The purpose of this article is to show that the great Muhaddith Imam Abu Bakr bin Abi Shaybah (d. 235 AH) — who was among the teachers of Imam Bukhari and Imam Muslim — established a specific, permanent chapter in his book "Al-Musannaf" in which he collected those issues where Imam Abu Hanifa (Kufi) opposed the reports transmitted from the Messenger of Allah ﷺ. Later, some modern scholars claimed that Imam Ibn Abi Shaybah’s method of criticism was not correct or that he would retract; instead of delving into this claim here, the decisions of the scholars of hadith regarding "Abu Bakr Ibn Abi Shaybah Al-Kufi" and "Abu Hanifa Al-Kufi" are presented one after another to clarify the matter on scholarly grounds.
Permanent Composition in Imam Abu Bakr bin Abi Shaybah’s "Al-Musannaf": Refutation of Abu Hanifa
Imam Abu Bakr bin Abi Shaybah established this chapter in "Al-Musannaf":
كِتَابُ الرَّدِّ عَلَى أَبِي حَنِيفَةَ هَذَا مَا خَالَفَ بِهِ أَبُو حَنِيفَةَ الْأَثَرَ الَّذِي جَاءَ عَنْ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ
Translation:
“In refutation of Abu Hanifa: These are the matters in which Abu Hanifa opposed the report that came from the Messenger of Allah ﷺ.”
Reference: Al-Kitab al-Musannaf fi al-Ahadith wa al-Athar, 7/277
Brief Explanation:
This title itself indicates that according to Imam Ibn Abi Shaybah, this discussion concerns the difference of certain jurisprudential opinions in contrast to the "Prophetic reports." That is, it is not merely an emotional issue but, in their view, an academic critique based on "transmitted reports."
A Later Claim and Definition of the Subject of Discussion
Some later scholars have said that the eminent ascetic Al-Kawthari refuted Imam Ibn Abi Shaybah’s style of criticism, and also claimed that if Imam Ibn Abi Shaybah were present, he would have withdrawn his criticism of Abu Hanifa. In this article, instead of delving into the details of this later claim for now, the original basis is presented: the statements of the Imams of Jarh wa Ta'dil and the Imams of Hadith regarding the hadith status of "Abu Bakr Ibn Abi Shaybah" and "Abu Hanifa."
❶ Testimony of Imam Abu Zur'ah Al-Razi
Imam Abu Zur'ah said about Abu Bakr Ibn Abi Shaybah:
حدثنا عبد الرحمن قال (3) قيل لأبي زرعة بلغنا عنك أنك قلت لم أر [أحدا - 4] أحفظ من ابن أبي شيبة؟ فقال، نعم في الحفظ ولكن في الحديث
Translation:
Abu Zur'ah was asked: Have you said that you have not seen anyone more memorizing than Ibn Abi Shaybah? He said: "Yes, indeed he is great in memorization..."
Reference: Al-Jarh wa al-Ta'dil by Ibn Abi Hatim
From the same Imam Abu Zur'ah, it is narrated about Abu Hanifah:
سمعت أبا زرعة يقول: "كان أبو حنيفة جهميا،
Translation:
I heard Abu Zur'ah say: "Abu Hanifah was Jahmi."
Reference: Su'alat al-Barz'i li Abi Zur'ah
And regarding the attribution of "Jahmi," this phrase is also narrated:
جهمي، كان جهميا من أصحاب الرأي، كان يقول القرآن مخلوق، كان حرورياً، كان خارجيا، زيدي.
Translation:
"Jahmi: He was Jahmi among the people of opinion, he said the Qur'an is created, held Haruri/Khariji views, and was also (said to be) Zaydi."
Reference: Abu Zur'ah Al-Razi wa Juhuduhu fi al-Sunnah al-Nabawiyyah
Brief Explanation:
On one hand, according to Abu Zur'ah, Ibn Abi Shaybah's "memorization" is extraordinary, and on the other hand, harsh words have been transmitted about Abu Hanifah. This shows that the preference of the hadith scholars regarding both was not the same according to hadith standards.
