Imam Abu Hanifa, whose full name was Nuʿmān ibn Thābit ibn Zūṭā al-Kūfī, was born in the city of Kufa, Iraq in the year 80 AH (699 CE) during the Umayyad caliphate. He hailed from a family of Persian descent. His grandfather, Zuta, was reportedly brought to Kufa as a captive from Kabul and later embraced Islam. The family was known for its honesty, trade, and strong adherence to Islamic principles.
Although Imam Abu Hanifa was born in a time of political unrest, particularly between the Umayyads and Alids, his early life was primarily devoted to commerce. He worked as a silk merchant, known for his integrity and fairness in business dealings. However, his intellectual curiosity and frequent contact with scholars eventually drew him toward Islamic knowledge and jurisprudence.
Education and Teachers
Imam Abu Hanifa received knowledge from some of the most distinguished scholars of his era. Among his most notable teachers was:
[1] Hammad ibn Abi Sulayman – A prominent jurist in Kufa and a student of Ibrahim al-Nakhai.
[2] Ata ibn Abi Rabah – A distinguished scholar of Makkah and a disciple of the Companions of the Prophet ﷺ.
He also met and learned from numerous Tabi‘un (Successors of the Companions), such as Anas ibn Malik, the last surviving Companion of the Prophet ﷺ at the time. It is said that he sat with over 4000 scholars, of whom around 7 were Tabi’un. This wide exposure helped shape his comprehensive and analytical approach to Islamic jurisprudence.
Founding of the Hanafi School
Imam Abu Hanifa is recognized as the pioneer of the Hanafi school of thought, the oldest and most widely followed tradition of Islamic jurisprudence around the world. His approach to legal reasoning emphasized:
[1] Qur’an and Sunnah as primary sources.
[2] Ijma' (consensus) of the scholars.
[3] Qiyas (analogical reasoning) to extend rulings to new cases.
[4] Istihsan (juristic preference) in matters where rigid analogical deduction might result in hardship.
[5] Recognition of ‘Urf (local customs), provided they do not conflict with Islamic teachings.
This school became especially prominent in the Abbasid and Ottoman Empires, and it remains dominant today in regions such as Turkey, the Indian subcontinent, Central Asia, the Balkans, and parts of the Arab world.
Scholarly Works and Contributions
Imam Abu Hanifa personally authored few written works; instead, his teachings were preserved and conveyed by his students, most notably:
(a) Imam Abu Yusuf (Ya‘qub ibn Ibrahim) – Later appointed Chief Judge (Qadi al-Qudah) of the Abbasid Caliphate.
(b) Imam Muhammad al-Shaybani – Who compiled many of Abu Hanifa’s legal positions and expanded upon them.
The most famous compilations of the Hanafi school include:
(a) Al-Fiqh al-Akbar – A theological text ascribed to Imam Abu Hanifa that explores foundational beliefs in Islam. (‘aqidah).
(b) Kitab al-Athar – A collection of hadiths and legal rulings narrated by Abu Hanifa.
His fiqh was systematized in later works like Al-Hidayah, Al-Kafi, and Al-Mabsut by later Hanafi scholars.
His Piety and Integrity
Imam Abu Hanifa was more than a legal scholar; he was a man of deep taqwa (God-consciousness) and unwavering moral courage. Despite persistent pressure from political authorities, he consistently declined positions of power that might jeopardize his independence and ethical principles. He famously declined the position of Chief Judge offered by the Abbasid Caliph al-Mansur. When he insisted on declining, he was imprisoned and beaten.
He passed away in 150 AH (767 CE) while in custody, and many scholars regard him as having died a martyr (shaheed) due to his principled stand.His funeral was attended by over 50,000 people, and due to the massive number of mourners, his janazah prayer was repeated multiple times.
Legacy and Global Influence
Imam Abu Hanifa's legacy is monumental:
[1] The Hanafi madhhab continues to shape the legal, ethical, and spiritual lives of hundreds of millions of Muslims.
[2] His approach bridged rational analysis with scriptural fidelity, setting a precedent for balanced and reasoned jurisprudence.
[3] His students laid the groundwork for the codification and systematization of Islamic law, which influenced Islamic governance for centuries.
[4] Even scholars of other madhhabs held him in high regard.
Imam Abu Hanifa (رحمه الله) was not merely a jurist, but a towering personality who combined deep religious knowledge with a profound sense of responsibility to his faith and community. His intellectual depth, moral firmness, and legal brilliance continue to illuminate Islamic scholarship centuries after his death. His life is a testament to how sincerity, scholarship, and steadfastness can shape generations.Imam Shafi’i once said: In matters of jurisprudence, all people are like children before Abu Hanifa.