Download PDF: [S] Piety of Imam A’zam (Islamic story)

It is reported that Imam A’zam Abu Hanifah– may Allah be pleased with him – used to spend the entire night in Ibadah. He used to also complete the entire Qur’an in two rak’ah of Nafil Salaah during the night. He wept to such a degree in his Ibadah that even his neighbours used to feel sorry for him. It is reported that during the time Imam A’zam Abu Hanifah– may Allah be pleased with him – had spent in the jail in which he was killed, he had completed the recital of the Qur’an seven thousand times.

 

The famous Muhaddith, Mus’ar bin Kaddaam – may Allah be pleased with him, mentions, “One night I entered the Masjid and heard someone reading the Qur’an. The recital was so sweet and amazing that I stood on one side merely to listen to the recital. This person was reading the Qur’an while in the state of Salaah. After he had completed one Manzil, I assumed that he would go into Ruku. However, he continued to read the Qur’an until he had completed the entire Qur’an in one single rak’ah. When I went closer to see who it was, I noticed that it was Imam Abu Hanifah– may Allah be pleased with him.”

 

In like manner, another incident is mentioned by Imam Zaahidah – may Allah be pleased with him, another famous Muhaddith. He narrates that he performed the ‘Isha Salaah with Imam A’zam – may Allah be pleased with him – and since he was there to inquire about a certain issue, he wanted to speak to the great Imam alone. However, after the Salaah, the great Imam did not notice him and since he felt the Masjid was empty, he continued to perform the Nafil Salaah. The famous Muhaddith continues, “He then continued to read the Qur’an and when he reached the 27th verse of Surah Tur which is: ‘So Allah did us a great favour, and saved us from the punishment of the flame.’ He continued to read this verse until the Fajr Azaan.”

 

In the same way, another famous Muhaddith, Uztad Qasim bin Mo’een – may Allah be pleased with him – also narrates that Imam A’zam one night read one single verse and continued to recite this verse until the time of the Fajr Azaan. He was also weeping as he read this verse.

 

One Saint explains that once in the ‘Isha Salaah, the Imam recited Sural Zil Zaalah and the great Imam was also in the congregation. After the Salaah, he noticed the great Imam in deep concentration and he was also weeping. There was also very little oil in the lantern and he lit the lantern and left. However in the morning, when he arrived he noticed the great Imam sitting in the same place making Du’a. The great Imam also warned him not to inform anyone of what he had seen. The next morning, he also performed the Fajr Salaah with the Wudu of the ‘Isha Salaah. (Taarekh Baghdad).

 

We have seen some of the amazing incidents from the life of the great Imam, Imam A’zam – may Allah be pleased with him. The ‘Ulama have also mentioned that most of these amazing miracles were certainly miracles which unfolded in front of people.

 

It is also mentioned that for forty years, Imam A’zam – may Allah be pleased with him – performed the Fajr Salaah with the Wudu of the ‘Isha Salaah. From this we come to know that in those forty years, every night was performed in Ibadah. It is also surprising when we come to realize his busy daily schedule. During the day, he conducted lessons in Islamic Fiqh and Ahadith. Some of his eminent students were actually great Imams themselves such as Imam Abu Yusuf, Imam Mohammed Ash Shaybaani, Imam Zufar, Imam Daud Tai, Imam Fudail bin Ayyaz – may Allah be pleased with them. At the same time, he also has a little shop from which he used to sell material. There is no doubt that in spite of these daily activities and duties, for a person to then spend the next forty years performing the Fajr Salaah with the Wudu of the ‘Isha Salaah can only be described as the quality of someone who was also extremely lofty among the ranks of the Awliya.