❷ Imam Ibn Hibban: "The Trustworthy" versus "The Criticized"
Ibn Hibban mentioned Abu Bakr Ibn Abi Shaybah among "The Trustworthy":
13859 - أَبُو بكر بن أبي شيبَة-----وَكَانَ متقنا حَافِظًا دينا مِمَّن كتب وَجمع وصنف وذاكر وَكَانَ أحفظ أهل زمانة بالمقاطيع
Translation:
Abu Bakr Ibn Abi Shaybah was precise, a memorizer, and pious; among those who wrote, collected, authored, and debated; and in his time, he was considered the most memorizing in the category of cut-off narrations.
Reference: Al-Thiqat by Ibn Hibban
Whereas Ibn Hibban mentioned Abu Hanifah among "The Criticized" and wrote:
1127 - النُّعْمَان بن ثَابت أَبُو حنيفَة الْكُوفِي صَاحب الرَّأْي يروي عَن عَطاء---- وَكَانَ رجلا جدلا ظَاهر الْوَرع لم يكن الحَدِيث صناعته----حدث بِمِائَة وَثَلَاثِينَ حَدِيثا مسانيد مَا لَهُ حَدِيث فِي الدُّنْيَا غَيره أَخطَأ مِنْهَا فِي مائَة وَعشْرين حَدِيثا إِمَّا أَن يكون أقلب إِسْنَاده أَو غير مَتنه من حَيْثُ لَا يعلم فَلَمَّا غلب خَطؤُهُ على صَوَابه اسْتحق ترك الِاحْتِجَاج بِهِ فِي الْأَخْبَار وَمن جِهَة أُخْرَى لَا يجوز الِاحْتِجَاج بِهِ لِأَنَّهُ كَانَ دَاعيا إِلَى الإرجاء
Translation:
Nu'man bin Thabit Abu Hanifa Kufi, a man of opinion… he apparently observed piety but had no expertise in Hadith… He narrated 130 Musnad Ahadith, none of which exist elsewhere in the world; in 120 of them he erred: either he reversed the chain of narration or altered the text, out of ignorance. When his errors outweighed the correct narrations, he became unworthy of protest in the reports. And for another reason, protest against him is not permissible because he advocated the doctrine of Arja'.
Reference: Al-Majruhin min al-Muhaddithin wal-Du'afa wal-Matrukin
Brief Explanation:
In Ibn Hibban's classification, Ibn Abi Shaybah is among the "Thiqaat" (trustworthy), while Abu Hanifa is among the "Majruhin" (those whose narrations are flawed); meaning in the field of Hadith transmission and accuracy, Ibn Hibban did not regard both equally.
❸ Imam Nasai's Statements
Imam Nasai said about Ibn Abi Shaybah (and his brothers):
1963 - أَخْبَرَنَا ------وَالِدُ أَبِي بَكْرِ بْنِ أَبِي شَيْبَةَ، وَعُثْمَانَ بْنِ أَبِي شَيْبَةَ، وَالْقَاسِمِ بْنِ أَبِي شَيْبَةَ، وَهُمْ ثَلَاثَةُ إِخْوَةٍ وَأَبُو بَكْرٍ ثِقَةٌ، وَعُثْمَانُ لَا بَأْسَ بِهِ وَالْقَاسِمُ لَيْسَ بِثِقَةٍ
Translation:
Abu Bakr bin Abi Shaybah, Uthman bin Abi Shaybah, and Qasim bin Abi Shaybah are three brothers; Abu Bakr is trustworthy, there is no fault in Uthman, and Qasim is not trustworthy.
Reference: Al-Sunan al-Kubra
And regarding Abu Hanifa, it is narrated from Al-Nasa'i:
586 - نعْمَان بن ثَابت أَبُو حنيفَة لَيْسَ بِالْقَوِيّ فِي الحَدِيث كُوفِي---
Translation:
Nu'man bin Thabit Abu Hanifa: Not strong in Hadith, they are Kufis.
