Notes On Al-Imam al-A'zam (rahimahullah)

London

4,762

Brother

4,174

#1 [Permalink] Posted on 8th January 2012 09:12

1) Narrations On The Piety Of Imam Abu Hanifa ( رحمه الله)

Imam Abu Hanifah, ( رحمه الله) despite his mastery in the Islamic sciences, was recognised for his piety (taqwa), scrupulousness (wara') and worship ('ibadah). In the following I will quote a few excerpts from Imam al-Khatib al-Baghdadi's biographical dictionary Tarikh Baghdad, omitting the chains and relaying the editor's, Dr Bashshar 'Awwad Ma'ruf's, gradings of the chains, as he graciously included his expert analysis on most of the narrations from Abu Hanifah's biography in the footnotes.

http://notesonalimamalazam.wordpress.com/2011/12/08/narrations-on-the-piety-of-imam-abu-hanifah/

report post quote code quick quote reply

No post ratings

Seifeddine-M

London

4,762

Brother

4,174

#2 [Permalink] Posted on 8th January 2012 09:13

1. Yazid ibn Harun (118 - 206) said: "I comprehended the people and I have not seen anyone more intelligent, nor more virtuous, nor more scrupulous than Abu Hanifah." (Tarikh Baghdad 15:498) Dr. Bashshar 'Awwad Ma'ruf comments, "Its isnad is sahih."

Yazid ibn Harun is a narrator of hadith found in the six famous collections, and is one of the greatest�huffaz�of hadith, said to have memorised over twenty thousand hadiths. He was one of the most reliable transmitters of hadith, and was also recognised for his devotion and piety. (Tahdhib al-Tahdhib�11:366-9)

report post quote code quick quote reply

No post ratings

Seifeddine-M

London

4,762

Brother

4,174

#3 [Permalink] Posted on 8th January 2012 09:14

2. Sulayman ibn Abi Shaykh (151 - 246) said: "Abu Hanifah was scrupulous and generous." (Tarikh Baghdad 15:462-3) Dr. Bashshar 'Awwad Ma'ruf comments on this narration, "Its narrators are trustworthy (thiqat)."

report post quote code quick quote reply

No post ratings

Seifeddine-M

London

4,762

Brother

4,174

#4 [Permalink] Posted on 8th January 2012 09:16

3. Yahya ibn Ma'in said: I heard Yahya al-Qattan say: "We have sat in the company of Abu Hanifah, by Allah, and we heard from him. By Allah, when I would look at him, I recognised in his face that he feared Allah!" (Tarikh Baghdad 15:482) Dr. Bashshar 'Awwad Ma'ruf comments: "Its isnad is hasan."

Yahya ibn Sa'id al-Qattan (120 - 198) was also a follower of the opinions of Abu Hanifah in fiqh, as shown in an earlier post. His standing in hadith was unmatched. (see: Tahdhib al-Tahdhib 216-20)

report post quote code quick quote reply

No post ratings

Seifeddine-M

London

4,762

Brother

4,174

#5 [Permalink] Posted on 8th January 2012 09:17

4. Muhammad ibn Ishaq al-Balkhi narrated to us: I heard al-Hasan ibn Muhammad al-Laythi say: "I came to Kufa and inquired about the most devout (a'bad) of its inhabitants and I was directed to Abu Hanifah. Then I came when I was an old man and inquired about the best faqih amongst its inhabitants and I was directed to Abu Hanifah." (Tarikh Baghdad 15:482) Dr. Bashshar 'Awwad Ma'ruf comments, "Its isnad is good (jayyid)."

