The Companions of Imam Abu Hanifah

1. Mis’ar Ibn Kidām (d.155 AH)

The following information has been taken from Al-Jawāhir Al-Muḍī`ah:

He narrated from the Imam. Al-Thawrī said, “when we would differ on a matter, we would ask Mis’ar regarding it.”

He said the famous line: “Whoever places Abū Ḥanīfah between himself and his Lord, I am hopeful he will not need to fear, neither will this be a lack of caution on his part (to suffice upon following Abū Ḥanīfah to save himself).

2. Zufar Ibn Hudhail Al-Kūfī (110 – 158 AH)

He was considered an ocean of knowledge, and was from amongst the most pious of his time. After the passing of the Imam, Zufar headed his majlis, thereafter Abū Yūsuf, and after him, Muḥammad. He accompanied Imam Abū Ḥanīfah for over twenty years.

From his virtues is the statement of Imam Wakī’, in which he praised Allah Almighty for preserving Zufar as the Imam’s deputy. He attained the post of Qāḍī of Baṣrah, and remained in that post until his death.

3. Dāwūd Al-Ṭā`ī (d.165 AH)

He accompanied the Imam and went on to teach Fiqh and various sciences, but chose to leave it all and adopted a life of isolation. Ibn al-Mubārak praised him by saying, “Is reality that except what Dāwūd is upon.”

4. Ḥammād Ibn Al-Imām AbīḤanīfah (d. 167 AH)

An Imam, son of the Imam. He learnt jurisprudence from his father, and issued Fatawa in his lifetime. He was of the same Ṭabaqah as Abū Yūsuf, Muḥammad, Zufar, and Ḥasan, but was saturated by fear and piety.

5. Ḥibbān Ibn ‘Ali (d.172 AH)

From the companions of the Imam. He was praised as being one of the foremost Fuqahā in Kūfah. He heard the Imam saying regarding his punishment for rejecting the post of Qaḍā, that nothing hurt him more than thinking of his mother’s concern over him. And this was due to his filial piety.

6. ‘Abdullāh Ibn Al-Mubārak (118 – 181 AH)

He was an extremely righteous man, filled with both knowledge and ascetism. He authored many books and was a paragon of virtue. He narrated much from the Imam and would rule according to his edicts.

7. Abū Yūsuf (113 – 182 AH)

Originally a student of Ibn Abī Laylā (d.148 AH), he left him after a while and attached himself to Abū Ḥanīfah for seventeen years until his demise. He was of such high calibre that the post of Qāḍī al-Quḍāh (Chief Justice) was coined for and appointed to him. He passed away in Baghdād after remaining as judge during the caliphate of three of the ‘Abbāsid dynasty.

8. Yaḥyā (Ibn Zakariyyā) Ibn Zā`idah (d.183/184 AH)

He was from the earliest authors from amongst the companions of the Imam. Yaḥyā Ibn Ma’īn said regarding him that knowledge peaked in him during his time. He passed away in Al-Madīnah Al-Munawwarah whilst he was the Qāḍī there.

9. Fuḍail Ibn ‘Iyāḍ(d.187 AH)

He took Fiqh from the Imam, and Imam Al-Shāfi’ī took from him. He was extremely pious individual, and was addressed by Ibn Al-Mubārak in a letter to him, as the one who worships in the two Ḥaramain [يا عابد الحرمين]. He was preoccupied with the affairs of the afterlife, thus would find it difficult to narrate.

10. Muḥammad Ibn Al-Ḥasan Al-Shaybānī (132 – 189 AH)

He attended the gatherings of Imam Abū Ḥanīfah towards the end of the Imam’s life, after which he remained with Imam Abū Yūsuf until he perfected his Fiqh with him. Imam Shāfi’ī was amongst his foremost students and would praise Imam Muḥammad greatly. Of his sayings regarding him was, “When he (Imam Muḥammad) would speak regarding (anything of) knowledge, you would imagine the Qur`ān was revealed in his language.”

Imam Muḥammad gathered the views and opinions of the Madhhab and codified them into many books. He was appointed Qāḍī during the reign of Hārūn Al-Rashīd and passed away in Rayy.

11. Yaḥyā Ibn Sa’īd Al-Qaṭṭān (120 – 189 AH)

He would issue rulings according to the opinion of the Imam and had immense respect for him. He completed an entire Qur`ān every day for twenty years and did not miss a day in the masjid for forty years.

12. Yūsuf Ibn Khālid Al-Samtī (d.189 AH)

Al-Ṣaymarī said regarding him that he was an early companion of the Imam, and benefited greatly from him. Imam Al-Shāfi’ī said that he was a man from amongst the best.

13. ‘Ali Ibn Mishar (d.189 AH)

A companion of the Imam, he heard narrations from Al-A’mash and Hishām Ibn ‘Urwah. He was appointed as Qāḍī in Mawṣil.

14. Ḥafṣ Ibn Ghiyāth (117 – 194 AH)

He was an Imam, and a companion of the Imam. He was present in the gathering wherein Abū Ḥanīfah informed them that they were the joy of his heart and the relief to his sorrows. He was appointed Qāḍī in the year 117, when he was sixty. He only accepted the position due to financial constraints. Wakī’ when asked a question would in reference to Ḥafṣ, say, “Go to our Qāḍī and ask him.”

15. Wakī’ Ibn Al-Jarrāḥ(129 – 198/199 AH)

He learnt Fiqh from the Imam and would issue rulings according to Abū Ḥanīfah’s opinions. Ibn Ma’īn said regarding him that he had not seen anyone more virtuous than him, except for Ibn Al-Mubārak, and then listing his good, he said, “He would face the Qiblah, memorise his Aḥādīth, stand during the night, continuously fast, and issue rulings according to Imam Abū Ḥanīfah from whom he had taken quite a bit (of knowledge).”

16. Abu Al-Muṭī’ Al-Balkhī. (d.199 AH)

His name was Ḥakam Ibn Abdillāh. He narrated the Imam’s book, Al-Fiqh Al-Akbar. He was the judge of the people of Balkh for sixteen years and they learnt jurisprudence through him. ‘Abdullāh Ibn al-Mubārak held him in very high regard.

17. Ḥasan Ibn Ziyād Al-Lu`lu`ī (d.204 AH)

An extremely intelligent and erudite scholar, he was extremely careful in regards to the blessed Sunnah of the Holy Prophet (‘Alayhis Salām) and in keeping to it. He studied under the Imam until his demise, thereafter Imam Zufar and Imam Abū Yūsuf. He said that for forty years, he had not spent a night except that the candle was burning in front of him.

18. ‘Āfiyah Al-Awdī

A companion of the Imam. If he was not present in the majlis, Abū Ḥanīfah would not issue the final verdict. When he would attend and agree with the ruling, then would the Imam finalise the decree.

19. Qāsim Ibn Ma’an Ibn ‘Abdurraḥmān Ibn ‘Abdullāh Ibn Mas’ūd

He was appointed Qāḍī over Kūfah after Sharīk Ibn Abdillāh. Also part of the majlis wherein Abū Ḥanīfah informed them that they were the joy of his heart and the relief to his sorrows. He would not take a stipend for his duty as a judge. Imam Muḥammad Al-Shaybānī would narrate from him too, due to his precedence.