Reference: Al-Du'afa wal-Matrukoon
Also, the following statement is narrated from Al-Nasa'i:
قَالَ لنا أَبُو عبد الرَّحْمَن بن أَحْمد بن شُعَيْب وَأَبُو حنيفَة لَيْسَ بِالْقَوِيّ فِي الحَدِيث وَهُوَ كثير الْغَلَط وَالْخَطَأ على قلَّة رِوَايَته
Translation:
Abu Abdur Rahman Al-Nasa'i said: Abu Hanifa is not strong in Hadith, and despite few narrations, he makes many mistakes and errors.
Reference: Rasa'il fi 'Uloom al-Hadith
And the same meaning is also found in the narration of Ibn al-Jawzi:
وَقَالَ النَّسَائِيّ لَيْسَ بِالْقَوِيّ فِي الحَدِيث وَهُوَ كثير الْغَلَط وَالْخَطَأ على قلَّة رِوَايَته
Translation:
Al-Nasa'i said: Abu Hanifa is not strong in Hadith, and despite few narrations, he makes many mistakes and errors.
Reference: Al-Du'afa wal-Matrukoon - Ibn al-Jawzi
Brief Explanation:
According to Al-Nasa'i, Ibn Abi Shaybah is "Thiqah" (trustworthy), whereas regarding Abu Hanifa, words like "not strong in Hadith" and "frequent errors" are narrated.
❹ Testimonies of Imam Darqutni
Darqutni mentioned Ibn Abi Shaybah among the group of "Thiqah" narrators:
وخالفه جماعة من الثقات، منهم: أبو بكر بن أبي شيبة، وغيره
Translation:
A group of trustworthy people opposed this (narrator), and among these trustworthy people are Abu Bakr bin Abi Shaybah and others.
Reference: Ilal al-Darqutni
And Ibn 'Uyaynah included Ibn Abi Shaybah among the companions of the Huffaz:
قَالَ أَصْحَابُ ابْنِ عُيَيْنَةَ الْحُفَّاظُ مِنْهُمْ: الْحُمَيْدِيُّ، وَمُسَدَّدٌ، وَسَعِيدُ بْنُ مَنْصُورٍ، وَأَبُو بَكْرِ بْنُ أَبِي شَيْبَةَ،
Translation:
Among the companions of Ibn Uyaynah, the Huffaz are: Humaydi, Musaddad, Saeed bin Mansoor, and Abu Bakr bin Abi Shaybah.
Reference: Ilal al-Daraqutni
Regarding a narration transmitted from Abu Hanifa, Daraqutni's ruling:
- 1233-حَدَّثَنَا عَلِيُّ بْنُ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ مُبَشِّرٍ , ثنا مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ حَرْبٍ الْوَاسِطِيُّ , ثنا إِسْحَاقُ الْأَزْرَقُ , عَنْ أَبِي حَنِيفَةَ , عَنْ مُوسَى بْنِ أَبِي عَائِشَةَ , عَنْ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ شَدَّادٍ , عَنْ جَابِرٍ , قَالَ: قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ: «مَنْ كَانَ لَهُ إِمَامٌ فَقِرَاءَةُ الْإِمَامِ لَهُ قِرَاءَةٌ» . [ص:108] لَمْ يُسْنِدْهُ عَنْ مُوسَى بْنِ أَبِي عَائِشَةَ غَيْرُ أَبِي حَنِيفَةَ , وَالْحَسَنُ بْنُ عُمَارَةَ وَهُمَا ضَعِيفَانِ
Translation:
Daraqutni said: No one other than Abu Hanifa has musnad this narration from Musa bin Abi Ayesha, and both Hasan bin Amarah (and Abu Hanifa) are weak.
Reference: Sunan al-Daraqutni, p.108
Brief Explanation:
In Daraqutni's statement, Ibn Abi Shaybah is listed among the "Thiqaat" and "Huffaz," while regarding a unique chain of Abu Hanifa, the explicit mention of "two weak narrators" is transmitted.
❺ Statements of Imam Ahmad bin Hanbal
Imam Ahmad said about Ibn Abi Shaybah:
نا عبد الرحمن أنا عبد الله بن أحمد [بن محمد - 1] بن حنبل فيما كتب إلي قال سمعت أبي يقول: أبو بكر بن أبي شيبة صدوق، وهو أحب إلي من عثمان.
Translation:
Abdullah bin Ahmad says: I heard my father (Imam Ahmad) say: Abu Bakr bin Abi Shaybah is truthful, and he is more beloved to me than Uthman (bin Abi Shaybah).
Reference: Al-Jarh wa al-Ta'dil by Ibn Abi Hatim
And regarding Abu Hanifa, the following is transmitted from Imam Ahmad:
حَدَّثَنَا سُلَيْمَانُ بْنُ دَاوُدَ القزاز (صدوق ثقة)قَالَ: سَمِعْتُ أَحْمَدَ بْنَ الْحَسَنِ التِّرْمِذِيَّ قَالَ: سَمِعْتُ أَحْمَدَ بْنَ حَنْبَلٍ، يَقُولُ: أَبُو حَنِيفَةَ يَكْذِبُ
Translation:
With a sanad, this statement has been narrated from Imam Ahmad: "Abu Hanifa lies / misrepresents."
Reference: Al-Du'afa' al-Kabir
Brief Explanation:
Here, Ibn Abi Shaybah is authenticated as "Saduq," and a severe criticism is reported regarding Abu Hanifa. This makes it clear that according to some Imams of Hadith, the ranks of both in the field of Hadith were different.
❻ Al-Khatib al-Baghdadi: Authentication of Ibn Abi Shaybah and Statements Regarding Abu Hanifa
Al-Khatib al-Baghdadi wrote about Ibn Abi Shaybah:
5138- عبد اللَّه بن مُحَمَّد بْنُ إِبْرَاهِيمَ بن عثمان أبو بكر العبسي، المعروف بابن أَبِي شيبة من أهل الكوفة----وكان متقنًا، حافظًا، مكثرًا، صنف المسند والأحكام والتفسير، وقدم بغداد، وحدث بِها.
Translation:
Abdullah bin Muhammad... Abu Bakr al-Absi, known as Ibn Abi Shaybah (from the people of Kufa), was precise, a memorizer, and prolific in Hadith; he authored "Musnad," "Ahkam," and "Tafsir," came to Baghdad, and narrated Hadith there.
Reference: Tarikh Baghdad by Al-Khatib
And regarding Abu Hanifa, Al-Khatib quoted this passage:
ما حكي عن أَبِي حنيفة في الإيمان----وَلَيْسَ عندنا شك في أَنَّ أَبَا حنيفة يخالف المعتزلة في الوعيد، لِأَنَّهُ مرجئ، وفي خلق الأفعال لِأَنَّهُ كَانَ يثبت القدر.
Translation:
Regarding Abu Hanifa in the matter of faith that has been narrated... there is no doubt in our view that Abu Hanifa opposes the Mu'tazilah on the issue of threat because he is a Murji'i, and also opposes them on the issue of the creation of actions because he affirms predestination.
Reference: Tarikh Baghdad by Al-Khatib
Brief Explanation:
According to Al-Khatib, Ibn Abi Shaybah is "meticulous/memorizer/prolific," while regarding Abu Hanifa, the term "Arja'" is clearly mentioned, which some hadith scholars consider a point of contention in the chapter of belief.
❼ Imam Bukhari: Narrations from Ibn Abi Shaybah, and statements about Abu Hanifa
Al-Mughallatai Hanafi narrated:
وذكر صاحب " الزهرة " أن البخاري روى عنه: ثلاثين حديثا أو أحد وثلاثين حديثا ومسلم ألف حديث وخمسمائة حديث وأربعين حديثا وتوفي سنة أربع وثلاثين ومائتين.
