Abu Hanifa facts for kids

Abū Ḥanīfa (born Nuʿmān ibn Thābit ibn Zūṭā ibn Marzubān, around 699–767 CE) was a very important Muslim scholar. He is often called Imam Abū Ḥanīfa by Sunni Muslims. An "Imam" is a respected leader or scholar in Islam.

He was a theologian (someone who studies religious beliefs) and a jurist (an expert in law). He founded the Hanafi school of Islamic law. This school is the most widely followed in the Sunni tradition. It is popular in places like Central Asia, Afghanistan, Pakistan, Turkey, and parts of the Arab world.

People also call him al-Imām al-Aʿẓam ("The Greatest Imam") and Sirāj al-Aʾimma ("The Lamp of the Imams").

Abu Hanifa was born into a Muslim family in Kufa. Kufa was a city in what is now Iraq. When he was young, he traveled to Mecca and Medina in Arabia to study. As he grew older, he became known for using reason in his legal decisions. His ideas about theology later helped form the Maturidi school of Sunni theology.

Life Story

His Family Background

Abu Hanifa was born in Kufa around the year 699 CE. This was during the time of the Umayyad Caliphate. Historians usually agree on this birth year.

Some scholars believe Abu Hanifa's ancestors were from a group called Jats, who moved to Iraq. Others say his family was of Persian origin. His grandfather, Zuta, might have been brought to Kufa as a slave and later freed. His family then became connected to an Arab tribe. However, Abu Hanifa's grandson said their family were free Persians and had never been slaves. His great-grandfather was called "al-Marzuban," which was a title for governors in the ancient Persian Sasanian Empire.

Early Studies

We don't know a lot about Abu Hanifa's early life. He worked as a producer and seller of "khazz," which was a type of silk clothing. He also attended lectures on Islamic law. He learned from a scholar named Hammad ibn Abi Sulayman in Kufa. He might have also studied with Ata ibn Abi Rabah in Mecca during his Hajj pilgrimage.

After Hammad died, Abu Hanifa became the main expert on Islamic law in Kufa. He became very influential in legal matters. He started a moderate school of Islamic law that was named after him, the Hanafi school.

Later Life and Passing

Abu Hanifa Mosque in Baghdad, Iraq

In 763 CE, the Abbasid ruler, al-Mansur, offered Abu Hanifa a very important job. He wanted him to be the qadi al-qudat, which means the chief judge of the state. But Abu Hanifa said no. He preferred to stay independent. Later, his student Abu Yusuf took this job.

When Abu Hanifa refused, al-Mansur became angry. He accused Abu Hanifa of lying. Abu Hanifa cleverly replied that if he was lying, then he was definitely not fit to be a judge. Because of this, the ruler had Abu Hanifa arrested and put in prison. He was treated harshly there. Even in prison, he continued to teach those who were allowed to visit him.

Abu Hanifa died in prison on August 15, 767 CE. The exact reason for his death is not fully known. Some people believe he was poisoned. So many people came to his funeral that the service had to be repeated six times. More than 50,000 people attended. Years later, the Abu Hanifa Mosque was built in Baghdad where he was buried.

The tombs of Abu Hanifa and another scholar, Abdul Qadir Gilani, were destroyed in 1508. But in 1533, the Ottomans rebuilt them and other Sunni sites.

His Students

Abu Hanifa had many students. One scholar listed 97 hadith scholars who studied with him. Hadith are sayings and actions of the Prophet Muhammad. Another scholar counted 260 students who learned Hadith and Fiqh (Islamic law) from him.

His most famous students were Imām Abu Yusuf and Imām Muhammad al-Shaybani. Abu Yusuf became the first chief justice in the Muslim world. Muhammad al-Shaybani was even a teacher to Imām Al-Shafi‘i, who founded another major school of Islamic law.

Some of his other students include:

• Abdullah ibn Mubarak
• Abu Nuāim Fadl Ibn Dukain
• Malik bin Mighwal
• Dawood Taa’ee
• Mandil bin Ali
• Qaasim bin Ma’n
• Hayyaaj bin Bistaam
• Hushaym bin Basheer Sulami
• Fudhayl bin Iyaadh
• Ali bin Tibyaan
• Wakee bin Jarrah
• Amr bin Maymoon
• Abu Ismah
• Zuhayr bin Mu’aawiyah
• Aafiyah bin Yazeed

How He Made Legal Rulings

Abu Hanifa used several sources to make his legal decisions, in a specific order:

• The Qur'an: The holy book of Islam.
• Hadith: The sayings and actions of the Prophet Muhammad.
• Ijma: The agreement or consensus of the Muslim community.
• Qiyas: Analogical reasoning, which means comparing new situations to known rules.
• Istihsan: Juristic discretion, using what seems best for the community.
• Urf: The customs and traditions of the local people.

Abu Hanifa was known for developing and using analogical reasoning (qiyas) as a key tool in Islamic law.

Since the fourth Caliph, Ali, moved the Islamic capital to Kufa, many early Muslims settled there. Because of this, the Hanafi school often based its rulings on the traditions passed down by these early Muslims in Iraq. That's why the Hanafi school was sometimes called the Kufan or Iraqi school.

His Generational Status

Some scholars consider Abu Hanifa to be one of the Tabi‘un. The Tabi'un were the generation of Muslims who came after the Sahaba (the companions of the Prophet Muhammad). This is because there are reports that Abu Hanifa met at least four of the Sahaba, including Anas ibn Malik. Some even say he shared Hadith that he heard directly from them.

Abu Hanifa was born 67 years after the Prophet Muhammad passed away. However, some of Muhammad's companions lived until Abu Hanifa was a young man. For example, Anas bin Malik died when Abu Hanifa was 13, and another companion, Abul Tufail Amir bin Wathilah, died when Abu Hanifa was 20.

His Connection to the Prophet Muhammad's Family

Imam Abu Hanifa was a student of Ja'far al-Sadiq. Ja'far al-Sadiq was a direct descendant of the Prophet Muhammad. This means that all four of the great Imams of Sunni Islamic law are connected to Ja'far from the Prophet Muhammad's family, either directly or indirectly.

Abu Hanifa once said about Imam Ja'far: "I have not seen anyone with more knowledge than Ja'far ibn Muhammad." He also spoke highly of Ja'far's uncle, Zayd ibn Ali, saying he was very knowledgeable and eloquent.

His Views on Beliefs

Imam Abu Hanifa was against extreme views in theology. He criticized those who went too far in describing God in ways that were too human-like. He also criticized those who denied God's attributes completely. He believed in a balanced approach to understanding God.

His Works

Abu Hanifa wrote several important books on Islamic law and theology.

See also

In Spanish: Abu Hanífah para niños