The Eminence of Imam Abu Hanifa: A Comprehensive Study of His Juristic Authority, Historical Legacy, and Scholarly Contributions

مقامِ امام اعظم ابو حنیفہؒ: فقہی عظمت، تاریخی حیثیت اور علمی خدمات کا تحقیقی جائزہ

Abstract

This research paper presents a comprehensive and critical study of the scholarly stature, juristic authority and historical significance of Imam al-Aʿẓam Abu Hanifa Nu‘man ibn Thabit (رحمہ اللہ), widely recognized as the founder of the earliest systematically codified school of Islamic jurisprudence. It examines his unique proximity to the era of the Salaf, his connection to the noble Companions through authenticated chains, and his status as a Tabi‘i, supported by historical reports affirming his encounters with several Sahaba. The paper highlights the methodological brilliance of Imam Abu Hanifa in the realms of fiqh, legal reasoning, analogical deduction, and juristic prioritization, underscored by endorsements from great scholars such as Imam Shafi‘i, Ibn Hajar, Ibn al-Qayyim, al-Dhahabi, and numerous muhaddithun who acknowledged his unparalleled intellectual depth. It further explores his stringent criteria regarding the acceptance of hadith, his emphasis on reliability, memorisation, sanad continuity, and the preservation of prophetic guidance through rigorous principles. The study responds to classical and modern criticisms by demonstrating how major objections—especially those in Ibn Abi Shaybah’s compilation—were addressed by authoritative scholars across centuries. Moreover, the research evaluates the reasons behind the dominance of the four Sunni schools, the preservation of fiqh through structured codification, and the socioreligious factors that secured the enduring relevance of the Hanafi School. Finally, the paper argues that Imam Abu Hanifa’s legacy—rooted in piety, intellectual clarity, deep understanding of the Qur’an and Sunnah, and service to the Ummah—remains a foundational pillar for Islamic legal theory and contemporary jurisprudential inquiry.