Translation:
The author of "Al-Zahra" mentioned that Bukhari narrated thirty or thirty-one hadiths from Ibn Abi Shaybah, and Muslim narrated one thousand five hundred and forty hadiths, and Ibn Abi Shaybah passed away in 234 AH.
Reference: Ikmal Tahdhib al-Kamal
And Imam Bukhari wrote in the biography of Abu Hanifa:
2253- نُعمان بْن ثابت، أَبو حَنِيفَة، الكُوفيُّ.----كَانَ مُرجِئًا، سَكَتُوا عنه، وعَنْ رَأيِهِ، وعَنْ حديثه.
Translation:
Nu'man ibn Thabit Abu Hanifa al-Kufi... He was a Murji'i; people remained silent regarding him, his opinions, and his hadith.
Reference: Al-Tarikh al-Kabir by Bukhari
Brief Explanation:
Here, Imam Bukhari's narration from his teacher Ibn Abi Shaybah and the mention of "Arja'" and "silence" regarding Abu Hanifa clearly show a distinction.
❽ Imam Ibn Abdul Barr: Declaring the Chain of Ibn Abi Shaybah as Authentic, and Critique of Abu Hanifah’s Unique Narration
Ibn Abdul Barr said about the narration with the chain of Ibn Abi Shaybah:
حَدَّثَنَا أَبُو بَكْرِ بْنُ أَبِي شَيْبَةَ قَالَ حَدَّثَنَا أَبُو أُسَامَةَ قَالَ حَدَّثَنَا عُبَيْدُ اللَّهِ بْنُ عُمَرَ عَنْ نَافِعٍ عَنِ ابْنِ عُمَرَ قَالَ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وسلم الرُّؤْيَا الصَّالِحَةُ جُزْءٌ مِنْ سَبْعِينَ جُزْءًا مِنَ النُّبُوَّةِ وَهَذَا حَدِيثٌ صَحِيحُ الْإِسْنَادِ لَا يُخْتَلَفُ فِي صِحَّتِهِ
Translation:
It is narrated from Ibn Umar (may Allah be pleased with him) that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said: “Good dreams are one of the seventy parts of prophethood.” Ibn Abdul Barr says: “This hadith has an authentic chain, there is no disagreement about its authenticity.”
Reference: Al-Tamhid li ma fi al-Muwatta min al-Ma’ani wal Asanid, 1/282
And regarding Abu Hanifah’s unique narration, Ibn Abdul Barr wrote:
وَقَدْ رَوَى هَذَا الْحَدِيثَ أَبُو حَنِيفَةَ عَنْ مُوسَى بْنِ أَبِي عائشة عن عبد الله بن شداد ابن الْهَادِي عَنْ جَابِرِ بْنِ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ عَنِ النَّبِيِّ عَلَيْهِ السَّلَامُ وَلَمْ يُسْنِدْهُ غَيْرُ أَبِي حنيفة وهو سيء الْحِفْظِ عِنْدَ أَهْلِ الْحَدِيثِ وَقَدْ خَالَفَهُ الْحُفَّاظُ
Translation:
This hadith was narrated by Abu Hanifah from Musa ibn Abi A’ishah… from Jabir… from the Prophet ﷺ, and no one other than Abu Hanifah has transmitted it in a musnad form. Abu Hanifah was considered “poor in memorization” by the people of hadith, and the memorizers have opposed him.
Reference: Al-Tamhid li ma fi al-Muwatta min al-Ma’ani wal Asanid, 11/48
Brief Explanation:
Here, Ibn Abdul Barr considers the chain of Ibn Abi Shaybah as “authentic,” whereas regarding Abu Hanifah’s unique chain, there is explicit mention of him being “poor in memorization” and “opposed by the memorizers.”
