Source: Fatawa Ilmiyyah (Tawdih al-Ahkam), Volume 2, Page 403
Was Imam Abu Hanifa (رحمه الله) a Tabi'i? And is there any authentic chain proving his meeting with a Sahabi?
Al-ḥamdu lillāh, waṣ-ṣalātu was-salāmu ʿalā Rasūlillāh. Ammā baʿd!
There is considerable scholarly disagreement on this issue. Some scholars affirm that Imam Abu Hanifa (رحمه الله) was a Tabi‘i, while others deny it.
Before examining the arguments of both sides, two fundamental principles must be stated:
➊ Condition of Authentic or Hasan Chain:
Any narration or statement used as proof must have a chain that is either Sahih li-Dhatihi or Hasan li-Dhatihi. Otherwise, it is unacceptable for reliance.
➋ Precedence of Authentic Evidence:
If one evidence is authentic, it takes precedence over thousands of weak or unproven reports, regardless of their number.
Khatib al-Baghdadi (d. 463H):
He wrote:
"Al-Nu‘man ibn Thabit Abu Hanifa, the Imam of Ahl al-Ra’y and Faqih of Iraq, saw Anas ibn Malik and heard from ‘Ata ibn Abi Rabah."
(Tārīkh Baghdād, 13/323-324, Entry 7297)
This report was trusted by later scholars like Ibn al-Jawzi, who cited it in Al-‘Ilal al-Mutanāhiyah (1/128, Hadith 196).
Clarification:
Some have mistakenly attributed this quote to Imam al-Daraqutni; however, this is an error.
(Refer: Al-Lamahat, 2/293)
Imam Abu al-Hasan al-Daraqutni (d. 385H):
When asked whether Imam Abu Hanifa heard from Anas ibn Malik (رضي الله عنه), he replied:
"No, nor did he even see him. Abu Hanifa did not meet any of the Sahabah."
(Tārīkh Baghdād, 4/208, Entry 1895; Su’ālāt al-Sahmi li al-Daraqutni, p. 263, Entry 383; Al-‘Ilal al-Mutanāhiyah, 1/65, Hadith 74)
Note:
In Al-Suyuti’s Tabyid al-Sahifah fi Manaqib al-Imam Abi Hanifah (p. 10), this statement is misquoted, as pointed out by Muhammad Ashiq Ilahi Barni (Deobandi). Hence, the altered version is unacceptable when compared to authentic sources.
Upon comparing the reports of Khatib al-Baghdadi and al-Daraqutni, it is evident that Daraqutni’s statement holds more weight due to its precedence and reliability in Ilm al-Rijal (science of narrators).
Narration:
"I heard Abu Hanifa say: Anas ibn Malik came to Kufah... I saw him many times."
(‘Uqud al-Juman, p. 49; Tadhkirat al-Huffaz, 1/168; Manaqib Abi Hanifah, p. 7-8)
Weaknesses:
◈ The narrator Saif ibn Jabir is unknown, with no authentication found.
(See: Al-Tankil, Vol. 1, p. 179; Tabsirat al-Naqid, pp. 218-219; Al-Lamahat, 2/277)
◈ This narration is not in Ibn Sa‘d’s Tabaqat, but in Asami wa al-Kuna (4/174) by Abu Ahmad al-Hakim al-Kabir, using a different chain that includes Abu Bakr ibn Abi ‘Amr, also unknown.
Conclusion:
These narrations cannot be relied upon.
Some biographies like Akhbar Abi Hanifa by Al-Saymari and Jami‘ al-Masanid by al-Khwarazmi contain forged reports claiming Imam Abu Hanifa’s Tabi'iyyah. These include narrators who are liars, unknown, or criticized, like Ahmad ibn Salt al-Hamani.
See: Al-Tankil and Al-Lamahat for detailed refutations.
Imam Ibn ‘Adi al-Jurjani (d. 365H):
"I heard Abu Hanifa say: I have not seen anyone better than ‘Ata..."
(Al-Kamil, 7/2473; new ed. 8/237)
◈ This narration has a completely authentic chain, as confirmed in Al-Asanid al-Sahihah fi Akhbar al-Imam Abi Hanifah (p. 290).
Other supporting sources:
Narrators such as: Abdullah ibn Muhammad al-Baghawi, Mahmood ibn Ghailan, Ibn al-Muqri, Abdul Hamid al-Hamani are all trustworthy (thiqah) or Hasan al-Hadith.
