Why is Imam Abu Hanifah called Abu Hanifah?

Al-jawab billahi at-taufeeq (the answer with Allah’s guidance)

1) Imam Abu Hanifah (ra) name was Nu’man and his Kuniyyat (title) is Abu Hanifah. The author of the original book says: “I heard from my friend, Allamah Badrud Deen Alai Hanafi narrating from Imam Muhyuddeen that the word ‘Hanifah’ in the Iraqi language refers to an ink pot. Since Imam Abu Hanifah (ra) always kept an ink pot with him, in attribution to this, people started referring to him as Abu Hanifah.

Some people are of the opinion that he had a daughter by the name of Hanifah. Attributed to her, he attained the title of Abu Hanifah (meaning the father of Hanifah).

2) Imam Abu Hanifah (ra) had a daughter (mentioned above) and a son named Hammad.
Some are of the opinion that he had only a son and no other chilren.
(Imam Abu Hanifah (ra) pg. 54)

3) There are many authentic books authored on the biography of Imaam Abu Hanifa
(RA). Some are: a) Tabeedu Saheefa by Allaamah Suyooti (RA), b) Al-Intisaar
lil Imaamul Aimmatul Umsaar by Ibn Jawzi (RA), c) Khayraatul Hisaan by Allaamah ibn Hajar Makki (RA).

To find out more about Imam Abu Hanifah, click on this link:

http://www.geocities.com/~abdulwahid/abuhanifah/index.html

And Only Allah Ta’ala Knows Best.

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Moulana Qamruz Zaman
London, UK