Mastery in Fatwa

1.   An individual once made the following oath: I will not eat an egg. After some time, the same individual took an oath that he would certainly eat whatever was up another person’s sleeve. When it was checked, it was seen that an egg was in that person’s sleeve. Now, that individual was facing a difficult situation; if he ate the egg then his first oath would break, and if he did not eat it, then his second oath would break. He was very worried, so he presented himself in the court of Imam-e-A’zam رَحْمَةُ الـلّٰـهِ عَلَيْه and mentioned his issue. Imam-e-A’zam Abu Hanifah رَحْمَةُ الـلّٰـهِ عَلَيْه said: There is no need to worry; this egg should be placed under a hen, and when it hatches, roast it or cook it and then eat it. None of your oaths will break in this way. (Al-Khayraat-ul-Hisan, p. 76)

2.   Once, the peacock of Imam-e-A’zam’s neighbour was stolen, so he came to him and told him about it. He رَحْمَةُ الـلّٰـهِ عَلَيْه said: Does that person not feel any shame in stealing his neighbour’s peacock and coming to Salah in such a state that the signs of peacock feathers are on his head! Hearing this, an individual immediately passed his hand over his head. Whereupon, Imam-e-A’zam رَحْمَةُ الـلّٰـهِ عَلَيْه turned towards him and said: Return your companion’s peacock back to him. Thus, he returned the peacock back to its owner. (Al-Khayraat-ul-Hisan, p. 74)

3.   Imam A’mash رَحْمَةُ الـلّٰـهِ عَلَيْه once said to his wife: If you verbally tell me that the flour has finished, or write it down, or indicate towards it, tell somebody else that the flour has finished or mention that the flour has finished in front of someone so that they tell me it has finished, then you are divorced. Hearing this, the wife of Imam A’mash رَحْمَةُ الـلّٰـهِ عَلَيْه was very worried as to what she should do; if she did not inform him when the flour finished then it would be problematic, and if she informed him of it then it would result in a very difficult situation. Someone advised