Once, a dispute arose between Khaleef Ja'far al-Mansoor and his wife Harrah, who accused him of having no inclination towards her. She requested for the arbitration of Imam Abu Hanifa رحمه الله in order to resolve the problem. The Khaleef called for the Imam, and Harrah sat behind a veil to hear the Imam's verdict.

When he arrived the Khaleef asked, "How many wives is a man permitted to have at any one time?"

Imam Abu Hanifa رحمه الله replied, "Four."

"And how many bondswomen?" he continued.

Imam Abu Hanifa رحمه الله replied, "As many as he desires."

The Khaleef asked, "Can anybody justifiably hold another opinion to this, Islamically?"

"No," replied Imam Abu Hanifa رحمه الله.

The Khaleef then addressed his wife, saying, "Harrah, have you heard the verdict?"

As that point, Imam Abu Hanifa رحمه الله exclaimed, "This ruling applies to a man who deals justly and fairly with all his wives. As for such a man who is not impartial or fears injustice in dealing with his wives, he should marry only one wife. Allaah سبحانه و تعالى declares,

'If you fear that you will not be just then have only one (wife).' (4:3)

It is only appropriate that we accept the advice of Allaah سبحانه و تعالى and discipline ourselves accordingly," Imam Abu Hanifa رحمه الله concluded.

When the Khaleef heard this, he was silent and did not utter a word for a long time. Imam Abu Hanifa رحمه الله stood up and left the gathering. When he reached home, he found a servant of the Khaleef's wife at his door, who presented him a significant quantity of money, clothing, a conveyance and a bondswoman as a gift from her side.

Imam Abu Hanifa رحمه الله refused to accept the gifts and returned them, saying, "Convey my greetings to her and say to her that I upheld the truth for the pleasure of Allaah سبحانه و تعالى. I did not desire the favour of anybody in doing so, nor was I desirous of any wordly reward."

Imam Abu Hanifa رحمه الله, far from touching the gifts before him, did not even look at them.

['Uqudul Juman, p298; Tabaqatul Hanafiyyah; Imam Abu Hanifa رحمه الله, p274; Pearls from the Path]