Unique in intelligence and piety

Dear Islamic brothers! Sayyiduna Imam-e-A’zam Abu Hanifah رَحْمَةُ اللهِ تَعَالٰی عَلَيْه was a man who had a great mind, remarkable thinking and amazing intelligence. In Fatawa Razawiyyah, Ala Hadrat, Imam of Ahl-e-Sunnah, Maulana Shah Imam Ahmad Raza Khan رَحْمَةُ اللهِ تَعَالٰی عَلَيْه has narrated that Sayyiduna Imam Shaafi’i رَحْمَةُ اللهِ تَعَالٰی عَلَيْه said: Nobody in the whole world has the wisdom like the wisdom (of Imam-e-A’zam رَحْمَةُ اللهِ تَعَالٰی عَلَيْه). Sayyiduna Bakr Bin Hubaysh رَحْمَةُ اللهِ تَعَالٰی عَلَيْه said, ‘If the wisdom of (Imam) Abu Hanifah رَحْمَةُ اللهِ تَعَالٰی عَلَيْه and the wisdom of the people of his era are collected, then his wisdom would be much more than all their wisdoms put together.’ (Al-Khayraat-ul-Hisaan, pp. 62)

As no one was equal to him in intelligence, likewise, he رَحْمَةُ اللهِ تَعَالٰی عَلَيْه was unique in piety and purity, worship and spiritual exercises and deep fear of Allah عَزَّوَجَلَّ. Many glorious Islamic saints رَحِمَهُمُ الـلّٰـهُ تَـعَالٰی have testified to his amazing simplicity and piety, worship and spiritual exercises. Let’s listen to some blessed sayings of Islamic scholars regarding this:

1.         Sayyiduna ‘Abdullah Bin Mubaarak رَحْمَةُ اللهِ تَعَالٰی عَلَيْه has said: Once I went      to Kufa and asked the people there, ‘Who is the greatest in terms of piety and worships here?’ The people replied, ‘Imam-e-A’zam Abu Hanifah رَحْمَةُ اللهِ تَعَالٰی عَلَيْه.’ Sayyiduna Ibn Mubaarak رَحْمَةُ اللهِ تَعَالٰی عَلَيْه further said, ‘I have not seen anyone more pious than Imam-e-A’zam رَحْمَةُ اللهِ تَعَالٰی عَلَيْه. You do not have the ability to praise the person to whom plenty of wealth was offered, but he رَحْمَةُ اللهِ تَعَالٰی عَلَيْه did not pay any attention to wealth. Upon saying this, he رَحْمَةُ اللهِ تَعَالٰی عَلَيْه was lashed. He رَحْمَةُ اللهِ تَعَالٰی عَلَيْه continued to worship Allah عَزَّوَجَلَّ in luxury and in times of difficulty and never accepted those things for which people strive for and make many excuses.’ (Al-Khayraat-ul-Hisaan, pp. 58)

2.         The respected teacher of Imam Bukhari رَحْمَةُ اللهِ تَعَالٰی عَلَيْه Sayyiduna Makki Bin Ibraheem رَحْمَةُ اللهِ تَعَالٰی عَلَيْه has said, ‘I had the company of many Islamic scholars in Kufa, but found no one amongst them as pious and abstinent as Imam-e-A’zam Abu Hanifah رَحْمَةُ اللهِ تَعَالٰی عَلَيْه.

(Al-Khayraat-ul-Hisaan, pp. 58)