Thursday 6 Jumada al-ula 1446 - 7 November 2024
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The book al-Fiqh al-Akbar that is attributed to Abu Haneefah (may Allah have mercy on him)

Question

I am currently studying Tawheed. Is the book AL FIQH AL AKBAR connected to Imam Abu Hanifah? and what is the status of this book amongst the salaf? By which I mean, is there any difference of opinions?

Answer

Praise be to Allah.

Firstly: 

The book al-Fiqh al-Akbar that is attributed to Imam Abu Haneefah an-Nu‘maan (may Allah have mercy on him), was narrated by Hammaad ibn Abi Haneefah or Abu Mutee‘ al-Hakam ibn ‘Abdullah al-Balkhi. Neither of them is a sound narration from Abu Haneefah (may Allah be pleased with him). Moreover, they both include opinions that are contrary to the view of Ahl as-Sunnah wa’l-Jamaa‘ah, as was explained by Dr. ‘Abd al-‘Azeez ibn Ahmad al-Humaydi in his book Baraa’ah al-A’immah al-Arba‘ah min Masaa’il al-Mutakallimeen al-Mubtadi‘ah, p. 46-71. But the book is well-known among the Hanafis and is followed by most of them, and it contains good affirmation of some of the divine attributes, such as exaltedness. Hence Ibn Qudaamah, Ibn Taymiyah, Ibn al-Qayyim and adh-Dhahabi (may Allah have mercy on them) quoted from it. 

Dr Muhammad ibn ‘Abd ar-Rahmaan al-Khamees wrote a commentary on it entitled ash-Sharh al-Muyassar ‘ala al-Fiqhayn al-Absat wa’l-Akbar al-Mansoobayn li Abi Haneefah. Refer to this commentary to find out what is correct and what is not in the original book. Alternatively, you could read the books of the early generations (the salaf) which are correctly attributed to them, the contents of which are free of anything that is contrary (to sound belief), such as I‘tiqaad as-Salaf Ashaab al-Hadeeth by as-Saabooni; at-Tawheed by Ibn Khuzaymah; at-Tawheed by Ibn Mandah; ash-Sharee‘ah by al-Aajurri; Sharh Usool I‘tiqaad Ahl as-Sunnah wa’l-Jamaa‘ah by at-Tabari al-Laalkaa’i; Ithbaat Sifat al-‘Uluw by Ibn Qudaamah; al-‘Uluw by adh-Dhahabi; al-‘Aqeedah al-Waasitiyyah by Shaykh al-Islam Ibn Taymiyah, and others that are available in printed form, praise be to Allah. 

And Allah knows best.

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Source: Islam Q&A