From these authentic narrations, it is evident that:
◈ Imam Abu Hanifa (رحمه الله) saw ‘Ata ibn Abi Rabah (a Tabi‘i),
◈ But he did not meet any Sahabi.
If he had seen a Sahabi, he would never have said: "I have not seen anyone better than ‘Ata," because every Sahabi is superior to every Tabi‘i.
➊ Imam Abu Hanifa (رحمه الله) was not a Tabi‘i.
➋ There is no authentic narration proving his meeting with any Sahabi.
➌ Statements of Khatib al-Baghdadi and others are weak and unreliable.
➍ The statement of Imam al-Daraqutni, a master in Ilm al-Rijal, is stronger and preferred.
➎ Even from the perspective of chain strength, Daraqutni's statement is superior.
Muhammad ibn Abd al-Rahman al-Sakhawi (d. 902H):
"A moderate group such as Ahmad, al-Daraqutni, and Ibn ‘Adi..."
(Al-Mutakallimun fi al-Rijal, p. 137)
Hafiz al-Dhahabi:
"Moderates and just evaluators include al-Bukhari, Ahmad, Abu Zur‘ah, Ibn ‘Adi..."
(Dhikr man Yu‘tamadu Qawluhu fi al-Jarh wa al-Ta‘dil, p. 159)
Note:
Though al-Dhahabi once labeled Daraqutni as lenient (al-Muqizah, p. 83), this is refuted when compared to scholars who verified Daraqutni's accuracy, like Khatib al-Baghdadi, Abdul Ghani al-Azdi, and Qadi Abu al-Tayyib al-Tabari.
هٰذَا مَا عِندِي وَاللّٰهُ أَعْلَمُ بِالصَّوَابِ
❖ Question:
Was Imam Abu Hanifa (رحمه الله) a Tabi'i? And is there any authentic chain proving his meeting with a Sahabi?
❖ Answer:
Al-ḥamdu lillāh, waṣ-ṣalātu was-salāmu ʿalā Rasūlillāh. Ammā baʿd!
There is considerable scholarly disagreement on this issue. Some scholars affirm that Imam Abu Hanifa (رحمه الله) was a Tabi‘i, while others deny it.
Before examining the arguments of both sides, two fundamental principles must be stated:
❖ Two Foundational Principles
➊ Condition of Authentic or Hasan Chain:
Any narration or statement used as proof must have a chain that is either Sahih li-Dhatihi or Hasan li-Dhatihi. Otherwise, it is unacceptable for reliance.
➋ Precedence of Authentic Evidence:
If one evidence is authentic, it takes precedence over thousands of weak or unproven reports, regardless of their number.
❖ First Opinion: Imam Abu Hanifa Was a Tabi'i
Khatib al-Baghdadi (d. 463H):
He wrote:
"Al-Nu‘man ibn Thabit Abu Hanifa, the Imam of Ahl al-Ra’y and Faqih of Iraq, saw Anas ibn Malik and heard from ‘Ata ibn Abi Rabah."
(Tārīkh Baghdād, 13/323-324, Entry 7297)
This report was trusted by later scholars like Ibn al-Jawzi, who cited it in Al-‘Ilal al-Mutanāhiyah (1/128, Hadith 196).
Clarification:
Some have mistakenly attributed this quote to Imam al-Daraqutni; however, this is an error.
(Refer: Al-Lamahat, 2/293)
❖ Second Opinion: Imam Abu Hanifa Was Not a Tabi'i
Imam Abu al-Hasan al-Daraqutni (d. 385H):
When asked whether Imam Abu Hanifa heard from Anas ibn Malik (رضي الله عنه), he replied:
"No, nor did he even see him. Abu Hanifa did not meet any of the Sahabah."
(Tārīkh Baghdād, 4/208, Entry 1895; Su’ālāt al-Sahmi li al-Daraqutni, p. 263, Entry 383; Al-‘Ilal al-Mutanāhiyah, 1/65, Hadith 74)
Note:
In Al-Suyuti’s Tabyid al-Sahifah fi Manaqib al-Imam Abi Hanifah (p. 10), this statement is misquoted, as pointed out by Muhammad Ashiq Ilahi Barni (Deobandi). Hence, the altered version is unacceptable when compared to authentic sources.
