The Evolution of Fiqh(9.1 Imaam Abu Haneefah)

Imaam Abu Haneefah Nu’maan ibn Thaabit (702-767 CE)

Abu Haneefah used to discourage his students from

recording his opinions, since they were often based on Qiyaas

(analogical deduction). However, he made an exception of those

opinions which were thoroughly debated and agreed upon by all his

students. His student, Abu Yoosuf, reported that the Imaam once told

him, “woe be on you, Ya’qoob. Do not write down all you hear from

me, for surely I may hold an opinion today and leave it tomorrow,

hold another tomorrow and leave it the day after.”

Reported by ‘Abbaas and AD-Dooree in at-Taareekh by Ibn Mu’een

(Makkah: King’Abdul Aziz University, 1979), vol. 6, p. 88.

 This attitude of the Imaam kept his students from blind imitation 
of his views, and helped to develop in them a respect for
 their own opinions as well as that of others.

Imaam Abu Haneefah also made many strong statements

concerning the blind following of his opinions and those of his

students. In fact he strictly forbade anyone from following their

opinions or making legal rulings based on them unless such a person

was familiar with the proofs which he and his students had used and

the sources from whence they had deduced them. 
The Imaam was reported by his student Zufar to have said, 
“It is forbidden for anyone who does not know my proofs to
 make a ruling according to my statements, 
for verily we are only humans we may say something’s

today and reject it tomorrow.”

Ibn ‘Abdul-Barr, al-Intiqaa fee Fadaa’il ath-Thalaathah al-A’immah al-

Fuqahaa, (Cairo: Maktab al-Qudsee, 1931), p. 145.

Abu Haneefah was always aware of his limitations.

Accordingly, he defined for his students and all who would benefit

from his deep understanding of Islaam that the ultimate criterion for

right and wrong was the Qur’aan and the Sunnah; what was in

accordance with them was right and what was not was wrong. His

student, Muhammad ibn al-Hasan, reported that he said, “If I have

made a ruling which contradicts Allaah’s book or the messenger’s

(s.w.) Hadeeth, reject my ruling.”
Al-Fulaanee, Eeqaadh al-Himam, (Cairo: al-Muneereeyah, 1935), p. 50.

It is also recorded that the

pointed out the fact that the principle to follow, if one wanted to

follow his Madh-hab as he intended it to be followed, is the

acceptance of sound Hadeeth. Imaam Ibn’ Abdul-Barr reported that

Imaam Abu Haneefah said, “If a Hadeeth is found to be Saheeh

(authentic), it is my Madh-hab.”

 Ibn ‘Aabideen, al-Haashiyah, (Cairo: al-Muneereeyah, 1833-1900), 
vol.1, p. 63.