4. Imam Abu Hanifa رضی اللہ تعالٰی عنہ is either directly or indirectly the teacher of all the Jurists (Fuqahaa) and Commentators of Hadith (Muhadditheen). Even Imam Shafee رضی اللہ تعالٰی عنہ was the stepson and student of Imam Muhammad رضی اللہ تعالٰی عنہ. Likewise, Imam Malik رضی اللہ تعالٰی عنہ, gained direction from the works of Imam Abu Hanifa رضی اللہ تعالٰی عنہ Many Shaikhs and teachers of Imam Bukhari رضی اللہ تعالٰی عنہ (who is the teacher of the commentators of Hadith) were Hanafis. It’s as if Imam Abu Hanifa رضی اللہ تعالٰی عنہ is the sun in the sky of knowledge while the rest of the Learned Ulama are its stars.

5.The indirect students of Irnam-e-Azamرضی اللہ تعالٰی عنہ number more than 100,000, the majority of which are Mujtahids (e.g. Imam Muhanunad, Imam Abu Yusuf, Imam Zafar, Ibn Mubaarak رضی اللہ تعالٰی عنہ etc., all luminaries amongst the knowledgeable in the history of the deen). Imam Muhammad رضی اللہ تعالٰی عنہ alone wrote and compiled 490 deeni books from which six are especially noteworthy. These are known as the Zaahirur-Riwaayaat and have been accepted to be the source of books dealing with Islamic Jurisprudence.

6. There are four Imams who are the most excellent of the Ulama-e-­Mujtahideen and the most excellent of all is Imam Abu Hanifa رضی اللہ تعالٰی عنہ It’s for this reason that Imam Shafee رضی اللہ تعالٰی عنہ once said, “The Jurists are the children of Abu Hanifa and he is their father:’

7. Just as how Imam Abu Hanifa رضی اللہ تعالٰی عنہ is the sun on the sky of knowledge, so too is he a master in practice. For 40 years, he performed Fajr namaaz with the Wudhu from his Esha salaah the night before! He kept fast for 40 years so discreetly that none knew of his fasting (when he used to bring food from his home, he would feed the students outside. His family thought that he ate outside while the people outside thought he ate in his home)!

The illustrious Imam would complete 61 Quran Sharifs in every month of Ramadaan – one during the day, one during the night, one in the course of the entire month and one with followers (Muqtadis) in the Taraweeh Salaah. He even performed Hajj while he was still a child!

8. The Qabr (mazaar) of Imam-e-Azam رضی اللہ تعالٰی عنہ is trusted for the acceptance of dua. Imam Shafee رضی اللہ تعالٰی عنہ states, “Whenever a need arose in my life, I would travel to Imam Abu Hanifa’s رضی اللہ تعالٰی عنہ Qabr, perform two rakaats of Naf Salaah and make dua through the barkat of his blessed grave. Through this, my need was soon fulfilled.” Furthermore, when Imam Shafee رضی اللہ تعالٰی عنہ used to come to Imam Abu Hanifa’s رضی اللہ تعالٰی عنہ burial place, he used to perform Salaah according to the Hanafi muzhab and not read Qunoot-e-Naazilah. When asked why he did this, he replied, “I do this in respect of the Saahib-e­Qabr (Imam Abu Hanifa رضی اللہ تعالٰی عنہ). – Shaami

This doesn’t mean that when Imam Shafee رضی اللہ تعالٰی عنہ used to come to Baghdad, he would neglect a Sunnah due to the respect of Imam Abu Hanifa رضی اللہ تعالٰی عنہ. It simply means that no Imam or Mujtahid can say for sure that only he is correct while the others aren’t. Rather, an Imam possesses overwhelming thought (Zann-e-Ghaalib] of him being correct but can also say that probably another Imam’s opinion or ruling is correct. There is certainty in beliefs (aqaaid) but Zann-e-Ghaalib for every dissimilar ruling of the Imams. So, it’s as if on these occasions, Imam Shafee رضی اللہ تعالٰی عنہ practiced that which Imam Abu Hanifa رضی اللہ تعالٰی عنہ regarded as Sunnat. One Sunnat has been left out while another has been practiced. Thus, there is no objection to this.

9. Imam Abu Hanifa رضی اللہ تعالٰی عنہ saw Allahعزوجل 100 times while dreaming! The final dua he made to Allahعزوجل and the answer he received when seeing Him is recorded in Raddul-Muhtaar in detail.

10. Many great Friends (Auliya) of Allahعزوجل, Ghaus’, Qutbs, Abdaals and Autaads are followers (Muqallids) of Imam Abu Hanifa رضی اللہ تعالٰی عنہ, The amount of Saints found in the Hanafi muzhab is not visible in any other, and include Hadrat Ibrahim ibn Adham, Shafeeq Balkhi, Maroof Karkhi, Bayazeed Bustami, Fudhail ibn Ayaaz, Dawud Ta’ai, Abu Aamid Balkhi, Khalf ibn Ayoob, Abdullah ibn Mubaarak, Wakee ibn Jarrah, Shaikhul­Islam Abu Bakr Tirmidhi, etc.. رضی اللہ تعالٰی عنہ Auliya, Fuqahaa and Muhaditheen were all Hanafis and held on to the protection of the great Imam. The pride of the Indo-Pak sub-continent, Daata Ganj Baksh Hujweri whose Qabr is visited by all creation, was also a Hanafi. He spoke highly of Imam Abu Hanifa رضی اللہ تعالٰی عنہ in his book ‘Kashful-Mahjoob’. The majority of the Mashaaikh from all chains of Tariqat (Chisthi, Qadri, Naqshbandi, Suharwardi, etc.) were also all Hanafis.

11. The’ muzhab of Imam Abu Hanifa رضی اللہ تعالٰی عنہ is so widespread that it can be that wherever Islam is present, the Hanafi school of thought is found there as well. The majority of Muslims, including the residents of the two Harams, are all Hanafis. There are even some places in the Islamic world where only the Hanafi muzhab is found, and the general public there doesn’t even know of other muzhabs, e.g. Balkh, Bukhaara, Kabul, Qandhaar and approximately the entire Indian subcontinent. This general acceptance of the Hanafi muzhab proves the acceptance of Imam Abu Hanifa رضی اللہ تعالٰی عنہ, in the sight of the creation as well as the Creator.

12. People who held contrary views to the great Imam in Jurisprudence (Fiqh) also wrote major works regarding his excellence,

1. Khairaatul-Hisaan fi Tarjamati Abi Haneefa An-Nu’man by Allama Ibn Hajar Makki رضی اللہ تعالٰی عنہ.

2. Intisaarul-Imam by Allama Ibn Jauzi رضی اللہ تعالٰی عنہ (in two volumes).

3. Tabyeedus-Sabeefah fiI-Manaaqibi Abi Haneefa by Imam Jalaaluddin Suyuti رضی اللہ تعالٰی عنہ.

4. Tanweerus-Sabeefa fi Tarjamati Abi Haneefa by Allama Yusuf ibn Abdul-Haadi Hambali رضی اللہ تعالٰی عنہ .In his book, he quotes the following saying of Ibn Abdullah رضی اللہ تعالٰی عنہ, “I have not seen anyone more distinguished than Imam Abu Hanifa رضی اللہ تعالٰی عنہ in knowledge, jurisprudence and piety.

In short, the entire Muslim Ummah bears testimony to the excellence of Imam Abu Hanifa رضی اللہ تعالٰی عنہ. If only a handful of Ghair-Muqallid Wahabies spew abuse against him, surely their ravings have no credibility.