Which Sahabi did Imam Abu Hanifah (rahimahullah) see?

Can you confirm which Sahabi did Imam Abu Hanifah (rahimahullah) see?

Answer

The Muhaddithun are unanimous on the fact that Imam Abu Hanifah (rahimahullah) was definitely born in the era of Sahabah.

‘Allamah ‘Abdul Hayy Al Lakhnawi (rahimahullah) explains that some Muhaddithun have denied him meeting any Sahabi and many other reliable narrators/Muhaddithun have accepted the fact that he had indeed met some Sahabah (radiyallahu’anhum).

Senior Muhaddithun like Imams Daraqutni, Ibn Sa’d, Khatib Baghdadi, Dhahabi, Ibn Hajar, Waliyud Din Al ‘Iraqi, Suyuti, Mulla ‘Ali Al Qari and others (rahimahumullah) were of the view that Imam Abu Hanifah had met Sayyiduna Anas ibn Malik (radiyallahu ‘anhu)

(Iqamatul Hujjah, pg. 83-89)

Hafiz Dhahabi (rahimahullah), an expert Muhaddith, especially in the field of ‘Hadith Narrators’ mentions in many of his books that Imam Abu Hanifah (rahimahullah) had certainly seen Sayyiduna Anas ibn Malik (radiyallahu ‘anhu).

In Tadhkiratul Huffaz, Hafiz Dhahabi (rahimahullah) states that Imam Abu Hanifah (rahimahullah) had seen Sayyiduna Anas ibn Malik (radiyallahu ‘anhu) more than once.

(Siyaru A’alamin Nubala, vol. 6 pg. 391, Tadhkiratul Huffaz, vol. 1 pg. 168 and Al Kashif with footnotes of Shaykh Muhammad ‘Awwamah, 5845)

Hafiz Ibn Hajar Al Haytami (rahimahullah) has enlisted approximately seventeen Sahabah that Imam Abu Hanifah (rahimahullah) had met:

1. Anas ibn Malik (radiyallahu ‘anhu)
2. ‘Amr ibn Hurayth (radiyallahu ‘anhu)
3. ‘Abdullah ibn Unays Al Juhani (radiyallahu ‘anhu)
4. ‘Abdullah ibn Al Harith (radiyallahu ‘anhu)
5. Jabir ibn Abdullah (radiyallahu ‘anhu)
6. ‘Abdullah ibn Abi Awfa (radiyallahu ‘anhu)
7. Wathilah ibn Al Asqa’ (radiyallahu ‘anhu)
8. Ma’qil ibn Yasar (radiyallahu ‘anhu)
9. Abut Tufayl ‘Amir ibn Wathilah (radiyallahu ‘anhu)
10. ‘Aaishah bint ‘Ajrad (radiyallahu ‘anha)
11. Sahl ibn Sa’d (radiyallahu ‘anhu)
12. Saib ibn Khallad (radiyallahu ‘anhu)
13. Saib ibn Yazid (radiyallahu ‘anhu)
14. ‘Abdullah ibn Busrah (radiyallahu ‘anhu)
15. Mahmud ibn Rabi’ (radiyallahu ‘anhu)
16. ‘Abdullah ibn Ja’far (radiyallahu ‘anhu)
17. Abu Umamah (radiyallahu ‘anhu)

However, there exist difference of opinion regarding whether some mentioned in the above list were indeed Sahabah and if Imam Abu Hanifah (rahimahullah) really met them. Hafiz Ibn Hajar Al Haytami (rahimahullah) has also highlighted this.

(Al Khayratul Hisan, pg. 43- 49)

In summary, according to many Muhaddithun, Imam Abu Hanifah (rahimahullah) had seen Sayyiduna Anas (radiyallahu ‘anhu). There exists difference of opinion with regards to other Sahabah.

Therefore, Imam Abu Hanifah (rahimahullah) is considered a Tabi’i.

And Allah Ta’ala Knows best.

Answered by: Moulana Suhail Motala

Approved by: Moulana Muhammad Abasoomar

Checked by: Moulana Haroon Abasoomar