Al-Hasan ibn Muhammad al-Laythi was the Qadi of Marw and 'Abd Allah ibn al-Mubarak was favourably disposed to him. (Ibn Hibban, Kitab al-Thiqat 8:168) This narration, therefore, shows Abu Hanifah from an early period was known to the people of Kufa as the one who performed the most worship amongst them. Kufa was at that time a large city containing many learned and pious inhabitants.

report post quote code quick quote reply

No post ratings

Seifeddine-M

London

4,762

Brother

4,174

#6 [Permalink] Posted on 8th January 2012 09:19

5. Sufyan ibn 'Uyaynah (107 - 98) said: "Allah have mercy on Abu Hanifah. He was from the worshippers (musallin), that is, he was one of many Salahs." (Tarikh Baghdad 15:482) Dr. Bashshar 'Awwad Ma'ruf comments, "A sahih report."

'Ali ibn al-Madini narrated: I heard Sufyan ibn 'Uyaynah say: "Abu Hanifah was an honourable person, and he would perform [much] Salah from early in his life." (Tarikh Baghdad 15:483) Dr. Bashshar 'Awwad Ma'ruf comments, "Its isnad is good."

Sufyan ibn 'Uyaynah is the most prominent hadith-teacher of Imam al-Shafi'i, and is a prolific narrator found in the six famous collections of hadith.

report post quote code quick quote reply

No post ratings

Seifeddine-M

London

4,762

Brother

4,174

#7 [Permalink] Posted on 8th January 2012 09:21

6. Abu Muti' said: "I was at Makkah, and I did not enter into Tawaf in a moment from the moments of the night except I saw Abu Hanifah and Sufyan (al-Thawri) in Tawaf." (Tarikh Baghdad 15:483) Dr. Bashshar 'Awwad Ma'ruf comments, "Its isnad is hasan."

report post quote code quick quote reply

No post ratings

Seifeddine-M

London

4,762

Brother

4,174

#8 [Permalink] Posted on 8th January 2012 09:22

7. Yahya ibn Ayyub al-Zahid (d. 168) said: "Abu Hanifah would not sleep at night [i.e. he would stay awake in worship]." (Tarikh Baghdad 15:483) Dr. Bashshar 'Awwad Ma'ruf comments, "Its isnad is hasan."

Yahya ibn Ayyub al-Ghafiqi is also a narrator of hadith found in the six famous collections.

report post quote code quick quote reply

No post ratings

Seifeddine-M

London

4,762

Brother

4,174

#9 [Permalink] Posted on 8th January 2012 09:23

8. Abu 'Asim al-Nabil (122-214) said: "Abu Hanifah would be called 'the peg' (al-watad) because of the abundance of his Salah." (Tarikh Baghdad 15:484) Dr. Bashshar 'Awwad Ma'ruf comments, "Its isnad is sahih. Its narrators are trustworthy."

Abu 'Asim al-Dahhak ibn Makhlad is a narrator of the six famous collections of hadith, and he is the greatest and eldest of al-Bukhari's�shaykhs. Some of al-Bukhari's�thulathiyyat�(three-narrator chains) which are the shortest of al-Bukhari's chains go through him. (Tahdhib al-Tahdhib 4:450-3)

report post quote code quick quote reply

No post ratings

Seifeddine-M

London

4,762

Brother

4,174

#10 [Permalink] Posted on 8th January 2012 09:24

9. It is narrated from Imam Abu Yusuf: "While I was walking with Abu Hanifah, I heard a man say to another man: 'This is Abu Hanifah, he does not sleep at night.' Abu Hanifah said: 'By Allah: It is not said of me what I do not do.' He would revive the night in prayer, supplication and devotion." (Tarikh Baghdad 485-6) Dr Bashshar comments that its chain is acceptable (salih).

report post quote code quick quote reply

No post ratings

Seifeddine-M

London

4,762

Brother

4,174

#11 [Permalink] Posted on 8th January 2012 09:25

10. It is narrated from Mis'ar ibn Kidam (d. 155): "One night I entered the masjid and I saw a man praying, and I found his recitation pleasing. He recited a seventh (of the Qur'an) and I thought he would bow down. Then he recited a third and then half and he continued to recite until he completed it all in one rak'ah. I looked, and behold, it was Abu Hanifah." (Tarikh Baghdad 487-8) Dr Bashshar comments that it has a hasan chain with all the narrators being trustworthy (thiqah) except Hafs ibn Abd al-Rahman who is reliable (saduq).

