Imam Azam Abu Hanifa - Biography

Imam Azam Abu Hanifa (80 AH – 150 AH)

Name and Lineage
The name of Hazrat Imam Azam is "Nu'man," and his title is "Abu Hanifa." He was born in the city of Kufa, Iraq, in 80 AH. He was of Persian descent, his father's name was Sābit, and his grandfather, Numan binMarzaban, was a wise and intelligent person among the nobles of Kabul. His great-grandfather, Marzaban, was a ruler of a region in Persia. HazratSābit was brought to serve Hazrat Ali during his childhood. Hazrat Ali prayed for blessings for him and his children. The prayer was accepted, and thus, a great scholar and ascetic like Imam Abu Hanifawas born.

Journey of Acquiring Knowledge
After acquiring essential knowledge, Imam Abu Hanifa quickly started engaging in trade. However, seeing his intellect, the renowned scholar of Hadith, Sheikh Amir ShabiKufi (17 AH – 104 AH), who had met over five hundred companions of the Prophet, advised him to leave trade and pursue academic education. Following this advice, Imam Abu Hanifa focused on the knowledge of jurisprudence (Fiqh), Hadith, and legal theory, achieving such excellence that he came to be known as "Imam Azam" in both academic and practical spheres. He gained knowledge from various scholars in Kufa, Basra, and Baghdad and traveled to Mecca, Medina, and Syria to gain more knowledge.
He studied Fiqh under his teacher Hammad bin AbiSulayman. His teachers included companions of the Prophet (peace be upon them). Imam Abu Hanifa was unique in that he was a Tabi'i (one who directly met the companions of the Prophet), and no other Fiqh or Hadith Imam, except him, had such a direct connection with the Sahabah (companions).

Imam Azam's Status and Rank
Imam Abu Hanifa, Nu'man bin Thabit al-Kufi, is universally regarded as one of the four famous Imams without any disagreement. All scholars agree upon his eminence and leadership. Ali bin Asim says: "If the knowledge of Abu Hanifa were weighed against the knowledge of the people of his time, it would outweigh it." Imam Abu Hanifa holds a very high position in Islamic jurisprudence.
He was highly intelligent with an excellent memory, and his asceticism, understanding, and knowledge were widely known. He completed the Quran 7,000 times in his lifetime. For 45 years, Imam Abu Hanifa prayed all five daily prayers in the same bath, and in the night, he would complete the entire Quran in two Rak'ahs while fasting during the day and spreading knowledge. He was renowned in both academic and spiritual circles, and scholars of Hadith referred to him as a sea of knowledge and a mountain of piety.

Imam Azam’s Approach to Ijtihad
Imam Azam described Ijtihad as follows:
"First, I take a matter from the Book of Allah. If I do not find it there, I refer to the Sunnah of the Prophet. If I do not find it there either, I accept the opinion of the companions of the Prophet, and I do not accept the opinion of anyone else other than them. When it comes to Ibrahim Shabi, IbnSirin, and Ata, I also do Ijtihad like them."

Imam Azam's Students
Imam Abu Hanifa had nearly a thousand students, among whom forty were highly esteemed and reached the level of Ijtihad. They were his special advisers. Some of them were:

1. Imam Abu Yusuf
2. Imam Muhammad bin Hasan al-Shaybani
3. Imam Hammad bin AbiHanifa
4. Imam Jafar bin Hujail
5. Imam Abdullah bin Mubarak
6. Imam Waki' bin Jarrah
7. Imam Dawood bin Naseer
8. In addition to these, great Hadith scholars like Imam Bukhari and other prominent Muhaddiths were also students or students of students of Imam Abu Hanifa.

Interesting Events in the Life of Imam Azam
One day, a man from Kufa invited his sons to a grand wedding feast. During the feast, a strange incident occurred where the wives were swapped due to the mistake of the women. Imam Shafi'i’s students and others were present. Imam Abu Hanifa was asked to resolve the issue. Imam Abu Hanifa called the two men separately and asked them if they were satisfied with the women they had spent the night with. Both said yes. Imam Abu Hanifa then advised them to divorce the wives they had married and marry the women they had spent the night with. This ruling was accepted, showcasing his understanding of complex legal issues.

Another incident involves a man who lost his hidden wealth. Imam Abu Hanifa, upon hearing about it, went with his disciples to the man’s house. By asking questions and using the knowledge of his students, Imam Abu Hanifa pinpointed the location where the wealth was hidden, and it was recovered.

Imam Azam’s Devotion and Worship
Imam Abu Hanifa’s commitment to worship and piety is also remarkable. It is said that for forty years, he prayed Fajr after performing Isha, and for thirty years, he fasted, except on forbidden days. He would often complete the entire Quran in one Rak'ah at night. It is said that at the place of his death, he had completed the Quran seven thousand times. He performed Hajj every year, totaling fifty-five times during his life.

Patience, Faith, and Integrity
Imam Azam had immense patience, enduring persecution with tranquility. Yazid bin Harun says, "I have never seen anyone as patient as Abu Hanifa." When he was informed that someone was criticizing him, he would respond by sending a message saying, "Brother, may Allah forgive you. I have entrusted you to Allah, and He knows you have spoken incorrectly." His life serves as a guide for us to remain patient, truthful, and avoid ill-will toward others.

Imam Abu Hanifa's Political Life
Imam Abu Hanifa’s most notable political contribution was his establishment of a consultative and collaborative approach in the formulation of legal rulings. He promoted discussions and debates among scholars for decisions on judicial matters. His Fiqh was not individualistic but collective and consultative, where scholars would gather to reach conclusions.

Imam Abu Hanifa's political life also includes his support for movements aimed at improving the state and establishing a true Islamic state. He supported Imam Zayd bin Ali and Imam Ibrahim NafisZakiya, providing them with moral and financial assistance. Though he did not directly participate in these movements, his contributions were significant.

Death
Imam Abu Hanifa refused to accept the position of chief judge under the Abbasid Caliphate, which led to his imprisonment in 146 AH. Despite being in prison, he continued to teach, and even Imam Muhammad (his student) learned from him in prison. Eventually, fearing his growing popularity, the caliph ordered that Imam Abu Hanifa be poisoned. Upon feeling the effects of the poison, Imam Abu Hanifa prostrated and passed away in that state. His funeral was attended by over 50,000 people, and he was buried in the Khaziran Cemetery in Baghdad. A mosque, "Jami al-Imam al-Azam," was later built near his tomb in 375 AH.

Imam Azam’s death was mourned by scholars of his time, and his legacy continues to be honored by Muslims around the world.