The Status and Position of Imām Abū Ḥanīfah (رحمہ الله) According to Ahl al-Ḥadīth
Source: Ahkam wa Masail in the Light of Qur’an and Hadith, Vol. 01, p. 571
❖ Question
What should be the stance of Ahl al-Ḥadīth regarding Imām Abū Ḥanīfah (رحمہ الله)? Some say he met the Companions, narrated aḥādīth, lived a virtuous life, and was known as Imām al-Aʿẓam. Others claim he memorized only a few aḥādīth and that his fame was mainly due to his student, Imām Abū Yūsuf.
❖ Answer
Al-ḥamdu lillāh, waṣ-ṣalātu wa-s-salāmu ʿalā Rasūlillāh, ammā baʿd!
◄ There is no authentic evidence proving that Imām Abū Ḥanīfah (رحمہ الله) met any of the Companions (RA).
◄ In Taqaddimat al-Jarḥ wa-al-Taʿdīl, the statement of Imām Muḥammad (رحمہ الله) is recorded that:
Imām Mālik (رحمہ الله) was more knowledgeable of the Qur’an, the Sunnah and ḥadīth of the Messenger ﷺ, and the sayings and reports of the Companions and Tābiʿīn than Imām Abū Ḥanīfah (رحمہ الله).
ھذا ما عندي والله أعلم بالصواب