Mis'ar ibn Kidam was a contemporary of Abu Hanifah, and he is a narrator found in the six famous collections of hadith, and was known for his worship and piety.

report post quote code quick quote reply

No post ratings

Seifeddine-M

London

4,762

Brother

4,174

#12 [Permalink] Posted on 8th January 2012 09:26

Imam al-Dhahabi wrote in a volume dedicated to the merits of Imam Abu Hanifah and his two companions: "Abu Hanifah's standing in the night in prayer, his night-vigilance, and his devotion have been mass-transmitted (tawatarat)." (Manaqib al-Imam Abu Hanifah, al-Dhahabi, Lajnatu Ihya' al-Ma'arif al-Nu'maniyyah, pp. 20-1)

Many pious men of the generation of the Atba' al-Tabi'in kept the company of Imam Abu Hanifah, such as Dawud al-Ta'i, Fudayl ibn 'Iyad and Shaqiq al-Balkhi, whose virtues are endless and can be read in the biographical literature. This is also a great testament to the profound spiritual station reached by Imam Abu Hanifah.

report post quote code quick quote reply

No post ratings

Seifeddine-M

London

4,762

Brother

4,174

#13 [Permalink] Posted on 8th January 2012 09:34

2) Adherence to the Opinions of Imam Abu Hanifah رحمه الله and their Prevalence amongst the�Salaf

Affiliation to the madhhab of Imam Abu Hanifah (80 H - 150 H), a Tabi'i who saw at least one Sahabi, started in the generation of the Atba' al-Tabi'in (third generation of Muslims, those who saw the Tabi'in), which distinguishes it from all other madhhabs which began to be followed as established madhhabs only after the first three generations of Muslims. This is established as a general trend in the third generation of Muslims and with specific examples. The first three generations of Muslims (Sahabah, Tabi'in and Atba' al-Tabi'in) were declared as the best of generations by the Prophet (sallallahu 'alayhi wasallam) in an authentic hadith in which he said: "The best of people are my generation, then those who follow them and then those who follow them." (Bukhari and Muslim)

Al-Khatib al-Baghdadi narrates: Ibrahim ibn Makhlad al-Mu'addal informed me: Qadi Abu Bakr Ahmad ibn Kamil narrated to us by dication: Muhammad ibn Isma'il al-Sulami narrated to us: 'Abd Allah ibn al-Zubayr al-Humaydi narrated to us: Sufyan ibn 'Uyaynah (107 - 198) said: "Two things I did not believe would go beyond the arch bridge of Kufa, and they have reached the furthest regions: the recitation of Hamzah (d. 156 H) and the opinions of Abu Hanifah." (Tarikh Baghdad 15:475) Its editor, Dr. Bashshar 'Awwad Ma'ruf comments: "Its isnad is sahih." Sufyan ibn 'Uyaynah is a narrator of the six famous collections of hadith (Bukhari, Muslim, Tirmidhi, Nasa'i, Ibn Majah and Abu Dawud) and one of the greatest narrators of hadith. His statement compares the canonical mutawatir recitation of Hamzah (who is amongst the seven qurra') and its prevalence with the general acceptance of the madhhab of Abu Hanifah at that time, which was the era of the Atba' al-Tabi'in.

Al-Khatib al-Baghdadi narrates: 'Abd al-Baqi ibn 'Abd al-Karim reported to me: He said: 'Abd al-Rahman ibn 'Umar reported to us: He said: Muhammad ibn Ahmad ibn Ya'qub narrated to us: He said: My grandfather narrated to us: He said: I heard 'Ali ibn al-Madini say: Yazid ibn Zuray' would say when remembering Abu Hanifah: "How far have the grey mules flown with his fatwas!" (Tarikh Baghdad 15:475) Dr. Bashshar 'Awwad Ma'ruf comments: "Its isnad is sahih." Yazid ibn Zuray' (101-182) is also a narrator found in the six collections of hadith, and was a highly reputable transmitter of hadith from the Atba' al-Tabi'in, regarded by many as the most reliable hadith-narrator from Basra (Tahdhib al-Tahdhib 11:325-8). His statement shows his surprise at the widespread acceptance of Imam Abu Hanifah's fatwas at this early time.

