Stories of the Scholars
Imam Abu Hanifah
ุงูุฅูู ูุงู ุฃูุจูู ุญููููููุฉ ุฑูุญูู ููู ุงูููู
Founder of the Hanafi School (d. 150 AH)
Nu'man bin Thabit, known as Abu Hanifah, was born in Kufa and became the founder of the Hanafi school of jurisprudence - the school with the most followers in the Islamic world to date, widely adhered to in Turkey, South Asia and Central Asia. He is known for his fiqh approach which emphasizes qiyas (analogy) and ra'yu (reasoning) systematically when direct texts are not found. He was offered the position of supreme judge but refused it in order to maintain his scientific independence, and was even willing to be imprisoned as a result of this refusal. His students, especially Abu Yusuf and Muhammad bin Hasan Asy-Syaibani, then published and spread their school of thought throughout the Islamic world.
1Imam Ahli Ra'yi from Kufa
Nu'man bin Thabit, known as Imam Abu Hanifah (80โ150 H), was born in Kufah during the tabi'in era and met several friends. Originally an honest cloth merchant, he then studied jurisprudence until he became the imam of the first of the four Ahlussunnah sects.
๐ QS Az-Zumar: 9
2Qiyas and Istihsan methods
Abu Hanifah is famous for his sharp analysis and use of qiyas (analogies) and istihsan in establishing laws on new problems. The assembly took the form of deliberations with students such as Abu Yusuf and Muhammad bin Al-Hasan, who then spread and published their school of thought.
๐ QS An-Nisa: 59
3Wara' and Generosity
He was very wise in his wealth, chose to trade so as not to depend on gifts from the authorities, and gave a lot of charity to students and the poor. He was famous for his long evening prayers and was nicknamed "al-watad" (peg) because of the long hours he stood in prayer.
๐ QS As-Sajdah: 16
4Tests from the Ruler
Abu Hanifah refused the position of qadhi offered by the authorities because he was afraid he would not be able to act fairly under pressure, so he was imprisoned and tortured. He preferred the pain of prison rather than sacrificing the honesty of his knowledge.
๐ QS Al-Ma'idah: 8
5Death and Legacy of the Hanafi School
Abu Hanifah died in Baghdad prison in 150 AH. His school of thought became the most widely followed in the world - from Turkey, Central Asia, the Indian subcontinent, to most of the Islamic world - and became a reference for the jurisprudence of great civilizations.
๐ QS Al-Kahfi: 30