بِسْمِ اللَّهِ الرَّحْمَنِ الرَّحِيمِ
الرَّحْمَـٰنِ
الرَّحِيمِ
الْمَلِكِ
الْقُدُّوسِ
السَّلَامِ
1446 - شَوَّال الْمُكَرَّم
الْمُؤْمِنِ
الْمُهَيْمِنِ
الْعَزِيزِ
الْجَبَّارُ
الْمُتَكَبِّرُ
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O
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Fajr
05:45 AM
✓
Asr
06:15 PM
Maghrib
07:46 PM
Isha
09:45 PM
Jumu'ah
02:00 PM
Imam Abu Hanifa
الإمام أبو حنيفة
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Imam Abu Hanifa (699–767 CE) was the founder of the Hanafi school of jurisprudence and is known as "The Greatest Imam" (Al-Imam al-A'zam). Born in Kufa, Iraq, he was a merchant by trade but became a master of "Fiqh" (jurisprudence). He was famous for his use of logic and "Qiyas" (analogy) to solve complex legal issues, and he was the first to systematically organize Islamic law into chapters. His school became the official legal code of the Abbasid and Ottoman Empires and remains the most widely followed Madhhab in the Muslim world today. Imam Abu Hanifa was born in Kufa in 80 AH (699 CE). He was a student of the great scholars of his time, including Hammad ibn Abi Sulayman and Ata ibn Abi Rabah. He also learned from several companions of the Prophet, including Anas ibn Malik. He was known for his intelligence, piety, and generosity. He used his wealth to support scholars and students. His methodology emphasized the use of reason (ra'y) and analogy (qiyas) in deriving rulings, while still prioritizing the Quran and Sunnah. He also used istihsan (juristic preference) to choose the most equitable ruling. He was the first to organize fiqh into systematic chapters, making it easier to study. His students, Abu Yusuf and Muhammad al-Shaybani, recorded and developed his school. Imam Abu Hanifa faced persecution for his refusal to accept a judicial appointment from the Abbasid caliph. He was imprisoned and tortured, but he remained steadfast. He died in prison in 150 AH (767 CE). The Hanafi school is known for its flexibility and its consideration of local customs (urf). It gives significant weight to reason and analogy, allowing it to adapt to new situations. It is the official school of many Muslim-majority countries, including Turkey, the Balkans, Central Asia, South Asia, and parts of the Middle East. Imam Abu Hanifa's legacy extends beyond his school. He was a pioneer in the systematization of Islamic law. His methodology influenced all subsequent schools. His emphasis on reason and analogy provided a framework for addressing new issues. For believers, Imam Abu Hanifa is a model of scholarship, piety, and integrity. His school provides a practical, flexible framework for following Islam. The believer respects his contributions, learns from his methodology, and follows the Hanafi school with confidence. The believer also learns from his example of standing for truth. When pressured to compromise, he refused. The believer follows his example, prioritizing Allah's pleasure over the approval of people. Imam Abu Hanifa's life and work remind believers that Islamic scholarship is a noble tradition, and that the scholars who preserved and developed the faith are to be honored and learned from.
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