Religion and Theology

Imam Abu Hanifah was born in kufa (Iraq) around 80 A.H (689 A.D) and grew to be known as The Greatest Imam in the Islamic world. He was born into a non Arab family who migrated from Persia and invested in silk trading and manufacturing of clothes. Like his father, he became a successful merchant and gained fame and reputation from honesty. In his youth, Imam Shabi saw the signs of intelligence on Hanifah and convinced him to start attending classes of Kalam, Fiqh and Hadith. Abu hanifah studied theology under the guidance of great scholars like Ata bin Abi Rabah from Mecca and collaborated with many others (Hussain, 1995).
           
He formally started teaching after Hammad, his teacher, died in 120H. His major interests which were nurtured when he was still a merchant included the differences in equity as well as creation of norms that were just among all people. He asserted that faith and action are separate, and a wrong action did not annul a persons Iman. He believed that faith is fixed and constant and its quality either appreciated or depreciated depending on ones actions. As a legal jurist, he developed several principles which asserted that law should be studied in a systematical and not in a situational manner. The aim was to eradicate contradictions and strengthen principles of the Islamic system.
         
He advocated for the use of natural law initially used by Aristotle, a Greek philosopher, although it was not covered in the Koran and hence inapplicable in court. He advocated for the use internal logic, consistency of truth and the implications of a judgment. He further believed on the rule of reason on all matters not covered in the Koran or the Hadith. During his lifetime, Abu Hanifah restrained himself from political activities. He refused a political appointment as a judge which led to his incarceration. He was highly liberal and his doctrines mainly focused on personal freedom. He is ranked as one of the greatest legal philosophers of Arab civilization who championed the spread of Muslim law (Hussain, 1995).