Abu Bakr ibn Abi Shaybah (159-235 H), the author of the Musannaf, dedicated a whole "Book" in his Musannaf to refuting Imam Abu Hanifah's opinions in about 120 issues of fiqh. Ibn Abi Shaybah did not dedicate any other chapter or book to refuting the opinions in fiqh of any other imam despite the fact many other scholars shared these opinions with Abu Hanifah. Shaykh Muhammad 'Awwamah, the editor of the Musannaf of Ibn Abi Shaybah, attributes this fact to the prevalence of the madhhab of Abu Hanifah and its wide acceptance in the time of Ibn Abi Shaybah (al-Musannaf li Bni Abi Shaybah 20:7). He lived amongst the fourth generation of Muslims (those who saw the Atba' al-Tabi'in). Shaykh Muhammad 'Awwamah lists six authors who wrote answers to Ibn Abi Shaybah's refutation (ibid. 20:9-12), from them Imam Qasim ibn Qutlubugha and 'Allamah Zahid al-Kawthari.

http://notesonalimamalazam.wordpress.com/2011/12/06/adherence-to-the-opinions-of-imam-abu-hanifah-and-their-prevalence-amongst-the-salaf/

report post quote code quick quote reply

No post ratings

Seifeddine-M

London

4,762

Brother

4,174

#14 [Permalink] Posted on 8th January 2012 09:36

As for specific examples:

1. Al-Khatib al-Baghdadi narrates: Al-'Atiqi informed us: 'Abd al-Rahman ibn 'Umar ibn Nasr ibn 'Umar al-Dimashqi narrated to us from his father: Ahmad ibn 'Ali ibn Sa'id al-Qadi said: I heard Yahya ibn Ma'in say: I heard Yahya ibn Sa'id al-Qattan (120 H - 198 H) say: "We do not lie by Allah. We have not heard [opinions] more beautiful than Abu Hanifah's opinions and we have adopted most of his opinions."

Yahya ibn Ma'in said: "And Yahya ibn Sa'id took (yadhhabu) the opinions of the Kufans in fatwa and he selected his opinions from their opinions and he followed his opinions amongst his companions." (Tarikh Baghdad 15:474)

Dr. Bashshar 'Awwad Ma'ruf comments: "Its isnad is sahih." Yahya ibn Sa'id al-Qattan is also a narrator of the six famous collections of hadith and he was from the Atba' al-Tabi'in. He was the first to write on the science of al-Jarh wa l-Ta'dil, and in the field of hadith he is an undisputed and recognised authority.

report post quote code quick quote reply

No post ratings

Seifeddine-M

London

4,762

Brother

4,174

#15 [Permalink] Posted on 8th January 2012 09:38

2. Shu'ayb ibn Ishaq ibn 'Abd al-Rahman al-Umawi al-Dimashqi (118 H - 189 H) is a narrator of the Six besides al-Tirmidhi. Al-'Asqalani says in his biography in Tahdhib al-Tahdhib (4:347-8): "He narrated from his father and Abu Hanifah and he adopted his madhhab (tamadhhaba lahu)..." He goes on to mention that Ahmad, Ibn Ma'in, Abu Dawud, Nasa'i, Abu Hatim and others said he is trustworthy (thiqah). Shu'ayb ibn Ishaq was from the Atba' al-Tabi'in.

report post quote code quick quote reply

No post ratings

Seifeddine-M

Notes On Al-Imam al-A'zam (rahimahullah)

Font Size

Font Weight