Imam Abu Hanifa is an-Nu’man Ibn Thabit, the great imam, born in 80 A.H. in Kufa during the Khalifa of Abdul Malik Ibn Marwan. Abu Hanifa assumed the role of a merchant. During this time, he was not linked to the field of  knowledge and did not know the men acquainted with it. One day a religious scholar [ash-Sha‘bi] noticed Abu Hanifa’s intelligence and cleverness and advised him to pursue the field of knowledge and attend his gatherings where he could derive benefit  from the opinions of the scholars. Ash-Sha‘bi said to him, “I discern alertness and energy in you.” This affected Abu Hanifa and caused him to adopt the advise and commence the pursuit of knowledge. He experienced the full Islamic culture of his age. He memorised the Quran, knew an extensive amount of hadith, grammar, literature and poetry. He then immersed himself to fiqh becoming of one the greatest scholars in Kufa.

Abu Hanifa quickly became known for his legal brilliance and problem solving and the strength of his arguments in directing those to the reality. Imam Malik was asked about Abu Hanifa in which he said ‹‹ I have not seen anyone like him, by Allah if he said that this pillar was made of gold, he would have brought an analogical proof proving the validity of his case ››. Imam Shafi‘i said [Whoever intends to become an ocean in the jurisprudence, then he should venture to Abu Hanifa. I have not known a faqih like him]. Equally, Imam Ahmad Ibn Hanbal would cry when remembering Abu Hanifa and would supplicate Allah’s mercy upon him. An-Nadhr said that (the people were sleeping with regards to jurisprudence until they were awoken by Abu Hanifa) ((Allah be pleased with him and his companions)).