of the foremost imam, the master of the jurists, Imam Abū Ḥanīfah NꜤumān b. Thābit  رَحْمَةُ الـلّٰـهِ عَلَيْه. In today’s speech, we will learn about his esteemed status, his devotion to worship, his beautiful qualities, and services to Islam. May Allah grant us the ability to listen to the entire speech attentively with good intentions.

Dear Islamic brothers! Imam Abū Ḥanīfah رَحْمَةُ الـلّٰـهِ عَلَيْه is a great personality of Islam and a tremendous blessing of Allah Almighty upon the Muslims. Allah granted Imam Abū Ḥanīfah رَحْمَةُ الـلّٰـهِ عَلَيْه a lofty rank and such mastery in knowledge that not only millions of Muslims follow him and benefit from the blessings of his knowledge, but countless scholars, muftis and Saints رَحِمَهُمُ الـلّٰـه consider it an honour to follow him.

Let us first listen to an account regarding his rank in the court of the beloved Prophet صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم.

The rank of Imam Abū Ḥanīfah in the Court of the Prophet

Dātā Ganj Bakhsh ꜤAlī Hujwīrī رَحْمَةُ الـلّٰـهِ عَلَيْه had a special devotion for Imam Abū Ḥanīfah رَحْمَةُ الـلّٰـهِ عَلَيْه. Dātā ꜤAlī Hujwīrī رَحْمَةُ الـلّٰـهِ عَلَيْه said:

One day, while travelling in Syria, I visited the blessed grave of the muezzin of the Prophet, Sayyidunā Bilāl رَضِىَ اللّٰهُ عَـنْهُ. During the visit, I fell sleep and found myself in Makkah. I saw the Prophet صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم at the gate of the tribe of Banī Shaybah, holding an elderly person like a child. In eagerness, I approached and kissed his blessed feet whilst thinking to myself: Who is this elderly person?

The knower of the unseen, the beloved Prophet صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم was aware of my curiosity and said, “This is Abū Ḥanīfah and he is your Imam.”

After relating this dream, Dātā ꜤAlī Hujwīrī رَحْمَةُ الـلّٰـهِ عَلَيْه states: