Imam Abu Hanifah Knowledge of Hadith and Islamic sciences

 Acquisition of Knowledge Imam Abu Haneefa Rahimullah
(one of the Saviors of Islamic Sprite)
Primary, basic Islamic teachings were acquired during his childhood. During his childhood his father had passed away. Subsequently, he supported the family business and became rich silk merchant.

Kufa at the time of the Imam's birth was a great center of knowledge and learning, with many of the Holy Messenger’s (peace be upon him and mercy of Allah) Companions (may Allah be pleased with them) were residing there. Due to the presence of these venerable people who had engendered so much interest in Hadith and Riwayat that practically every house in Kufa had become a center of these disciples and their disciplines. 

At first, Imam Abu Hanifah was not a student of knowledge. However, by coincidence, while one day passing by the house of Sha'bi (an acclaimed "Great Scholar among the Successors), Abu Hanifah was called in by the Shaykh who mistook him for a student, "Where are you going young man?" asked Sha'bi.? Abu Hanifah named the merchant he was going to see." I meant to ask," asked Sha'bi, "Whose classes you attend?" "Nobody's," replied the Imam regretfully. "I see signs of intelligence in you," began Sha'bi, "You should sit in the company of learned men."

It was after this encounter that the young Naumanbegan his quest for knowledge. Imam Abu Hanifah acquired knowledge from over four thousand people. His teachers included many prestigious men of the time whose sanad went back to a number of Companions. He himself was blessed with the meeting of the Companions: Anas ibn Malik, Abdullah ibn Afwa and Sahl ibn Sa'ad (may Allah be pleased with them), thus gaining him the rank of being a Tabi'i (Successor to the Companions).

Amongst Imam Abu Hanifah's Shayukh was Hammad ibn Sulayman, he joined his circle at the age of 22, having already become a well-known debater and studied with this Shaykh until the latter's death, whereupon he took over his majlis (circle) at the age of forty. Shu'ba, a leading muhaddith who knew-by-heart two thousand traditions was also a teacher of ImamAbu Hanifah. Shu'ba was greatly attached to Imam Abu Hanifah saying: "Just as I know that the sun is bright, I know that learning and Abu Hanifah are doubles of each other."

The Imam's quest for knowledge inevitably took him to the Holy Sanctuaries (Haramain al Sharifain), at a time when Makkah was a busy center for learning. A number of acknowledged masters of Hadith, who had had access to the Holy Messenger’s Companions had established their own schools there. Of these was `Ata bin Rabah's (may Allah be pleased with him) school. `Ata was a famous Tabi'i who had associated with most of the Companions (may Allah be pleased with them) and acquired from this association a status of authority. He himself claimed to have met two hundred men who had associated with the Holy Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him and mercy of Allah). The leading Companions (may Allah be pleased with them) all acknowledged his learning. Abdullah ibn `Umar (may Allah be pleased with him), son of the Caliph `Umar (may Allah be pleased with him) often used to say:"Why do people come to me when `Ata ibn Abi Rabah is there for them to go to?" Of the other Muhaddithin of Makkah whose classes the Imam attended was `Ikrimah. He was the slave and pupil of Abdullah ibn `Abbas (may Allah be pleased with him), who educated him with great care and attention, making him so proficient that he, during his own lifetime gave Imam Abu Hanifah the authority to exercise personal judgment and rulings. 

taken with Jazakallah For detail click http://www.darululoomwaqf.com/imam-abu-hanifah.php

Islamic Politics Abul Hasan Ali Nadvi thought to achieve goal

These are thought  of Mufakkire Islam Maulana Abul Hasan Ali Nadvi Rahimullah.

Mazeed detail ke liye click karein http://abulhasanalinadwi.org/thoughts_urdu.html

Umar Bin Abdul Aziz Biography The saviors of Islamic Sprit

'Umar ibn Abdul Aziz  Rahimullah (The second Umar)

(Here is only synopsis if you want to read full history of this Great person of Islamic History who changed the tide and brought great Revolution Read full Biography ......from Sviors of Islamic Sprit Vol 1 For downloading it click this website and search in the book list of Abul Hasan Ali Nadvi Rahimullah. Original urdu book is also in the link.......http://islamicbookslibrary.wordpress.com/
was bom in 61 a .h He was a
cousin of the preceding Cahph, Sulaiman ibn cAbdul Malik and
had been posted as Governor of Madina since the time of Walid
ibn cAbdui Malik, the Caliph before SulaimSta* The life led by
him as Governor was entirely different from that he adopted as a
Cahph. He was known as a polished and decorous aristocrat of
refined taste Anybody could tell from the fragrance of perfumes
he used that cUmar has passed that way. He was all the rage
for the fashionable youths of his day. Except for his integrity of
character and righteous disposition there was nothing to suggest
that he was destined to perform a memorable task in the history
of Islam.
But he proved to be a standing miracle of Islam. The very
way he ascended to the Caliphate was miraculous; for, nobody
could have predicted the dramatic turn that the events took in
bringing him to the throne He could not have hoped to be anything
more than a viceroy under the hereditary custom of
accession to the Caliphate, but God had willed otherwise*

ISLAMIC HISTORY BOOK ENGLISH DOWNLOAD WITH MUSLIM PERSPECTIVE FOR

          

ISLAMIC HISTORY BOOK IN 

ENGLISH

WITH A MUSLIM PERSPECTIVE 

A MASTERPIECE 

OF 

ISLAMIC HISTORY

WHICH NOT ONLY TOUCHES RULER AND KING BUT

ALL THOSE WHO HAS CONTRIBUTED 

FOR THE 

CAUSE OF ISLAM

KING/ RULER/ MINISTER/ULEMA/MASHAEKH /MUHADDITH/ FAQIH/ IMAMS

Different  FIELD BUT common cause 

MESSAGE OF ALLAH TO MANKIND, ISLAM

 DIFFERENT WAYS /METHODOLGY BUT SAME

 DESTINATION 

SAVIORS OF ISLAMIC SPIRIT

 VOL 1 TO 4

For downloading click the link below  

http://islamicbookslibrary.wordpress.com/2012/10/18/saviours-of-islamic-spirit-by-shaykh-syed-abul-hasan-ali-nadvi-r-a/ 

By 

Faisal Award Winner Fazilatus Sheikh Shaykh 

Syed Abul Hasan Ali Nadvi (r.a)

URDU VERSION ALSO ON THE SAME LINK

 ..........................................The danger was very acute and eminent, with the help of Muslim king Mamoon and Muatasim the follower of greek philosophy in the name of Muatazila etc had became successful in influencing good number of intellectual class/philosopher/thinker of muslim Ummah. Our Intellectual started coming under the impression that Greek philosophy is superior and they started making yardstick of it to judge the principles of Quran and Ahadith.

Gravity of the situation of muslim Intellectual

One can assess the situation by this historical fact. Maulana Abul Hasan Ali Nadwi describe in these words “ Famous Ulema were collected and talked and written statement and answer were taken ,Mamoon became very furious after seeing the answer,And ordered to kill two (Shaikh Baseer ibne waleed & Sheikh Ibrahim Ibnul Menhdi) of them.And ordered that all those who still have aqeeda other than Khalqe Quran should be brought infront of him.They were 30,But after this order only 4 remained stick to the correct Aqeeda. These four were Imam Ahmad Ibne Hanbal, Muhammad bin Nuh,.Sajjada and Qawariri. Because of fear second day Sajjada and 3^rd day also backtracked. Now only two remained stick to the Aqeeda of Ahle Sunnat Wal Jamaat These glorious two were 1.Imam Ahmad Ibne Hanbal, 2.Muhammad bin Nuh. These two were sent to Mamoon with HATHKADI in there hand” (Tareekh e Dawat O AzeematVol 1 page 95). 

A practical case of muslim glory and intellectual victory

I will advice every muslim to read the whole story and the hardship faced by Imam and final victory of Imam Ahmad (R.A.).

Imam Ahmad has himself narrated the whole story. (Tareekhul Islam Az Zahbi translation page 41-49).

A sufficient detail history of Imam Ahmad Ibne Hanbal and Imam Abul Hasan Ashari has been included in the book Tareekh e dawat o azeemat (Vol.1) by sheikh Abul Hasan Ali Nadwi.(or Its translation in English is by name of “Saviors of Islamic Sprit”. Both books are freely available on internet as PDF).You will cry with Joy by knowing the glorious moment of Islamic history.

After Imam Hanbal death

Imam Ahmad Ibn Hanbal Savior of Islamic Spirit

Imaam Ahmad Ibn Hanbal (RA)

(Note:  He is called as Imam of Ahle Sunnat Allah took great work from him His Biography is not complete without knowing his great role as savior of islamic sprit.For detail account of his Great  role at the time of Fitna Khalqe Quran Please read the Abul Hasan Ali Nadvi Rahimullah book Saviors of Islamic Sprit Part 1 in English Tareekh e Dawat o Azeemat Vol 1 in Urdu. You will cry with Joy on the victory of Correct Aqeedah Principles and Islamic Sprit on the hand of great Imam. It is available at islamicbooklibrary.wordpress)

---

Imaam Abu Abdullah; Imaam Ahmad Ibn Hanbal (R.A) was born in Baghdad, where a great number of scholars and muhadditheen were present. Imaam Ahmad (R.A) traveled far and wide in order to acquire knowledge. During the period of acquiring knowledge Imaam Ahmad (R.A) made every effort to practice upon every prophetic tradition.
Imaam Ahmad (R.A) was well known for his God-fearing and abstinent ways, for these reasons he was top-rated amongst the great people of his time.

Amongst Imaam Ahmad's (R.A) literary works Kitaabul-Musnad (Musnade-Ahmad) is the most popular. A total number of 40 000 Ahaadeeth have been recorded.

NAME AND GENEALOGY: 

Imaam Ahmed Ibn Muhammad Ibn Hanbal Ibn Hilaal Ibn As’ad Ibn Idrees Ibn Abdullah Ibn Hayyaan Ibn Abdullah Ibn Anas.

RENOWNED ADDRESS / OTHER NAMES:

Imaam Abu Abdullah.

YEAR AND PLACE OF BIRTH:

During the month of Rabi-ul-Awwal 164 A.H, Imaam Ahmad (R.A) was born in Baghdad. Following a short while after his birth, Imaam Ahmad (R.A) Ibn Hanbal’s father took leave from this world. Imaam Ahmad (R.A) himself has reported, "Neither have I seen my father, nor my grandfather. My mother brought me up."

ACQUISITION OF KNOWLEDGE: 

During his childhood days Imaam Ahmad (R.A) acquired basic teachings at a Maktab. It was from these very days his good character, pious and scholastic ways were recognised.

Abu Afeef (R.A) has reported, Ahmad Ibn Hanbal (R.A) was within our learning group at the Maktab. At that time he was very young, and we, as students were aware of his piety.

Having acquired basic teachings, at the age of 16, Imaam Ahmad (R.A) commenced the teachings of ahaadith, which was done within the teaching circles of Qaazi Abu Yusuf (R.A).

Having acquired knowledge from the great scholars and Muhadditheen of Baghdad, Imaam Ahmad (R.A) further traveled to Kufa, Basrah, Makkah, Medina, Yemen, Syria etc, and acquired knowledge from their great scholars.

A SMALL GLIMPSE OF IMAAM AHMAD'S (R.A) TEACHERS: 

Ismaa'eel Ibn Ulayyah, Hushaym Ibn Basheer, Hammad Ibn Khaalid Khayyaat, Mansoor Ibn Salama Khazaa'i, Uthmaan Ibn Umar Ibn Faaris, Abun-Nadhr Haashim Ibn Qaasim, Yazeed Ibn Haroon Waasiti, Muhammad Ibn Ja'far Gundur, Wakee Ibn Jarrah, Abu Usaamah, Sufyaan Ibn Uyaynah, Muhammad Ibn Idrees Shaafi'ee (R.A) etc.

A SMALL GLIMPSE OF IMAAM AHMAD'S (R.A) STUDENTS: 

Imaam Ahmad's (R.A) two sons; Saalih and Abdullah, Hanbal Ibn Is'haaq, Hasan Ibn Sabbah Bazzar, Abbas Ibn Muhammad , Muhammad Ibn Ismaa'eel Bukhari, Abu Zur'aa Raazi, Ibrahim Harabi, Husayn Ibn Mansoor, Dawood Ibn Amr, Khalaf Ibn Hishaam, Abul Qaasim Bagawi.

IMAAM AHMAD'S (R.A) LITERARY WORKS: 

1. Kitaabul Musnad ( Musnad-e-Ahmad ).

2. Kitaabut Tafseer.

3. Kitaabun Naasikh Wal Mansookh.

4. Kitaabut Taareekh.

5. Kitaabu Hadeeth-e-Shu'baa.

6. Kitaabul Muqaddam Wal Mu'akhar Fil Qur'aan.

7. Kitaabu Jawaabaatil Qur'aan.

8. Kitaabul Manaasikil Kabeer.

9. Kitaabul Manaasikis Sagheer.

Imaam Nadeem (R.A) has mentioned the following to be amongst Imaam Ahmad's (R.A) literary works:

Kitaabul Ilal.

Kitaabul Manaasik.

Kitaabuz Zuhd

Kitaabul Imaan.

Kitaabul Masaa'il

Kitaabul Ashribah.

Kitaabul Fadhaa'il

Kitaabu Taa'atir Rasool.

Kitaabul Faraa'idh

Kitaabur Radd Alal Jahmiyyah.

IMAAM AHMAD'S (R.A) CHILDREN AND GRANDCHILDREN: 

Imaam Ahmad's (R.A) children:

1. Saalih, ( born from Imaam Ahmad's first wife Aa'isha ).

2. Abdullah, ( born from Imaam Ahmad's second wife Rayhaanah ).

The following were born from a slave girl Imaam Ahmad (R.A) purchased:

3. Zainab Umme Ali.

4. / 5. Hasan and Husayn, ( twins, who passed away shortly after birth).

6. Hasan.

7. Muhammad.

8. Saeed.

Grandchildren:

1. Zuhayr Ibn Saalih.

2. Ahmad Ibn Saalih.

IMAAM AHMAD'S (R.A) FATEFUL DEATH:

In Rabi-ul-Awwal, nine days before his death on the 2nd, Imaam Ahmad (R.A) fell ill. During these days crowds of people would gather in order to greet Imaam Ahmad (R.A). Hence, two days before his death Imaam Ahmad (R.A) slowly requested for young children to be brought by his bedside. Children would attend his bedside one by one. Imaam Ahmad (R.A) would place his hand on their heads and weep.

However, on Thursday Imaam Ahmad's (R.A) situation worsened and on Friday morning on the 12th of Rabi-ul-Awwal, Imaam Ahmad (R.A) took leave from this world.

Imaam Ahmad's (R.A) fateful death not only caused grief to Muslims, but also to Jews, Christians and Fire-worshippers. Over 600,000 people attended the Janaaza prayer, and for one week Salaate-Janaazah was offered at his grave. Imaam Ahmad (R.A) was 77 years of age when he took leave from this world.

Article taken (with Thanks) from Darul-uloom Bury

Copied with thanks from http://www.central-mosque.com/biographies/ImaamAhmad.htm

Imam Hasan Basri R.A. Great Tabaee,Salafussalehin, Mujahid,Preacher and Great Soofi to which all his successor paid great Homage

Hasan Basri, Imam Abu Saeed 

born. 21 H/642 

died. 11 H/728 

A renowned preacher and sufi of the Umayyad era, who belongs to the fold of the successors of the sahaba RAZIALLAHU A"NHUM. In the days of his youth, he participated in the jihad of Iran. He is famous not only for his extreme religiousness and honesty, to which all his successors paid great homage, but also for his words-of-advice and golden sayings. 

He led all his life -as a practicing sufi: whatever he said, he did it by himself as well. His sayings stand in the rows of the best classical Arabic literature of the early days of Islam. Some of his .sayings are quoted even in the classical reference books and dictionaries. In the preaching-literature, it is hard to find any book that does not contain his name and his sayings.

 His sayings specially carry points on the contempt of dunya; two in this line are being translated here: "Human beings have started travelling on the path of death. And those who have died, are waiting for those who are coming behind them.",

 "Consider this world as a bridge over which you pass, and do not encamp on it." 

No books of him are present. In addition to his sayings which mostly other people have written, only two small booklets of mystic and preaching nature are present, of which one is addressed to Caliph Hazrat Umar Bin Abdul Aziz RAHMATULLAH A"LAIHE. 

Ibne Kathir R.A. book Al-Bidayah wan-Nihaya most authorative Islamic history

‘Al-Bidayah wan-Nihaya’ is another masterpiece of Abu Al-Fida, Imad ad-Din Ismail bin Umar bin Kathir (Rahimullah Ta’ala) - next to the renowned Tafsir ibn Kathir.

It is considered to be one of the most authoritative sources on Islamic history. A unique aspect of the book is that it not only deals with past events, but also speculates about future events mentioned by Muhammad (Sallallahu Alayhi Wasallam). The different volumes of the book deal with the beginning of creation and the sending of man upon the earth, the lives of the Prophets, and the times of Muhammad’s (Sallallahu Alayhi Wasallam) companions up to the 8th century. The last volume records predictions of future events such as signs of the day of judgment.

Maulana Yusuf kandhalwis views on role of Arab World in Islamic Revival and Dawat o Tabligh

Maulana Yusuf Kandhalwi who was great Scholar of  Hadith and Seerat and the practical way of life of Sahaba.He was the writer of the encyclopedic book Hayatus Sahaba .
He was the Amir of Tablighi Jamaat from 1944 to 1965 




HE HAS SAID
" that the Arabs must always take the leading role in Islamic advocacy, because they were the people chosen by Allah for this task as He revealed His final message in their language. Hence he was keen to spread his efforts and the Tableegh work to Arab countries. 

He also realized that the best centers to spread this work were Makkah and Madinah, regularly visited by pilgrims from all over the Muslim world.

Therefore, he gave particular attention to educating Indian and Pakistani pilgrims, speaking to them at the ports of Bombay and Karachi, before embarking on their journey.

He would teach them the proper way of performing their pilgrimage rituals, and educate them in the need for Islamic advocacy.


Thus, he was able to form groups of advocates from the pilgrims.


These groups undertook the task of speaking to other pilgrims in the Grand Mosques in Makkah and Madinah.


This generated interest among pilgrims of other countries who approached al-Kandhlawi to send groups to their areas. He responded to their requests and the Tableegh work began to take roots in several Arab countries. 

Imam Abu Haneefah and Science of Hadeeth and its relation with Fiqh relation

Imaam Abu Haneefah's (Rahmatullahi `Alayh) Expertise  in The Science of Hadeeth 

1. A question was once posed to Imaam Abu Haneefah (rahmatullahi `alayh) whilst seated in the presence of his Ustaadh Imaam A`amash (rahmatullahi `alayh) who was himself an expert in the science of Qiraat and Hadeeth. After answering the question, his Ustaadh Imaam A`amash asked him to furnish evidence for his answer.


In support of his answer, Imaam Abu Haneefah began quoting Ahaadeeth which he had heard from Imaam A`amash himself, with their complete chain of transmission up to Rasulullah Sallallahu Alayhi Wasallam.


When he completed the sixth Hadeeth, Imaam A`amash stopped him saying, “This is enough, you have narrated to me in a short space of time what I have narrated to you over a period of one hundred days. I never expected you to be practicing on all these Ahaadeeth.

يا معشر الفقهاء ! أنتم الأطباء ونحن الصيادلة

Oh Fuqahaa (jurists)! You are the physicians and we (the narrators of the Ahaadeeth) are the dispensers.”
(He meant that the narrators of Ahaadeeth  narrate the Ahaadeeth and the Fuqahaa show the application of these Ahaadeeth ).


Thereafter Imaam A`amash addressed Imaam Abu Haneefah saying:وأنت أيها الرجل أخذت بكلا الطرفين

“But you have achieved both aspects (i.e. you are a Muhaddith and a Faqeeh; you narrate Ahaadeeth and also explain its correct application).” (Manaaqibul Imaamil A`azam - `Ali Al-Qaari, with Al- Jawaahirul Mudeeah, vol. 2, pg. 484).

2. Imaam Ahmad bin Hambal (rahmatullahi `alayh) was once asked, “Can a man be called a Faqeeh (jurist) if he commits one hundred thousand Ahaadeeth to memory”? He replied, “No.” The man then enquired: “What about two hundred thousand?” He replied in the negative. He then asked again: “Three hundred thousand?” Imaam Ahmad replied in the negative again. “What about four hundred thousand,” the man asked? Imaam Ahmad gestured with his hand, implying that perhaps this person may qualify to be a jurist and Mujtahid who will issue Fatwas to the people. (I`ilaamul Muwaqqi`een vol. 1, pg. 36).

A similar incident occurred with Yahya bin Ma`een (rahmatullahi `alayh). He also replied in the negative until the questioner inquired about memorising five hundred thousand Ahaadeeth. Thereupon he said: “I have hope that such a person may qualify.” (Al-Jaami`u li Akhlaaqir Raawi wa Aadaabis Saami`, pg. 345).

In one narration five hundred thousand has also been reported from Imaam Ahmad (rahmatullahi `alayh). (Al-Musawwadah, Atharul Hadeethish Shareef, pg. 175).

When we examine the stature of Imaam Abu Haneefah and his calibre, we find that it is an indisputable fact that he was one of the greatest jurists. The Muhaddith and Faqeeh (jurist) par excellence Sufyaan Thauri (rahmatullahi `alayh) said regarding him:

أفقه أهل الأرض

“Abu Haneefah is the greatest jurist on the surface of the earth.” (Qawaa`id fi `Uloomil Hadeeth, pg. 310). Abdullah bin Mubaarak (rahmatullahi `alayh) says:

أفقه الناس أبو حنيفة ، ما رأيت في الفقه مثله

“Abu Haneefah is the greatest jurist; I did not see the like of him in fiqh (jurisprudence).” (Tahdheebut Tahdheeb, vol. 10, pg. 450). Imaam Shaafi`ee (rahmatullahi `alayh) says:

الناس عيال في الفقه على أبي حنيفة

“Every person is indebted to Abu Haneefah in fiqh (jurisprudence).” (Tahdheebut Tahdheeb, vol. 10, pg. 450). Thus, if memorising five hundred thousand Ahaadeeth is the minimum requirement to qualify as a Faqeeh (jurist), one could imagine how many Ahaadeeth Imam Abu Haneefah must have memorized to receive such a high rank amongst the jurists, and to be titled "The greatest jurist". Haafiz Abu Yahya Zakariyya Naysaaburi (rahmatullahi `alayh) in his kitaab Manaaqibu Abi Haneefah quotes the statement of Imaam Abu Haneefah:

عندي صناديق من الحديث ، ما أخرجت منها إلا اليسير الذي ينتفع به

“I have many trunks full of Hadeeth. However I have only narrated a small portion of it which people can easily benefit from.” (Al-Imaam Ibnu Maajah wa Kitaabuhu As-Sunan, pg. 54).


3. Mis`ar bin Kidaam (rahmatullahi `alayh) was a great Muhaddith and a contemporary of Imaam Abu Haneefah. He possessed such expertise in the field of Hadeeth that great Imaams like Shu`bah and Sufyaan Thauri (rahmatullahi `alayhima) (both of whom were known as Ameerul Mu'mineena fil Hadeeth-leader of the believers in the science of Hadeeth) would refer to him when they would differ amongst themselves regarding any matter of Hadeeth. They would address each other saying: “Let us go to the Meezaan (criterion) Mis`ar bin Kidaam.” (Al-Imaam Ibnu Maajah wa Kitaabuhu As-Sunan, pg. 50). He once commented:

طلبت مع أبي حنيفة الحديث فغلبنا ، وأخذنا في الزهد فبرع علينا ، وطلبنا معه الفقه فجاء منه ما ترون

“I studied Hadeeth with Abu Haneefah and he surpassed us. We focused on piety and abstention from the world and in this also he excelled. Then we studied fiqh (jurisprudence) together with him and in this also he has produced such results that are clearly visible to you.” (Manaaqibu Abi Haneefah – Zahabee, pg.27). It is a common fact that one of the greatest compliments is the compliment of a contemporary, because generally rivalry exists between contemporaries. Furthermore, in this instance the contemporary is no ordinary person. Instead he is a great expert in the field of Hadeeth. This is further supported by the statement of Makki bin Ibraaheem and Yazeed bin Haaroon (rahmatullahi `alayhima) in which they said:

أحفظ أهل زمانه

“Abu Haneefah was the greatest Haafiz of Hadeeth in his time.” (Ibne Maajah aur `Ilme Hadeeth, pg. 166).

4. As was the prevalent custom amongst the great luminaries of the past where they contributed to the field of Hadeeth by compiling the Ahaadeeth of Nabi Sallallahu Alayhi Wasallam in a book form, similarly did Imam Abu Haneefah accomplish this feat by compiling his widely acclaimed kitaab, "Kitaab-ul-Aathaar". However, the unique feature of this kitaab is that it is compiled in a systematic format following the sequence of the chapters of fiqh that is commonly followed by the Fuqahaa and Muhadditheen who came later. Moreover, it covered every chapter that one would normally find in the books of fiqh. On the other hand, the compilations prior to the compilation of Imam Abu Haneefah were not systematic; rather they covered different Ahaadeeth without any specific chapter or topic. Similarly, there were other compilations that did have a sequence to some extent, but only covered a few topics. Thus the oldest systematic compilation of Saheeh Ahaadeeth that is found today is the Kitaab-ul-Aathaar of Imam Abu Haneefah. (Ibne Maajah aur `Ilme Hadeeth, pg. 159).

He selected the Ahaadeeth therein from a collection of forty thousand Ahaadeeth. (Ibid, pg. 164).

Besides Kitaab-ul-Aathaar, there are approximately fifteen compilations that contain the Ahaadeeth of Imam Abu Haneefah. (Sharhu Musnadi Abi Haneefah - `Ali Al-Qaari, pg. 7).

Mulla `Ali Qaari (rahmatullahi `alayh) writes: The Mashaayikh (teachers) of Imam Abu Haneefah total up to four thousand. (Ibid, pg.8)