|
Famous
Personalities of the Global Islamic Movement Throughout History
Abu Hanifa
(699-767 CE) - An-Nu’maan ibn Thabit Ibn Zuta Ibn Maah
was one of the most important Islamic scholars, jurist
and the founder of the Hanafi school of fiqh. Abu
Hanifah was a prestigious Mujtahid, Muhaddith,
authoritative person, truthfully spoken, abstinent, wise
pious and a Tabi'een.
Abu Hanifa was also one of the Tabi'een, the generation
after the Sahaba, because he saw the Sahabi Anas ibn
Malik, and transmitted hadiths from him and other Sahaba.
Abu Hanifa grew up in a period of opression during the
caliphates of Abdul Malik bin Marwan and his son Walid
bin Abdul Malik. The governorship of Iraq was under the
control of Hajjaj bin Yusuf, a loyal follower of Abdul
Malik. During his governorship leaders in religion and
learning were especially targeted by Hajjaj as they were
proving to be an obstacle to Abdul Malik's establishment
of his rule across Arabia and Iraq. Consequently, Abu
Hanifa had no interest nor the opportunity to acquire
any education in his early childhood. He was simply
content with following in the footsteps of his ancestors
— as a businessman.
He setup a silk weaving business where he showed
scrupulous honesty and fairness. Once his agent in
another country, sold some silk cloth on his behalf but
forgot to point out a slight defect to the purchasers.
When Abu Hanifa learned this, he was greatly distressed
as he had no means of refunding their money. He
immediately ordered the entire proceeds of the sale of
the consignment of silk to be distributed to the poor.
Following the deaths of Hajjaj in 95AH and Walid in
96AH, justice and good administration began to make a
comeback with the caliphates of Sulaiman bin Abdul Malik
and thereafter Umar bin Abdul Aziz. Umar encouraged
education to such an extent that every home became a
madrassah. Abu Hanifa also began to take an interest in
education which was heightened further by the unexpected
advice of as-Sha'bi (d. 722), one of Kufa's most
well-known scholars.
While running an errand for his mother, he happened to
pass the home of as-Sha'bi. Sha'bi, mistaking him for a
student, asked him whose classes he attended. When Abu
Hanifa responded that he did not attend any classes,
Sha'bi said, "I see signs of intelligence in you. You
should sit in the company of learned men." Taking
Sha'bi's advice, Abu Hanifa embarked on a prolific quest
for knowledge that would in due course have a profound
impact on the history of Islam.
Abu Hanifa's early education was achieved through
madrassahs and it is here that he learned the Qur'an and
Hadith doing exceptionally well in his studies. He spent
a great deal of time in the tutelage of Imam Ja'far al-Sadiq.
In fact, Abu Hanifa is said to have attributed several
of his narrations and rulings to the teachings of Imam
Sadiq.
In 763, al-Mansur, the Abbasid monarch offered Abu
Hanifa the post of Chief Judge of the State, but he
declined to accept the offer, choosing to remain
independent. His student, Abu Yusuf, was appointed Qadi
Al-Qadat (Chief Judge of the State) of al-Mansur regime
instead of himself.
In his reply to al-Mansur, Abu Hanifa excused himself by
saying that he did not regard himself fit for the post.
Al-Mansur, who had his own ideas and reasons for
offering the post, lost his temper and accused Abu
Hanifa of lying.
"If I am lying," Abu Hanifa said, "then my statement is
doubly correct. How can you appoint a liar to the
exalted post of a Chief Qadi (Judge)?"
Incensed by this reply, the ruler had Abu Hanifa
arrested and locked in prison and tortured.
Even there, the indomitable jurist continued to teach
those who were permitted to come to him.
In 767, Abu Hanifa died in prison. It was said that so
many people attended his funeral that the funeral
service was repeated six times for more than 50,000
people who had amassed before he was actually buried.
Some of Abu
Hanifa's literary works
-
Kitaab-ul-Aathar - compiled from a total of 70,000
ahadith
-
Aalim-wal-muta‘allim
- Fiqh al-Akbar
- Jaami’ul
Masaneed
- Kitaabul Rad
alal Qaadiriyah
|
If
you would like to add well renowned personalities please email
us your request. |
The
Khilafah Movement