Sheikh Hamed Al-`Ali, instructor of Islamic Heritage at the Faculty of Education, Kuwait and Imam of Dahiat As-Sabahiyya Mosque, answers:
“It is not allowed to make false accusations about Imam Abu Hanifah or any scholar or jurist on account of a special opinion or personal reasoning (Ijtihad) in a particular issue. Making such false accusations drives one to the pit of committing a huge sin. In fact, those who show no respect to those scholars are but wronging their own selves because whatever they do will never harm the status of Imams and scholars in our hearts.”
it’s clear, in the light of the above-mentioned facts, that picking on `Ulamah and renowned scholars is something totally rejected in Islam. It runs counter to the noble personality of a good Muslim, who is required to show reverence to all Muslim scholars and reverend Imams, for their great contribution to the field of Da`wah. For instance, when describing Imam Abu Hanifah, Imam Ash-Shafi`i says: “When it comes to Fiqh (Islamic Jurisprudence), people in general are pupils of Abu Hanifahh (the great scholar).” An-Nadr Ibn Shumail said regarding him, “Abu Hanifah opened people’s eyes to Fiqh.” Others said, “Abu Hanifahh was always high on the jurisprudential scale.” Ibn Al-Mubarak said, “I have never seen a scholar of Fiqh as capable as Abu Hanifah.”
All this shows the great reverence that those great scholars had for each other’s. Therefore, we, their followers or succeeding generations, have no right to pick fault on anyone of them. We owe them great respect. May Allah be pleased with them all.