Sufyān al-Thawrī

If these ignorant, obstinate people do not acknowledge Abū Ḥanīfa’s merit, how can that harm him after these great righteous scholars? Evidence is that Sufyān al-Thawrī initially did not acknowledge his merit. Abū Ḥanīfa’s companions visited Sufyān, debated with him and presented questions. Sufyān paid attention to their wording and answered according to what he heard. They told Abū Ḥanīfa that Sufyān answered these questions well. He said: “Woe to you! Do you not realize that he is clever, taking your wording and answering? Put the question to him and remain silent until he answers.” They went, posed the questions and fell silent. He erred in most of them, and this distressed him.

Abū Ḥanīfa sat after the night prayer, presenting questions to his companions and teaching them. Sufyān came to his mosque after the night prayer, wrapped himself in his cloak as if disguised and uncovered his ears to hear Abū Ḥanīfa’s questions without being noticed. When the companions visited him and questioned him, he answered well, as though he had been with them. They told Abū Ḥanīfa, who asked: “Was anyone with us who conveys our questions to him?” They said no. Later, Abū Ḥanīfa noticed him: Sufyān entered after the night prayer and sat in a corner, wrapped in his cloak with his ears uncovered, listening. Abū Ḥanīfa noticed and cited a hadith supporting a question, saying: “Saʿīd ibn Masrūq, the father of this cloaked man, related to me.” When Sufyān realized he had been noticed, he rose, left the mosque and fled.

Sufyān al-Thawrī transmitted: Abū Ḥanīfa related to us, from ʿĀṣim ibn Abī al-Najūd, from Abū Razīn, from Ibn ʿAbbās, concerning a woman who leaves Islam: She is confined, not killed. Thus our statement that Sufyān al-Thawrī acknowledged Abū Ḥanīfa’s merit is established. What each of these scholars transmitted from him, and the good and praise they expressed about him, will be mentioned, God willing.

Abū Muṭīʿ al-Balkhī said: I prayed behind the most scrupulous, most prolific transmitter and most learned jurist. The most scrupulous was ʿAbbād ibn Kathīr, the most prolific transmitter Sufyān al-Thawrī, and the most learned jurist Abū Ḥanīfa, God be pleased with them.

Al-Ḥasan ibn Wāqid said: I asked Sufyān al-Thawrī a question, and he said: “I do not know.” I asked Abū Ḥanīfa, who answered and explained its meaning. When I mentioned this to Sufyān, he said: “There are many like us in Abū Ḥanīfa’s drawstring.”

Ḥammād's companions included Abū Bakr al-Nahshalī, Abū Burda al-ʿUtbī and Muḥammad ibn Jābir al-Ḥanafī—or, in another version, al-Juʿfī. When Ḥammād died, his son did not take his teaching seat because he was not a jurist. Abū Bakr al-Nahshalī did not take it because he was easily wearied, and Abū Burda did not take it. Abū Ḥanīfa therefore took the seat to teach jurisprudence, and Ḥammād's companions gathered around him.

Ibn Abī Laylā, Ibn Shubruma, Sharīk ibn ʿAbd Allāh, Sufyān al-Thawrī and al-Aʿmash opposed him. He continued until his position became established, without becoming weary. His companions gathered around him: Abū Yūsuf, Zufar, Asad ibn ʿAmr, al-Qāsim ibn Maʿn, al-Walīd, al-Ḥasan ibn Ziyād, Dāwūd al-Ṭāʾī, Yūsuf ibn Khālid al-Samtī, Zakariyyā ibn Abī Zāʾida, Nūḥ ibn Abī Maryam, ʿAbd Allāh ibn al-Mubārak, al-Mughīra ibn Ḥamza and Muḥammad ibn al-Ḥasan. Forty men among Abū Ḥanīfa's companions composed books on jurisprudence, including the men just mentioned.

Abū Jaʿfar al-Manṣūr, Commander of the Faithful, needed a purchase deed or an endowment deed written. The jurists Ibn Abī Laylā, Ibn Shubruma, al-Aʿmash and Sufyān al-Thawrī gathered and jointly wrote a deed. It was presented to Abū Jaʿfar, who found many errors and returned it. He summoned Abū Ḥanīfa and said: “I give you two months to write such a deed.” Abū Ḥanīfa replied, “I do not need the time,” and dictated it immediately. Abū Jaʿfar approved it and offered him ten thousand dirhams, but Abū Ḥanīfa did not accept them.

It is related that the caliph summoned Abū Ḥanīfa, Sufyān al-Thawrī, Sharīk ibn ʿAbd Allāh al-Nakhaʿī and Misʿar ibn Kidām, intending to appoint them judges. They came, but Sufyān escaped on the way. Misʿar feigned madness. When he entered, he asked the caliph: “How are your animals? How are your servants?” The caliph's attendants called him mad and let him go. Abū Ḥanīfa said: “My father was a baker, and the people of Kufa will not accept a baker's son as judge.” The caliph let him go. Sharīk said: “I am mostly forgetful.” The caliph replied: “We shall give you frankincense: chewing it removes forgetfulness.” Sharīk said: “I have another fault: frivolity.” The caliph said: “I shall provide you daily with sugar pudding in almond oil to remove it.” Sharīk said: “I do not care whom I rule against, and do not distinguish close from distant people.” The caliph answered: “Rule against me and my children,” and appointed him. One day a female client of the caliph came with an opponent. She moved ahead of her opponent in court. The judge said: “Step back [the following word is unclear], for one party may not move ahead of another in court.” She said: “You are a foolish old man.” He replied: “I said so myself, but your patron would not accept it.” They dismissed him.

Sufyān al-Thawrī said: I do not see anyone among the Muslims who sits with Abū Ḥanīfa without submitting to him because of his jurisprudence, scrupulousness and insight.