It is well known that Abu Hanifa (radi Allahu ‘anhu), did tahajjut every night. He would spend his night reciting the Quran. He had a neighbor who was an alcoholic, and he used to drink a lot and sing love poems. This used to bother the imam.
But one day, the imam did not hear this man’s revelry, so he went and asked about him. They said, “Oh, so-and-so. They took him to jail.” So, the very well respected imam went to the jail. He was the most respected imam and qaadi at the time in that place. When the ruler found out the imam went to the jail, he asked for the reason and was told that the imam was concerned about his neighbor who had been arrested. So, the ruler said to release the man, and he was released.
The neighbor then asked Abu Hanifa why he did that, and he replied, “Because you have a right upon me as a neighbor, and I have not been neglectful of that.”
Nuʿmān ibn Thābit ibn Zūṭā ibn Marzubān, also known as Imam Abū Ḥanīfah (699 – 767 CE) was the founder of the Sunni Hanafi school of fiqh (Islamic law.). In 763 the monarch offered Abu Hanifa the post of Chief Judge of the State, but he declined the offer, choosing to remain independent. In his reply to the king, Abū Ḥanīfah said that he was not fit for the post. Al-Mansur, who had his own ideas and reasons for offering the post, lost his temper and accused Abū Ḥanīfah of lying. “If I am lying,” Abū Ḥanīfah said, “then my statement is doubly correct. How can you appoint a liar to the exalted post of a Chief Qadi (Judge)?” Incensed by this reply, the ruler had Abū Ḥanīfah arrested, locked in prison and tortured. He died in jail.
Tahajjud, also known as the “night prayer” is a voluntary prayer performed by followers of Islam.
radi Allahu ‘anhu is the Arabic for “May Allah be pleased with him/her/them.” This term is most commonly used whenever the name of a companion of the Prophet Muhammad is mentioned.
