According to the majority of hadith scholars, a Tabi'i or 'Follower' is someone who met a Companion of the Messenger (saw) or merely saw one while in the state of faith (iman). It is not necessary for him to have remained in his company or to have narrated from him. Hafiz ibn Hajar al-'Asqalani has stated this definition to be the most preferred one. [1]
'Allama 'Iraqi, Ibn al-Salah, Nawawi, and Hakim, among others, also agree on this definition.

According to this widely accepted opinion, Imam Abu Hanifa is considered to be a tabi'i, and this has been confirmed by many biographers and historians. This is a unique position held by him, since the same cannot be said regarding the other great Imams, Shafi'i, Malik, and Ahmad ibn Hanbal (raa).

'Allama Dhahabi writes in his Tadhkirat al-huffaz that Abu Hanifa was born in 80 A.H. He saw Anas ibn Malik (ra) more than once (every time Anas (ra) visited Kufa).

Hafiz 'Abd al-Ghani al-Maqdisi states:
"Abu Hanifa saw Anas (ra)." [2]

Ibn Hajra al-Makki writes:
"It is true, as Dhahabi has stated, that Abu Hanifa
saw Anas ibn Malik (ra) when he was young." [3]

Khatib al-Baghdadi confirms in his Tarikh al-Baghdad:
"Abu Hanifa saw Anas ibn Malik (ra)." [4]

Hamza al-Sahami states:
"I heard Daraqutni say, "Abu Hanifa did not meet any
Companion of the Messenger (saw) except Anas ibn Malik (ra)." [5]

Therefore, as many scholars confirmed, Imam Abu Hanifa was most certainly a tabi'i.

Notes:
[1] I'la al-sunan 19:306
[2] Tadhkirat al-Rashid 427
[3] al-Khayrat al-hisan
[4] Tadhkirat al-Rashid 281
[5] Tabyid al-sahifa 502

» Posted by Seifeddine-M on 4th November 2010

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