ʿUmar ibn Dharr

On Ramadan nights, Abū Ḥanīfa walked with his son Ḥammād to ʿUmar ibn Dharr’s mosque, three miles away, and prayed tarāwīḥ behind him. When his mother needed an answer, she told him to ask ʿUmar ibn Dharr. He would go and ask. ʿUmar said: “You know these questions better than I.” Abū Ḥanīfa answered: “I do not disobey my mother’s command.” ʿUmar asked the answer; Abū Ḥanīfa supplied it. ʿUmar then said: “Tell your mother on my authority that I answered such-and-such.”

It is related that ʿUmar ibn Dharr came to Abū Ḥanīfa and said: “I have a Shiʿi neighbour who has encountered a legal question. He said to his wife, ‘You are forbidden to me.’ What is your answer?” Abū Ḥanīfa said, “Tell him to come, so I can answer him.” ʿUmar informed the man, who came and repeated his question. Abū Ḥanīfa said: “According to the position of the man whose love you profess—that is, ʿAlī—three divorces have taken effect against your wife.” The Shiʿi replied: “I want your position; I do not accept ʿAlī's position.” Abū Ḥanīfa said: “If you intended divorce, one irrevocable divorce takes effect. If you intended nothing, nothing takes effect.” The man left, saying: “May God reward you well and grant you Paradise, even if you dislike that!” Abū Ḥanīfa smiled and said nothing to him.