The Messenger of Allah warned us that a time will come when the latter part of this ummah will speak ill of the salafus saliheen. Unfortunately we are seeing this prophecy manifesting in these times of trails and tribulation. One Imam who is criticized vehemently by those who claim to be following in the path of the salaf is the great muhaddith, faqeeh and mujtahid, Imam Abu Hanifah (عليه الرحمة).
Here are some books which will give a student a beautiful picture of the high status that the said Imam held in all sciences of Islam including hadith. Some of these books are written by non-hanafis, therefore they are free from any claim of mathabi bias.
1. الإنتقاء في فضائل الأئمة الثلاثة الفقهاء
This book was penned by the great Maliki muhaddith, historian and jurist, Hafiz Ibn Abdil Barr Maliki.
It comprises of the biographies of the 3 great mujtahideen. This edition also is blessed with a thorough introduction and beneficial footnotes by Allamah Abdul Fattah Abu Ghuddah.
Download here
https://archive.org/details/IntighaFiMarifatFuqaha
2. مناقب الإمام أبي حنيفة وصاحبيه أبي يوسف و محمد بن الحسن
This short treatise has a brief biography of Imam Abu Hanifah written by the student of Shaikhul Islam Ibn Taimiyah, the great historian and muhaddith Allamah Zahabi Shafee’ Hambali. This edition is beautified with an introduction and footnotes by two giant hanafi muhaddiths, Allamah Zahid Kawthari and Allamah Abul Wafaa Afghaani.
Download here:
http://www.riyadhalelm.com/book/46/43_mnaqeb_abuhnefah.pdf
3. عقود الجمان في مناقب الامام الاعظم ابي حنيفة النعمان
This is a biography of Imam Abu Hanifah written by a great shafe’e muhaddith and historian.
Download from here:
https://archive.org/details/Oqoudjomane
4. الخيرات الحسان في مناقب الإمام الأعظم أبي حنيفة النعمان
This book was authored by the Shafi’ faqeeh and muhaddith Ibn Hajr Makki. It is a biography on Imam Abu Hanifah alone.
Download here:
https://archive.org/details/fiqhulislam_hotmail_201406
5. مكانة الامام ابي حنيفة في الحديث
This is another gem of the great muhaddith Maulana Abdur Rasheed Nu’mani edited by the Syrian muhaddith, Abdul Fattah Abu Guuddah. The purpose of this work is to demonstrate to the reader the high status that Imam Abu Hanifa (may Allah have mercy on his soul) had in the works of great Hadith critics such as Imam Yahya ibn Maeen and Abu Dawood from among the early scholars and Imam Al-Dhahabi and Imam Ibn Hjar AL-Asqalani among the later ones (may Allah shower them with his mercy). This is contrary to what some of the early isolated reports may suggest which are being popularized by some people, either out of ignorance or on purpose, in our time. May Allah guide us all.
Download here:
http://ia700808.us.archive.org/4/items/ArabicVerbsMadeEasyPdfs2/AbuHanifaAndHadith.pdf
6. مكانة الإمام أبي حنيفة بين المحدثين
One of the most extensive research books written on the hadithi aspect of this great Imam. This book dispels many misconceptions surrounding Imam Abu Hanifa’s knowledge of hadith like how a fan would blow away smoke into thin air.
Enjoy:
https://archive.org/details/fiqhulislam_hotmail_20140613
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