Source: Fatawa Ilmiyyah (Tawdih al-Ahkam), Volume 2, Page 408
Did Imam Abu Hanifa (رحمه الله) author any book?
Among the Ahl-e-Hadith circles, there exists a common understanding that Imam Abu Hanifa (رحمه الله) did not author any book. His statements and legal opinions were documented several centuries after his death. In response, Deobandi scholars often refer to a work titled “Musnad Imam A'zam”, claiming it to be a written work of Imam Abu Hanifa himself.
Thus, the following questions arise:
➊ Is Musnad Imam A'zam genuinely authored by Imam Abu Hanifa (رحمه الله)?
➋ If not, what is its scholarly status?
Al-ḥamdu lillāh, waṣ-ṣalātu was-salāmu ʿalā Rasūlillāh. Ammā baʿd!
It is a clear and established fact that there is no known book today that Imam Abu Hanifa (رحمه الله) personally authored or compiled with his own hand.
➤ It is possible that he did write some works.
➤ However, regrettably, these writings were either lost over time or deliberately discarded by those who claimed affiliation with the Hanafi school.
Wallāhu Aʿlam.
The book titled Musnad Imam A'zam gained recognition among later scholars. In the preface of this book, Abdur Rasheed Numani (Deobandi) clarified:
"The book currently being presented as Musnad Imam A'zam is, in reality, authored by Imam Abdullah al-Harithi. It was later abridged by Allama al-Hasakafi, and Mulla Abid Sindhi arranged it according to the chapters of Fiqh."
(p. 24, Idarah Nashriyat Islam, Urdu Bazaar, Lahore)
This means Imam al-Harithi was born 114 years after the death of Imam Abu Hanifa (رحمه الله) who passed away in 150 AH.
Numerous Hadith scholars have labeled Imam Harithi as kadhdhab (a liar):
➤ Imam Ahmad al-Sulaymani and others classified him as such.
➤ Other Hadith critics such as:
✿ Abu Zur‘ah
✿ Ahmad bin al-Husayn al-Razi
✿ Imam al-Hakim
✿ Al-Khatib al-Baghdadi
✿ Al-Khalili
have all made severe criticisms against him.
➤ No Hadith scholar has ever declared him trustworthy.
References:
➤ Imam Abdullah al-Harithi is unanimously considered weak and accused of fabrications.
➤ Narrations from such an individual are rejected by the standards of Hadith sciences.
➤ The majority of chains from Imam al-Harithi to Imam Abu Hanifa (رحمه الله) are unknown and unreliable.
◈ There is no authentic book known today that was authored by Imam Abu Hanifa (رحمه الله) himself.
◈ The book Musnad Imam A'zam is not authored by him, but compiled centuries later by a discredited narrator.
◈ Based on Hadith methodology, this compilation is unacceptable as evidence and lacks reliability.
هٰذَا مَا عِندِي وَاللّٰهُ أَعْلَمُ بِالصَّوَابِ
❖ Question:
Did Imam Abu Hanifa (رحمه الله) author any book?
Among the Ahl-e-Hadith circles, there exists a common understanding that Imam Abu Hanifa (رحمه الله) did not author any book. His statements and legal opinions were documented several centuries after his death. In response, Deobandi scholars often refer to a work titled “Musnad Imam A'zam”, claiming it to be a written work of Imam Abu Hanifa himself.
Thus, the following questions arise:
➊ Is Musnad Imam A'zam genuinely authored by Imam Abu Hanifa (رحمه الله)?
➋ If not, what is its scholarly status?
❖ Answer:
Al-ḥamdu lillāh, waṣ-ṣalātu was-salāmu ʿalā Rasūlillāh. Ammā baʿd!
It is a clear and established fact that there is no known book today that Imam Abu Hanifa (رحمه الله) personally authored or compiled with his own hand.
➤ It is possible that he did write some works.
➤ However, regrettably, these writings were either lost over time or deliberately discarded by those who claimed affiliation with the Hanafi school.
Wallāhu Aʿlam.
❖ The Scholarly Background of “Musnad Imam A'zam”
The book titled Musnad Imam A'zam gained recognition among later scholars. In the preface of this book, Abdur Rasheed Numani (Deobandi) clarified:
"The book currently being presented as Musnad Imam A'zam is, in reality, authored by Imam Abdullah al-Harithi. It was later abridged by Allama al-Hasakafi, and Mulla Abid Sindhi arranged it according to the chapters of Fiqh."
(p. 24, Idarah Nashriyat Islam, Urdu Bazaar, Lahore)
❖ Biography and Chain of Imam Abdullah al-Harithi
- Born: 264 AH
- Died: 375 AH
- Lifespan: 81 years
- Reference: Lisan al-Mizan (Vol. 3, p. 429, Entry No. 478)
This means Imam al-Harithi was born 114 years after the death of Imam Abu Hanifa (رحمه الله) who passed away in 150 AH.
❖ The Verdict of Hadith Scholars on Abdullah al-Harithi
Numerous Hadith scholars have labeled Imam Harithi as kadhdhab (a liar):
➤ Imam Ahmad al-Sulaymani and others classified him as such.
➤ Other Hadith critics such as:
✿ Abu Zur‘ah
✿ Ahmad bin al-Husayn al-Razi
✿ Imam al-Hakim
✿ Al-Khatib al-Baghdadi
✿ Al-Khalili
have all made severe criticisms against him.
➤ No Hadith scholar has ever declared him trustworthy.
References:
- Mizan al-I‘tidal (Vol. 2, p. 496)
- Lisan al-Mizan (Vol. 3, pp. 348–349)
❖ Judgement Based on Hadith Principles
➤ Imam Abdullah al-Harithi is unanimously considered weak and accused of fabrications.
➤ Narrations from such an individual are rejected by the standards of Hadith sciences.
➤ The majority of chains from Imam al-Harithi to Imam Abu Hanifa (رحمه الله) are unknown and unreliable.
❖ Conclusion
◈ There is no authentic book known today that was authored by Imam Abu Hanifa (رحمه الله) himself.
◈ The book Musnad Imam A'zam is not authored by him, but compiled centuries later by a discredited narrator.
◈ Based on Hadith methodology, this compilation is unacceptable as evidence and lacks reliability.
هٰذَا مَا عِندِي وَاللّٰهُ أَعْلَمُ بِالصَّوَابِ
