Ibrāhīm ibn Saʿd al-Anṣārī, father of Abū Yūsuf (printed “أبي”)

Aḥmad ibn Muḥammad al-Kūfī informed us: ʿUthmān ibn ʿAbd al-Aʿlā ibn ʿUthmān ibn Zufar al-Taymī related to us: Muḥammad ibn Isḥāq al-ʿAṣṣār related to me: Isḥāq ibn Ḥammād ibn Isḥāq related to me, from ʿAlī ibn Ḥarmala, from Abū Yūsuf—may God have mercy on him—who said: I was studying hadith and jurisprudence while poor and living in a shabby home. One day my father came while I was with Abū Ḥanīfa—may God have mercy on him—and I left with him. He said, ‘My son, do not stretch your legs alongside Abū Ḥanīfa. His bread is already baked, whereas you need to earn a living.’ I cut back considerably on my studies, giving priority to obeying my father. Abū Ḥanīfa—may God have mercy on him—noticed my absence and asked about me, and I began returning to his gathering. On my first visit after staying away, he asked, ‘What kept you from us?’ I said, ‘Earning a living and obeying my father,’ and sat down. When I was about to leave, he gestured toward a heap and said, ‘Use this to help yourself.’ I looked and found a hundred dirhams. He said, ‘Keep attending the study circle, and let me know when this runs out.’ I kept attending. After a short time he gave me another hundred. He continued looking after me, although I never told him of any need or that anything had run out. It was as though he was informed when it ran out, until I became self-sufficient and acquired wealth.’

‘His bread is already baked’ conveys that his livelihood was provided for. The Arabic’s description of the money as a heap is retained.

Al-Faḍl ibn Bassām related to us: Muḥammad ibn Shujāʿ related to us: al-Ḥasan ibn Abī Mālik related to us: I heard Abū Yūsuf—may God have mercy on him—say: My father came to Abū Ḥanīfa—may God have mercy on them both—and said, ‘Abū Ḥanīfa—may God have mercy on him—my son visits you and constantly attends your gathering, never coming home day or night. I have many dependants, and he also has dependants. I cannot provide for both mine and his. Tell him to visit you at the beginning and end of the day and spend the time between earning a living for his family.’ Abū Ḥanīfa—may God have abundant mercy on him—said, ‘Leave him, Abū Isḥāq. He will become someone of consequence, God Most High willing.’ He said, ‘You may not do this, Abū Ḥanīfa. His dependants are a hardship for me; I cannot provide for them, and they are in straitened circumstances.’ Abū Ḥanīfa—may God have mercy on him—said, ‘I will act, God Most High willing. You may go.’ After my father left and the gathering emptied, Abū Ḥanīfa—may God have mercy on him—called me and said, ‘Yaʿqūb, you have dependants and are in this condition, yet you did not tell me?’ I said, ‘I could not bring myself to tell you.’ He said, ‘I will provide for you and your family.’ From time to time he gave me enough for myself and my family. I remained in his gathering until I achieved my aim. Through his blessing and good intention, God opened to me what He opened of knowledge and wealth. May God reward him well on my behalf and forgive him.