The Al-Fateh Mosque (Bahrain)

Hazrat Imam A'zam Abu Hanifa (RA)

(80 A.H. - 150 A.H.)

• Full name : Numan bin Thaabit bin Zuta bin Mah
• Born in Kufa in Iraq in 80 A.H
• Passed away: In the Month of Rajab 150 A.H.,
• He lies buried in a Tomb situated near Baghdad in Iraq.

Prediction about his coming

It is stated in a Hadith Shareef which Imam al-Harizmi reported from Sayyiduna Abu Hurayrah (RA) that Sayyiduna Rasulullah (SAW) said: "Among my Ummah, there will come a man called Abu Hanifa. On the Day of Resurrection, he will be the light of my Ummah." Another Hadith Shareef states: "In every century, a number of my Ummah will attain to high grades. Abu Hanifa will be the highest of his time." These two Ahadith are recorded in " al-Mukhtar."

While still in his youth, he met great Sahaba like Sayyiduna Anas bin Maalik, Sayyiduna Sahl bin Saad and Sayyiduna Abul Tufail Amir bin Wathilah (RA). Imam A'zam Abu Hanifa (radi Allahu anhu) was first brought up as a trader, but soon started taking deep interest in Islamic learning.

Imam Abu Hanifa Numan ibn Thabit ibn Numan ibn Marzuban , called "The Imam" by Abu Dawud, and "The Imam, one of those who have reached the sky" by Ibn Hajar, he is known in the Islamic world as Imam Al Azam (The greatest Imam) and his school has the largest number of followers among the four schools of Ahly Sunna. He was a successor and met such Sahaba as Anas bin Malik, Sahl bin Sa’d, Ibn Abi Awfa etc. He was the first to organize Fiqh in written form under subheadings due to which Imam Shafi said:

                   Al Nasu Iyalun Ala Abi Hanifa Fi Al Fiqh 

                  People are the dependents of Abu Hanifa in Fiqh. [3]

EARLY LIFE

Hazrat Imam A'zam Abu Hanifa (RA) full name was Numan ibn Thabit ibn Numan ibn Marzuban. He was born in Kufa in Iraq in 80 A.H during the reign of Caliph Abdul Malik ibn Marwan ibn Al Hakim He belonged to the pious period of the Taabi'ins (Successors of the Sahabas).

EDUCATION 

He attended the lectures of Sayyiduna Hammad Basri (RA) in Fiqh and then began to study the Hadith. He learnt under great scholars in Kufa. In Basrah he studied under two great Taabi'ie scholars who had learnt Hadith under the Sahaba.

In Makkatul Mukarammah and Madinatul Munawwarah, he learnt under Sayyiduna Ata bin Abi Rabah and Sayyiduna Ikramah (RA). In fact, Imam A'zam Abu Hanifa (RA) had numerous teachers. Some historians say that he learnt Hadith from about 4 000 scholars.

Some of his famous teachers were:

1. Sayyiduna Imam Baaqir (RA)
2. Sayyiduna Imam Jafer Saadiq (RA)
3. Sayyiduna Ali (RA)
4. Sayyiduna Abu Hurayrah (RA)
5. Sayyiduna Abdullah ibn Umar (RA)
6. Sayyiduna Aqabah bin Umar (RA)
7. Sayyiduna Safwa (RA)
8. an, Sayyiduna Jabir (RA)
9. Sayyiduna Abu Qatadah (RA).

AS A TEACHER 

When his teacher, Sayyiduna Hammad Basri (RA) passed away, Imam A'zam Abu Hanifa (RA) was 40 years old and he began teaching. He became very famous and travelled many places. Students from all over the Muslim world came to him to listen to his lectures, interviews and debates. Hazrat Imam Maalik (RA) also learnt under him.

When he was 56 years old, Caliph Mansur came to power after the Ummayyad dynasty was overthrown by the Abbasids in 132 A.H. Since Imam Abu Hanifa (RA) opposed the Caliph's ruthless killing of the Ahle Bait, he was arrested. The Caliph offered the Imam the post of a Qaadi (Judge), but he refused. The Caliph Mansur had beaten him with a stick 30 strokes. His feet bled. Caliph Mansur repented and offered Imam A'zam Abu Hanifa (RA) 30 000 pieces of silver. The great Imam refused once again. He was imprisoned again and thrashed 10 more strokes every day.

Persistent Ibadat, recitation of the Quran and Night Wakes:

Imam Dhahabi says that Imam Abu Hanifas Ibadat, in particular his Tahajjud prayers and recitation of the Quran, are established by Khabare Mutawattir, which means that it is a fact so commonly narrated by the tongues of people that it would be impossible to deny. Sufyan ibn Uyannah is said to have remarked: In our time from amongst those who came to visit Mecca not a single soul could surpass Abu Hanifa in Salah.