❖ Comparative Analysis of Both Views
Upon comparing the reports of Khatib al-Baghdadi and al-Daraqutni, it is evident that Daraqutni’s statement holds more weight due to its precedence and reliability in Ilm al-Rijal (science of narrators).
❖ Analysis of the First Group's Evidence
Narration:
"I heard Abu Hanifa say: Anas ibn Malik came to Kufah... I saw him many times."
(‘Uqud al-Juman, p. 49; Tadhkirat al-Huffaz, 1/168; Manaqib Abi Hanifah, p. 7-8)
Weaknesses:
◈ The narrator Saif ibn Jabir is unknown, with no authentication found.
(See: Al-Tankil, Vol. 1, p. 179; Tabsirat al-Naqid, pp. 218-219; Al-Lamahat, 2/277)
◈ This narration is not in Ibn Sa‘d’s Tabaqat, but in Asami wa al-Kuna (4/174) by Abu Ahmad al-Hakim al-Kabir, using a different chain that includes Abu Bakr ibn Abi ‘Amr, also unknown.
Conclusion:
These narrations cannot be relied upon.
❖ Fabricated Narrations
Some biographies like Akhbar Abi Hanifa by Al-Saymari and Jami‘ al-Masanid by al-Khwarazmi contain forged reports claiming Imam Abu Hanifa’s Tabi'iyyah. These include narrators who are liars, unknown, or criticized, like Ahmad ibn Salt al-Hamani.
See: Al-Tankil and Al-Lamahat for detailed refutations.
❖ Reliable Evidence from the Second Opinion
Imam Ibn ‘Adi al-Jurjani (d. 365H):
"I heard Abu Hanifa say: I have not seen anyone better than ‘Ata..."
(Al-Kamil, 7/2473; new ed. 8/237)
◈ This narration has a completely authentic chain, as confirmed in Al-Asanid al-Sahihah fi Akhbar al-Imam Abi Hanifah (p. 290).
Other supporting sources:
- Tārīkh Baghdād, 13/425
- Musnad ‘Ali ibn al-Ja‘d, 2/777 (Hadith 2062, 1978)
- Al-‘Ilal al-Saghir by al-Tirmidhi, p. 891
- Al-Qira’at Khalfa al-Imam by al-Bayhaqi, pp. 134, 157
Narrators such as: Abdullah ibn Muhammad al-Baghawi, Mahmood ibn Ghailan, Ibn al-Muqri, Abdul Hamid al-Hamani are all trustworthy (thiqah) or Hasan al-Hadith.
❖ Conclusion
From these authentic narrations, it is evident that:
◈ Imam Abu Hanifa (رحمه الله) saw ‘Ata ibn Abi Rabah (a Tabi‘i),
◈ But he did not meet any Sahabi.
If he had seen a Sahabi, he would never have said: "I have not seen anyone better than ‘Ata," because every Sahabi is superior to every Tabi‘i.
❖ Final Summary
➊ Imam Abu Hanifa (رحمه الله) was not a Tabi‘i.
➋ There is no authentic narration proving his meeting with any Sahabi.
➌ Statements of Khatib al-Baghdadi and others are weak and unreliable.
➍ The statement of Imam al-Daraqutni, a master in Ilm al-Rijal, is stronger and preferred.
➎ Even from the perspective of chain strength, Daraqutni's statement is superior.
❖ Supporting Scholarly Opinions
Muhammad ibn Abd al-Rahman al-Sakhawi (d. 902H):
"A moderate group such as Ahmad, al-Daraqutni, and Ibn ‘Adi..."
(Al-Mutakallimun fi al-Rijal, p. 137)
Hafiz al-Dhahabi:
"Moderates and just evaluators include al-Bukhari, Ahmad, Abu Zur‘ah, Ibn ‘Adi..."
(Dhikr man Yu‘tamadu Qawluhu fi al-Jarh wa al-Ta‘dil, p. 159)
Note:
Though al-Dhahabi once labeled Daraqutni as lenient (al-Muqizah, p. 83), this is refuted when compared to scholars who verified Daraqutni's accuracy, like Khatib al-Baghdadi, Abdul Ghani al-Azdi, and Qadi Abu al-Tayyib al-Tabari.
هٰذَا مَا عِندِي وَاللّٰهُ أَعْلَمُ بِالصَّوَابِ
