hadrat Zuti رضی اللہ تعالٰی عنہ, was of Persian descent, a true lover of and very close to Hadrat Ali رضی اللہ تعالٰی عنہ, It was because of his love that he came to stay in Kufa, the administrative capital of the great Khalifa of Islam. When his son, Hadrat Thaabit رضی اللہ تعالٰی عنہ, was a baby, he took him to Hadrat Ali رضی اللہ تعالٰی عنہ so that he may make dua for him. Hadrut Ali did so and gave glad-tidings of much barkat. As a result, Imam Abu Hanifa رضی اللہ تعالٰی عنہ is the miracle and glad-tidings of Hadrat Ali رضی اللہ تعالٰی عنہ.

Hadrat Imam Abu Hanifa رضی اللہ تعالٰی عنہ was born in 80 A.H and passed away during the year 150 A.H in Baghdad Sharif. He was buried in the graveyard 'Khairzaan'. His Qabr Sharif is visited by all: lay-Muslims, Ulama, Mashaaikh and Sufiya throughout the year. He lived for a period of 70 years.

Imam Abu Hanifa رضی اللہ تعالٰی عنہ was also born in the period of the Sahaaba. He particularly met these four,

1. Hadrat Anas ibn Maalik رضی اللہ تعالٰی عنہ in Basra

2. Hadrat Abdullah ibn Aufa رضی اللہ تعالٰی عنہ in Kufa

3. Hadrat Suhail ibn.Sa'ad Saaldi رضی اللہ تعالٰی عنہ in Madina Munawwara

4. Hadrat Abu Tufail Aamir ibn Waasila رضی اللہ تعالٰی عنہ in Makkah Muazzama

There are reports that he met others besides these, but this is the most chosen ruling. He was the student of Hadrat Hammaad رضی اللہ تعالٰی عنہ and even had exclusive tutorials by Imam Jafar Saadiq رضی اللہ تعالٰی عنہ (and was particularly guided by the latter for a period of two years).

It was King Mansoor who brought the great Imam from Kufa to Baghdad and requested him to accept the position of the Grand Judge (Qaadhi-ul-Qudaat). After denying this position. Imam Abu Hanifa رضی اللہ تعالٰی عنہ was incarcerated and later passed away during this imprisonment.

THE ESTEEM OF IMAM-E-AZAM رضی اللہ تعالٰی عنہ

The excellence and merit of Imam Abu Hanifa رضی اللہ تعالٰی عنہ is truly beyond our estimation. He is the visible miracle of the Holy Prophetصلی اللہ علیہ وسلم the integral karaamat of Hadrat Ali رضی اللہ تعالٰی عنہ and the solver of problems encountered by the Muslim Ummah. Alhamdulillah, the Ahle-Sunnat are very fortunate. Our Messengerصلی اللہ علیہ وسلم" is the Greatest Messenger, our Shaikh Abdul-Qadir Jilaani رضی اللہ تعالٰی عنہ is the Greatest Ghaus and our Imam Abu Hanifa رضی اللہ تعالٰی عنہ is the Greatest Imam. Greatness, honour and prestige are our fortune. Through the grace of Allahعزوجل. we present a few excellences of Imam Abu Hanifa رضی اللہ تعالٰی عنہ.

1. The Holy Prophetصلی اللہ علیہ وسلم foretold his birth and spoke of his excellence. Muslim and Bukhari narrate from Hadrat Abu Hurairah T'ibrani رضی اللہ تعالٰی عنہ from Hadrat Ibn Mas'ud رضی اللہ تعالٰی عنہ and Abu Nuaim from Hadrat Qais ibn Thaabit ibn Ubaada رضی اللہ تعالٰی عنہ "If Imaan was at the Suraya star (pleiades) some people of Persian ancestry would retrieve it." 30.1

In another narration of Muslim and Bukhari, Sayyiduna Rasoolullahصلی اللہ علیہ وسلم said. "Oath on He who has control of my existence! If the deen was at the Suraya star, a man from Persia would reach for and retrieve it.” 30.2

Who of Persian descent besides Imam Abu Hanifa رضی اللہ تعالٰی عنہ possesses this glory?

2. Allama Ibn Rajar Makki Shafee رضی اللہ تعالٰی عنہ has written a complete book called Khairaatul-Hisaan fi Tarjamati Abi Hanifa An-Nu'man. In it, he records the following Hadith of the Holy Prophetصلی اللہ علیہ وسلم,

"In the year 150, the decoration of the world will be taken away.,,30.1

150 was the year of Imam Abu Hanifa's رضی اللہ تعالٰی عنہ demise. From this, we come to know that Imam-e-Azam رضی اللہ تعالٰی عنہ was the adornment of the Shariah and the embellishment of Shariah knowledge and practice. Even Imam Kurduri رضی اللہ تعالٰی عنہ stated that this Hadith gestures towards the great Imam.

3. Imam-e-Azam رضی اللہ تعالٰی عنہ was the first Aalim of the deen in the entire Muslim world to lay the foundations of Fiqh (Islamic Jurisprudence) and Ijtihaad.

This is his great favour upon the Muslim Ummah. The other Imams, such as Imam Shafee, Imam Malik رضی اللہ تعالٰی عنہ, '" etc. all built upon these foundations. Rasoolullahصلی اللہ علیہ وسلم said that he who invents a good and righteous method in Islam obtains his reward and the reward of everyone who acts upon it.

For 40 years, Imam Abu Hanlfa رضی اللہ تعالٰی عنہ performed Fajr namaaz with the Wudhu from his Esha salaah the night before!