Nu`maan ibn Thaabit who is better known as Abu Haneefah, was born in Koofah. Koofah had progressed rapidly since the time of the Prophet (peace be upon him) and was known as an Islaamic city, it had also become well-known as a centre of learning. It was Koofah where the second caliph Umar (Allah be pleased with him) sent ibn Mas`ood (Allah be pleased with him) to teach and deliver legal Islamic rulings.

Imaam Abu Haneefah was born in the year 80 AH/699 CE, his farther Thaabit called upon caliph Ali ibn Abi Taalib (Allah be pleased with him) to pray for him and his family. It is written that Ismail ibn Hammaad states that “I believe his prayer bore fruit”.

The Imaam was fortunate enough to see some companions of the Messenger of Allah such as Anas ibn Malik (d 91 AH/711 CE), Sahl ibn Sa`d (d 91 AH/709 CE) and Abu tufayl Aamir ibn Waathila (d 100 AH/718 CE).

Imaam Abu Haneefah was bought up as a trader and a merchant like his forefathers. Despite the imaam being busy with his trade he started showing a great interest in education. One day, when the Imaam was passing by the house of Imaam Sha`bi a learned scholar of koofah, Sha`bi mistook him for one of his students and said to him “I see the signs of intelligence in you. You ought to sit in the company of learned men”. This sparked a flame in the heart of Abu Haneefah to learn knowledge. He embarked on his quest of studying the different Islaamic sciences, and became a great imaam in various fields.

The Imaam’s quest for knowledge took him far and wide. He was fortunate enough to study from great scholars like Ataa ibn abi Rabaah and Naafi`.  The Imaam became a master in many fields of knowledge such as Islaamic jurisprudence (Fiqh), Hadeeth, the foundation of faith (osool ul deen) and many more. He visited Basrah more than twenty seven times to debate and remove doubts that people had in regards to Shariah. Imaam Abu Haneefah always displayed great love and thirst for knowledge. Whenever he used to learn or hold a class he always used to demonstrate the greatest level of respect for his teachers, subject and also his students.

The Imaam throughout his life displayed great piety. Sufyaan thowri states about Imaam Abu Haneefah that he used to distance himself so much from backbiting that he never even used to wish to backbite about his enemies. Even during his business dealings, he used to demonstrate a very high level of Taqwaa and Piety.

The great Imaam had many famous students such as:

• Imaam Abu Yousuf Yaqoob ibn Ibraheem
• Zufar ibn Huzayl
• Muhammed ibn Hasan Ashaybaani
• Hasan ibn Ziyaad
• Abdullah ibn Mubaarak

Abdullah ibn Mubarak who himself was a great Imaam of Hadeeth says “If Allah had not benefited me through the teachings of Abu Haneefah and Sufyaan Thowri, I would have been like any other person”.

The work that the great Imaam carried out in his life is still studied till today and has inspired many generations after him. The way he conducted himself in all matters is an example for all until this day.

The Great Imam died in Baghdad in 150 A.H at the age of seventy after being poisoned by prison guards under the command of the Abbaasid Caliph Mansoor. His funeral prayer was performed six times and each time fifty thousand people took part. The area in Baghdad where his grave is situated is known as Al-A`zamiyyah after him.

May Allah be pleased with the great Imaam Nu`maan inb Thaabit and may Allah give us the ability to take lessons from his life and implement them. Ameen.