❾ Imam Yahya bin Ma'in: Ibn Abi Shaybah "Saduq", Abu Hanifah "Weak"
In the narration of Al-Khatib, from Yahya bin Ma'in about Ibn Abi Shaybah:
5138- عبد اللَّه بن مُحَمَّد بْنُ إِبْرَاهِيمَ بن عثمان أبو بكر العبسي، المعروف بابن أَبِي شيبة من أهل الكوفة---يَقُولُ: سَمِعْتُ يَحْيَى بْنَ مَعِينٍ، وَسَأَلْتُهُ عَنْ سَمَاعِ أَبِي بَكْرِ بْنِ أَبِي شَيْبَةَ مِنْ شَرِيكٍ، فَقَالَ: أَبُو بَكْرٍ عِنْدَنَا صَدُوقٌ،
Translation:
I asked Yahya bin Ma'in about the hearing from the companion of Ibn Abi Shaybah, and he said: "Abu Bakr is considered Saduq (truthful) by us."
Reference: Tarikh Baghdad by Al-Khatib
And regarding Abu Hanifah, in the narration of Al-Khatib:
7249- النعمان بن ثابت أبو حنيفة التيمي----أَخْبَرَنَا ابن رزق، قَالَ: أَخْبَرَنَا هبة الله بن مُحَمَّد بن حبش الفَرَّاء، قَالَ: حَدَّثَنَا مُحَمَّد بن عُثْمَان بن أَبِي شَيْبَة، قَالَ: سَمِعْتُ يَحْيَى بن معين وسئل عن أَبِي حنيفة، فَقَالَ: كَانَ يضعف في الحديثـ
Translation:
When asked about Abu Hanifah, Yahya bin Ma'in said: "He was considered weak in hadith."
Reference: Tarikh Baghdad by Al-Khatib
Brief Explanation:
Here, according to Yahya bin Ma'in, Ibn Abi Shaybah is "Saduq" (truthful), while about Abu Hanifah, the statement of "weakness in hadith" is transmitted.
❿ Imam Muslim: Numerous Narrations from Ibn Abi Shaybah, About Abu Hanifah "Mudhtrab al-Hadith"
Narration of Al-Mughallatai Al-Hanafi:
وذكر صاحب " الزهرة " ومسلم ألف حديث وخمسمائة حديث وأربعين حديثا .
Translation:
The author of "Az-Zahra" mentioned that Muslim narrated one thousand five hundred and forty hadiths from Ibn Abi Shaybah.
Reference: Ikmal Tahdhib al-Kamal
And in Imam Muslim's book, this phrase about Abu Hanifah is transmitted:
963- أبو حنيفة النعمان بن ثابت11 صاحب الرأي مضطرب الحديث ليس له كبير حديث صحيح.
Translation:
Abu Hanifa Nu'man bin Thabit is a man of opinion, he is confused in hadith, and he does not have any major/prominent authentic hadith.
Reference: Al-Kuna wal Asma lil-Muslim
Brief Explanation:
Imam Muslim's frequent narration from his teacher Ibn Abi Shaybah, and the attribution of "confused in hadith" to Abu Hanifa—both these matters show a clear difference in the scale of hadith.
Conclusion
From these evidences, it becomes clear that Imam Abu Bakr bin Abi Shaybah, may Allah have mercy on him, was described by numerous Imams of Hadith as “Hafiz, meticulous, trustworthy/sincere, prolific,” and a large number of narrations were transmitted from him in the Sahihayn. In contrast, in the statements of several Muhaddithin regarding Abu Hanifa in the field of Hadith, attributes such as “weakness, frequent errors, confusion, and delay in judgment” have been reported. Against this background, if Imam Ibn Abi Shaybah established a title like “Kitab al-Radd ‘ala Abi Hanifa” in “Al-Musannaf,” then according to the Hadith methodology, this constitutes a scholarly discussion, not an extraordinary matter. Justice in scholarly disagreements requires that the original texts, the statements of the Imams of Jarh and Ta’dil, and the methods of reasoning of the Muhaddithin be considered, and positions be understood based on evidence rather than claims.
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