Fortifying the Sunni beliefs: Debunking the Fabricators who Repudiate Imam Abu Hanifa

The Falsehood attributed to Imam Abu Hanifa.

There have been many attempts to defame Imam Abu Hanifa- The Imam Al Azam of Sunni Islam, by attributing calumnies against him , one of the earliest attempts coming from the "Undisputed Traditionist of the Sunni Islam" Al Bukhari. Although, it was understood that the Traditionists and the Fuqaha of the time didn't get along- this bitter spat was not restricted between them. There was one another party who were staunch adversaries of Imam E Azam, the theologians of different schools of thought. Within the orthodox Sunnism, two schools of theologies were quite famous even in those times- The Asharri'yah and The Maturidi'yah. Now, if I am to say that the Asharris tried to defame the Imam, one would respond that the two schools of theologies didn't had much differences (as the traditionists and the Fuqaha had) and the Ashari's would never cross the line. But the most basic detail many fail to contemplate is the pattern found among the theologians. If one is to form a pattern, we see that the majority of the Ashari's were followers of Shafa'i School of Fiqh nad the Maturidis were Hanafis. The wise would understand that this dispute was not limited to the conflicting theologies. They were more likely "A War of Fiqh in the fascade of Theology."

The Ashari in discussion today is none other than the Founder of the Orthodox school of Theology, Imam Abul Hasan Al Ashari (d.324H). The fact that Imam Ashari didn't knew about the Maturidi school as they originated at nearly the same time at very far places, anything which Imam Ashari wrote against Imam E Azam wouldn't be considered as criticism on the grounds of the "Differences in Theology." I will discuss the text where Imam Ashari had attempted to criticize Imam Abu Hanifa. 

Imam Ashari wrote a famous book named, "Al Ibanah An Usul Ad-Diyanah" (The Elucidation of Islam's foundation) in which he has discussed the various heretical sects and their heretical believes and refuted them by citing traditions- a practice common among the followers of Imam Shafai. He also substantiated the difference between the Heretical beliefs and the Sunni beliefs. Under the chapter of  "Khalq Al Qur'an" (Creation of the Qur'an), he has refuted the heretical beliefs of the Mutazilah and the Jahamiyyah. In doing so, he has cited certain sayings of the contemporaries of Imam Abu Hanifa who accused him of believing in Khalq Al Quran. Some of those sayings are:  

Harun Ibn Ishaq cites the following tradition on the authority of Abu Nuaym who narrated it from Sulayman Ibn Isa (Al Sajazi) and he on the authority of Sufiyan Al Thawri, who said, Hammad bin Abi Sulayman said to me, "Go tell Abu Hanifa, The Polytheist, that I repudiate him! Said Sulayman. Sufiyan added, "because He was in the habit of Saying that the Qur'an is created."

This is a grave and critical accusation on Imam Abu Hanifa coming from an equally celebrated Imam, Sufyan Al Thawri- a contemporary of Imam E Azam. But, if one is to analyze the chain of this tradition, all his uncertainty would be eased. The narrator "Sulayman Ibn Isa Al Sajazi" was the one to fabricate this tradition. Lets see, what the scholars of Asma Al Rijal has to say about him:

1) Abu Ishaq Al Juzjani said: He (Sulayman) was the one who claimed to be the (writer of ) the "Etiquette's from Sufyan Al Thawri" was a Liar (Kazzab) [Al Hawl Al Rijal, Abu Ishaq Al Juzjani (d.259H), Pg 351, Narrator no 384].

2) Al Bukhari (d.256H) said he is "Munkar Al Hadith." [Tarikh Al Kabri, Vol 3, Pg  244, Narrator no 837. Al Dha'eef Al Sagheer, Pg 45, Narrator 110].

3) Abu Hatim as Razi (d.327H) said: His narrations are Fabricated and he is a Liar (Kazzab). [Al Jarah O Tadeel, Abu Hatim Al Razi (d.327H), Vol 4, Pg 134, Narrator no 586].

4) Ibn Adi said: The narrations of Sulayman Ibn Isa from Al Thawri are all weak and he also hijacked the narrations of Al Jarood. [Al Kamil fi Dh'aeef Al Rijal, Ibn Adi (d.365H), Vol 2, Pg 433, Dar ul Kutub Al Ilmiyyah].

5) Ibn Hibban (d.343H) mentioned him in his "Al Majroheen" (Book containing the names of the fabricators), Vol 1, Pg 291. He also mentioned that "Ahmed bin Hanbal said: He is a Liar".

6) Al Hakim (d.405H) in his Madqaal, Vol 1, Pg 135, Narrator 52 said, He is a Liar.

7) Al Khateeb Al Baghdadi (d.463H) said: He is Abandoned. He is a Liar (Kazzab) [Tarikh Baghdad, Al Khatib (d.463H), Vol 5, Pg 97, Narrator no 1288, Dar Al Arab Al Islamiyyah; Vol 4, Pg 280, Narrator no 1992, Dar Al Kutub Al Ilmiyyah].  Al Khatib said: "The book he wrote named "Al Aql" was sufficient proof to prove that he is not trustworthy." (indicating that he was a staunch Muta'zila).

8) Abu Nuaym (d.430H) said in his Dha'eef, Pg 78, Narrator no 61: Ahmed bin Hanbal and Al Bukhari said: He (Sulayman) is a Liar.

9) Ibn Jawzi (d.597H) mentioned him in his Dha'eef, Vol 1, Pg 267-268, Narrator 1168.

10) Abdullah Ibn Ahmed bin Hanbal: He is nothing. He doesnt know anything about the hadith.

Abbas Al Dawri narrated from Yahya Ibn Mae'en who said: He was a praiseworthy one, known to write Hadith. But he went in the company of some Mutazila who corrupted him. Otherwise, he was trustworthy. [Also mentioned in Tarikh Yayha, Vol 2, Pg 154].

Abu Zuhra in [Kitab Abu Zuhra Al Razi, Vol 2, Pg 343 {Single Vol Ed, Pg 615} in Chapter of the Weak Narrators] and Al Nasa'i said: Weak. Abu Hatim said: He detracted from (the path of) Hadith.

Al Daraqutni (d.385H) graded him "Abandoned in Hadith and He is nothing." [Al Dha'ef Al Daraqutni, Pg 53, Narrator no 116].

[These all can be found in Tarikh Al Islam, Al Dhahabi (d.742H), Vol 5, Pg 71, Narration 136].

11) Sulayman Ibn Isa al Sajazi: Imam Ahmed bin Hanbal said: I do not know about his hadith.

Ibn Al Madaini and Abu Hatim said: Detractor of Hadith, Not Trustwrothy. [Lisan Al Mizan, Ibn Hajr (d.852H), Vol 7, Pg 213].

12) Ibn Hajr again mentioned him in his Taqreeb, Pg 308, Narrator no 1820 and graded him "Matrook" i.e. Abandoned.

There is no need to further substantiate this Fabricated narration. There is no narration that defames Abu Hanifa except that, it is fabricated. This is what a Sunni Muslim beliefs. We, as muslims, must stop blind following the scholars and stop placing them at the position of the "Prophets". They were humans, as we all are, and sometime, did things, which satisfied their ego. I ask Allah to raise the position of Imam E Azam and forgive all scholars for their shortcomings through the intercession of Muhammad صلى الله عليه وسلم. Amen.

To all the scholars who are mentioned in the above article, May Allah be Pleased with them All.