Hammad, the son of Imam Abu Hanifa, narrates that Hasan ibn Ammarah said:
May Alah have mercy on Abu Hanifa. For thirty years he fasted and for fourty years he did not sleep at night.


Like Imam Bukhari, Imam Abu Hanifa used to finish the Quran 60 times in Ramadhan. He was so pious and scrupulous that he used to recite the whole Quran in one Raka, May Allah grant him the highest abode.

Zafir ibn Sulayman says: Abu Hanifa used to spend much of the night in one Raka and in that one Raka he used to recite the entire Quran.

Ibrahim ibn Rustum Al Marwazi said:  Four are the Imams that recited the entire Quran in a single Raka: Uthman ibn Affan (Allah be pleased with him), Tamim Al Dari, Said ibn Jubayr, and Abu Hanifa.

PASSES AWAY 

In the Month of Rajab 150 A.H., Imam A'zam Abu Hanifa (RA) passed away while in Salaah. He had been poisoned by the orders of Caliph Mansur. His Janaza Salaah was performed six times and each time 50 000 people took part. People continued to come and pray for him for 20 days after he was buried. He was 70 years old.

In 459 A.H. a Mazaar (Tomb) was built for him by the Seljuki ruler Alp Arsalan. He lies buried in a Tomb situated near Baghdad in Iraq.

Hazrat Imam A'zam Abu Hanifa (RA) left behind about 980 students. The most famous among them being:

a. Sayyiduna Qadi Abu Yusuf (RA)

b. Sayyiduna Imam Muhammed (RA)

c. Sayyiduna Imam Zufur (RA)

CHARACTER 

Hazrat Imam A'zam Abu Hanifa (RA) earned his living by trading. Every Friday, he distributed 20 gold coins to the poor for his parents soul. For 40 years Imam A'zam Abu Hanifa (RA) performed the Fajr Salaah with the Wudu that he made for the Esha Salaah (ie. he did not sleep after the night prayer). He performed Hajj 55 times. He used to recite the entire Holy Quran once every day and once every night. Imam A'zam Abu Hanifa (RA) had so much of Taqwa (Piety) that for 30 years he fasted every day (except for the 5 forbidden days). He often read the Holy Quran in one rakaah or two. He did not accept any presents from anyone. He wore clothes like those of the poor. Imam A'zam Abu Hanifa (RA) once said: "I laughed once in my life and I regret it." He talked little and thought much. It is said that at the place where his soul was taken, he read the Holy Quran

Imam’s piety, austerity, self-control and trustworthiness:

Ibn Dukain narrates: Imam Abu Hanifa was very pious and trustworthy.

Muhammad ibn Ayman narrates that when Abdullah ibn Mubarak was asked about Imam Abu Hanifa he replied: Can anyone ever be like him? He was tried with lashes  but he exercised forbearance.

Abdullah ibn Mubarak said regarding Imam Abu Hanifa: What can be said about a man who was presented with all the material wealth and chattels of the dunya but rejected it all? A man who was severely lashed but bore it with patience?

Nadr ibn Muhammad said: I haven’t witnessed anyone as abstinent and pious as Imam Abu Hanifa.

Hasan ibn Ziyad said: Abu Hanifa never accepted any gift or favor from the rulers and kings (although he was offered much)

Zaid ibn Zarqa narrates that a man once remarked to Abu Hanifa: This dunya is being presented to you then why don’t you accept it since you are a family man?

Imam Abu Hanifa replied: Allah is sufficient to attend to the needs of my family. As for me, my monthly expenses amount to just two dirhams. Why should I accumulate wealth for them when I will be questioned about accumulating it? Whether they are obedient to him or disobedient does not make a difference to me being questioned since Allah’s sustenance reaches both the obedient and disobedient, “And in the sky is your sustenance and that which you are being promised (Zariyat: 22)

Imam A'zam Abu Hanifa (RA) earned his living by trading. Every Friday, he distributed 20 gold coins to the poor for his parent’s soul. For 40 years Imam A'zam Abu Hanifa (radi Allahu anhu) performed the Fajr Salaah with the Wudu that he made for the Esha Salaah (ie. he did not sleep after the night prayer). He performed Hajj 55 times. He used to recite the entire Holy Quran once every day and once every night. Imam A'zam Abu Hanifa (radi Allahu anhu) had so much of Taqwa (Piety) that for 30 years he fasted every day (except for the 5 forbidden days). He often read the Holy Quran in one rakaah or two. He did not accept any presents from anyone. He wore clothes like those of the poor. Imam A'zam Abu Hanifa (radi Allahu anhu) once said: "I laughed once in my life and I regret it." He talked little and thought much.