Imam Abu Hanifa Was a Mujtahid

Question

(1) Was Imam Abu Hanifa ﵀ a mujtahid or a muqallid? (2) Did Imam Abu Hanifa ﵀ make taqlid of anyone or not?

Answer

(1) Hazrat Imam Abu Hanifa ﵀ was a very great mujtahid and also a very great muhaddith; and for a mujtahid it is necessary to be expert in the Qur’an, the Hadith, the reports (athar), history, the language and qiyas: [ar]الْإِمَامُ (أَبُو حَنِيفَةَ) مُجْتَهِدٌ إِجْمَاعًا، بَلْ مِنْ أَكَابِرِ الْمُجْتَهِدِينَ، لَمْ يُنْكِرْ ذَلِكَ أَحَدٌ سَلَفًا وَلَا خَلَفًا.

Source: Fatawa Mahmudiyya

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