13. From all of the Imams, the period of Imam Abu Hanifa رضی اللہ تعالٰی عنہ is the closest to Sayyiduna Rasoolullah’sصلی اللہ علیہ وسلم time. Imam-e-Azam رضی اللہ تعالٰی عنہ was born in 80 A.H, is a Taba'ee and has met 4 Sahaaba from whom he has also narrated Hadith. Whoever rejects him being a Taba'ee does so in bigotry and prejudice. How can it be that a great Sahaabi like Hadrat Abdullah ibn Aufa رضی اللہ تعالٰی عنہ was present in Kufa during the time of Imam-e-Azam رضی اللہ تعالٰی عنہ and the Imam never met him? Today, people travel thousands of miles to visit and be in the company of a pious person, so what can be said about visiting a Companion of the Prophet?! Nevertheless, Imam Abu Hanifa رضی اللہ تعالٰی عنہ is a Taba'ee, has attained Sahih Ahadith from the Prophet and is counted in the Khairul-Quroon (greatest era adjoined to the time of the Messengerصلی اللہ علیہ وسلم).

In relation to the other Imams,

1. Imam Abu Hanifa رضی اللہ تعالٰی عنہ was born in 80 A.H and passed away at the age of70 in the year 150 A.H. His Mazaar is in Baghdad.

2. Imam Maalik رضی اللہ تعالٰی عنہ was born in 90 A.H and passed away at the age of 89 in the year 179 A.H. His Mazaar is in Madina.

3. Imam Shafee رضی اللہ تعالٰی عنہ, was born in 150 A.H and passed away at the age of 54 in 204 A.H. (He was born the day Imam Abu Hanifa رضی اللہ تعالٰی عنہ to passed away.)

4. Imam Ahmad ibn Hambal رضی اللہ تعالٰی عنہ was born in 164 A.H and passed away at the age of 77 in 241 A.H.

14. Amongst the Imams, Imam Abu Hanifa رضی اللہ تعالٰی عنہ occupies a unique excellence of gaining special guidance and blessings from the family (Able-Bait) of the Prophet صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم. No other Imam has this glory. Imam-e-Azam رضی اللہ تعالٰی عنہ spent two years in the gathering of Imam Jafar Saadiq رضی اللہ تعالٰی عنہ, and himself said, "If those two years eren't attained, I (Nu'man) would've been destroyed. 30.4

15. Imam-e-Azam رضی اللہ تعالٰی عنہ is the pure reflection of Hadrat Abu Bakr Siddique رضی اللہ تعالٰی عنہ.

One is the first Khalifa of Islam and the other is the first Mujtahid Imam of Islam. Hadrat Abu Baler رضی اللہ تعالٰی عنہ is the compiler of the Holy Quran and Imam Abu Hanifa رضی اللہ تعالٰی عنہ is the composer of Fiqhi laws. After the Prophet صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم Hadrat Abu Bakr رضی اللہ تعالٰی عنہ was the first to lay the foundation for the rules of justice in the Khilaafat, and Imam Abu Hanifa رضی اللہ تعالٰی عنہ laid the foundation of Ijtihaad and Taffaqah (reflection). Hadrat Abu Bakr رضی اللہ تعالٰی عنہ helped the Ummah of the Prophet continually, saved them from division and fought disintegration, and Imam Abu Hanifa رضی اللہ تعالٰی عنہ saved the Ummah from the storms of apostasy and infidelity. Through his Ijtihaad and Ilmi blessings, the Muslim Ummah is safe from the mischief of the Kuffaar and heretics.

16. Just as how Ghaus-e-Azam رضی اللہ تعالٰی عنہ is the leader of the Friends (Auliya) of Allahعزوجل {i.e. his foot is on the necks of the Saints. He is also the first Imam of Tareeqat), likewise, Imam Abu Hanifa رضی اللہ تعالٰی عنہ, is the leader of all the Learned Ulama, i.e. they are under his shade of knowledge. This is why "The First Imam of Tareeqat" and "The First Imam of Shariat" is the title of Huzoor Ghaus-e-Azam and Imam Abu Hanifa رضی اللہ تعالٰی عنہ respectively.

Baghdad Sharif is the joining of two oceans because both of these eminent Imams rest there.