Six mistakes Hasan Ibn Ziyaad Al-Lulu'i says : "In the vicinity of my home lived an insane woman by the name of Ummi Imraan. As she was sitting one day a person made some remark to her. She replied by saying : "O son of two adulterers!" Coincidentally, Qazi Ibn Abi Layla heard the remark and summoned her to the masjid. There she was lashed twice, eighty lashes each time - once for slandering the man's father and another for slandering the man's mother. When news of this reached Imam Abu Hanifa he said : "Qazi Ibn Abi Layla has made six mistakes in enforcing the punishment upon her : Firstly, he had her lashed in the masjid. The penal code cannot be executed in a masjid.Secondly, she was lashed while she was standing. Women should be lashed while they are seated.Thirdly, she was lashed twice for slandering the father and mother. The two lashings should have been combined into one since even a person who slanders an entire group of people may only be given a single lashing.Fourthly, the two lashings were given together whereas a second punishment can only be given once the effect of first punishment has subsided.Fifthly, the insane are exempt from being punished.Sixthly, she was lashed due to slandering the person's parents but the parents were absent. They should have been called first." Seek knowledge Once, Imam Abu Yusuf, a senior student of Imam Abu Hanifa was severely ill. Imam Abu Hanifa visited him a number of times. On one occasion he noticed that Imam Abu Yusuf was quite weak and remarked : "I hope you will remain after me for the benefit of the Muslims. If death overtakes you a great amount of knowledge will leave with you!" As it happened, Imam Abu Yusuf recovered completely and he was informed about the statement of Imam Abu Hanifa. This gave him an air of confidence and also caused people to flock to him. Subsequently, he established his own circle of jurisprudence and stopped attending the gathering of Imam Abu Hanifa. When news of this reached Imam Abu Hanifa he summoned a reliable person and told him to proceed to the gathering of Abu Yusuf and ask him : "A man hands over his garment to a laundryman to wash for a fee of one dirham. After a few days he returns and asks for his garment. The laundryman denies ever receiving anything from the man. After a few days the laundryman hands over the washed garment to the man. Now, the question arises : Does the laundryman have to be paid his fee? Ask Imam Abu Yusuf this question. If he replies that the fee is due then say to him that he is incorrect. If he says that no fee is due again say to him that he is mistaken." The man went and did as he was told. Imam Abu Yusuf first answered that the fee was due. When he was told that his answer was incorrect he pondered a while and replied that the no fee was due. When again he was told that his answer was incorrect he immediately stood up and proceeded to the gathering of Imam Abu Hanifa. When Imam Abu Hanifa saw him he said : "It appears as if the matter of the laundryman has brought you to me.""Yes," replied Imam Abu Yusuf. "Subhanallah," Imam Abu Hanifa remarked, "A person who begins issuing fatwas, establishes his own circle of learning and begins to speak with authority regarding Islamic matters is in such a condition that he cannot answer a question on Ijaarah (rental contracts) with ease?"Imam Abu Yusuf submitted : "O Abu Hanifa, please exaplain to me the correct answer."Imam Abu Hanifa explained : "If he had washed the garment after he had usurped it unlawfully then he is not entitled to a fee because he had washed it for himself. However, if he had washed it before usurping it he is entitled to the fee because he had washed it for the owner." Imam Abu Hanifa then explained : "A person who regards himself as independent of seeking knowledge should cry over his plight." (Taareekh Baghdad)
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