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 رضى الله عنها.
'Allama Dhahabi writes in his Tadhkirat al-huffaz that Abu Hanifa was born in 80 A.H. He saw Anas ibn Malik رضي الله عنه more than once (every time Anas رضي الله عنه visited Kufa).
Hafiz 'Abd al-Ghani al-Maqdisi states:
"Abu Hanifa saw Anas رضي الله عنه." [2]
Ibn Hajra al-Makki writes:
"It is true, as Dhahabi has stated, that Abu Hanifa
saw Anas ibn Malik رضي الله عنه when he was young." [3]
Khatib al-Baghdadi confirms in his Tarikh al-Baghdad:
"Abu Hanifa saw Anas ibn Malik رضي الله عنه." [4]
Hamza al-Sahami states:
"I heard Daraqutni say, "Abu Hanifa did not meet any
Companion of the Messenger
except Anas ibn Malik رضي الله عنه." [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
