Question:
Why should I follow an Imam?
Answer:
The question that arises here is that why then should one follow any of the four Imams? This can be answered by posing a counter-question: “Do you know all the various laws of deen, religion? Are you capable of extracting and deriving the laws pertaining to wudu, salat, zakat, etc. directly from the Qur’an and Hadith? Do you know which hadith has abrogated another? Do you have the ability to reconcile between the various ahadith which apparently contradict each other? Do you know which verses of the Qur’an are general in their application and which verses are qualified by other texts? etc., etc.”
If one does not have the knowledge of these aspects, then one definitely does not have the ability to derive the laws directly from the Qur’an and Hadith. In that case the following aayah applies directly to oneself: “Ask those of knowledge if you do not know.” (43:7) Hence when we do not have the enormous amount of knowledge and expertise that is necessary to derive the laws directly from the Qur’an and Hadith, we have opted to follow one of those great people who had attained that distinguished mastery in this field, among whom is Imam Abu Hanifa (ra).
Imam Abu Hanifa (ra) is a Tabi`i (one who has seen a Sahabi, Companion). He attained the knowledge of Hadith from approximately 4000 teachers. His piety was such that for forty years he performed Fajr salat with the wudu of Isha salat (i.e. he did not sleep the entire night) [Tarikhu Baghdad]. His knowledge, brilliance and righteousness was such that all the great scholars of his time attested to his mastery. Thus one can be well assured that such a person is absolutely capable of deriving the laws directly from the Qur’an and Hadith.
Another reason for adopting one of the Imams as a guide is the following ayah of the Qur’an: Allah Ta`ala says: “And follow the path of those who turn to me” (31:15). In order to “turn” to Allah Ta`ala, two aspects are basic requisites — knowledge and practicing according to that knowledge. In this regard the four Imams were in an extremely high category. Imam Abu Hanifa (ra) was regarded by various `ulama (Islamic scholars) of his time as being the most knowledgeable of the people of that era (footnotes of Tahdheebu ‘t-Tahdheeb vol. 1 pg. 451). Makki bin Ibrahim, who was one of the renowned teachers of Imam Bukhari (ra), was a student of Imam Abu Hanifa (ra). Imam Abu Hanifa (ra) compiled a book of hadith entitled Kitabu ‘l-Aathaar from among 40,000 ahadith. Thus those who follow such a guide can be satisfied that they are strictly following the commands of Allah Ta`ala and His Rasul (s).
Shaykh Muhammad Ilyas Faisal
Madinat al-Munawwara
