Imam al-Harizmi reported from Sayyiduna Abu Hurayrah (Radi Allahu Anhuma) that Sayyiduna Rasulullah (SallAllahu Alaihi wa Sallam) said:
“Among my Ummah, there will come a man called Abu Hanifah. On the Day of Resurrection, he will be the light of my Ummah.”
Is this a hadith? If it is, it is sahih or dha’eef?
Answer
This hadith has been reported via various chains with different wordings. The chains for these narrations have been deemed as fabrications by many Muhaddithun (hadith scholars) while some have declared them extremely weak.
‘Allamah ‘Ayni (rahimahullah) has said that they could acquire collective strength.
Refer to Tanibul Khatib, pgs.52-53.
However, its best to stick with the popular view of this being unsuitable for citation.
Imam Abu Hanifah (rahimahullah) has been widely acclaimed by the ummah, and has been accepted by more than half the ummah (over the centuries) as their leader.
Such a personality is without doubt gracious, even if the above hadith is dismissed.
(Tanibul Khatib, pgs.52-53)
Many scholars from various schools of taught have written dedicated books on the virtues of Imam Abu Hanifah (rahimahullah)
Another hadith
Several ‘Ulama are of the opinion that Imam Abu Hanifah (rahimahullah) is the one being referred to in the following hadith:
Sayyiduna Abu Hurayrah (radiyallahu’anhu) reports that Rasulullah (sallallahu’alayhi wasallam) said:
If knowledge was suspended on the highest star, it would have been acquired by certain men from Persia
(Hilyatul Awliya, see Tabyidus Sahifah, pg.20)
This hadith is found in Sahih Bukhari & Sahih Muslim with the words: “if Iman was on the highest star….”
(Sahih Bukhari, hadith: 4897)
And Allah Ta’ala Knows best,
Answered by: Moulana Muhammad Abasoomar
Checked by: Moulana Haroon Abasoomar