Imam Abu Hanifah and the Atheist

IbnAhmad

Junior Member
:salam2:

Long ago in the city of Baghdad, there was a Muslim empire. On one side of the River Tigris were the royal palaces and on the other side was the city. The Muslims were gathered in the Royal Palace when an athiest approached them. He said to them, 'I don't believe in God, there cannot be a God, you cannot hear Him or see Him, you're wasting your time! Bring me your best debator and I will debate this issue with him.'

The best debator at the time was Imam Abu Hanifah Rahimullah. A messenger from amongst the Muslims was sent over the River Tigris to the city, where Abu Hanifah Rahimullah was, in order to tell him about the athiest who was awaiting him. On crossing the River Tigris, the messenger conveyed the message to Abu Hanifah Rahimullah saying, 'Oh Abu Hanifah, an athiest is waiting for you, to debate you, please come!' Abu Hanifah Rahimullah told the messeneger that he would be on his way.

The messenger went over the River Tigris once again and to the Royal Palaces, where everyone including the athiest awaited the arrival of Abu Hanifah Rahimullah. It was sunset at the time and one hour had passed, but Abu Hanifah Rahimullah still hadn't arrived. Another hour had passed, but still there was no sign of him. The Muslims started to become tense and worried about his late arrival. They did not want the athiest to think that they were too scared to debate him, yet they did not want to take up the challenge themselves as Abu Hanifah Rahimullah was the best of Debators from amongst the Muslims. Another hour passed, and suddenly the athiest started laughing and said, ' Your best debator is too scared! He knows he's wrong, he is too frightened to come and debate with me. I gurantee he will not turn up today.'

The Muslims increased in apprehension and eventually it had passed midnight, and the athiest had a smile on his face. The clock ticked on, and finally Abu Hanifah Rahimullah had arrived. The Muslims inquired about his lateness and remarked, 'Oh Abu Hanifah, a messenger sent for you hours ago, and you arrive now, explain your lateness to us.'

Abu Hanifah Rahimullah apologises for his lateness and begins to explain, while the atheist listens to his story.

'Once the messenger delivered the message to me, I began to make my way to the River Tigris, and on reaching the river bank I realised there was no boat, in order to cross the river. It was getting dark, and I looked around, there was no boat anywhere nor was there a navigator or a sailor in order for me to cross the river to get to the Royal Palaces. I continued to look around for a boat, as I did not want the athiest to think I was running away and did not want to debate with him.

I was standing on the river bank looking for a navigator or a boat when something caught my attention in the middle of the river. I looked forward, and to my amazement I saw planks of wood rising to the surface from the sea bed. I was shocked, amazed, I couldn't believe what I saw seeing. Ready made planks of wood were rising up to the surface and joining together. They were all the same width and length, I was astounded at what I saw.

I continued to look into the middle of the river, and then I saw nails coming up from the sea floor. They positioned themselves onto the boat and held the planks together, without them being banged. I stood in amazement and thought to myself, 'Oh Allah, how can this happen, planks of wood rising to the surface by itself, and then nails positioning themselves onto the boat without being banged?' I could not undertsand what was happening before my eyes.'

The athiest meanwhile was listening with a smile on his face. Abu Hanifah Rahimullah continued, 'I was still standing on the river bank watching these planks of wood join together with nails. I could see water seeping through the gaps in the wood, and suddenly I saw a sealant appear from the river and it began sealing the gaps without someone having poured it, again I thought, 'Ya Allah, how is this possible, how can sealant appear and seal the gaps without someone having poured it, and nails appear without someone having banged them.' I looked closer and I could see a boat forming before my eyes, I stood in amazement and was filled with shock. All of a sudden a sail appeared and I thought to myself, 'How is this happening, a boat has appeared before my eyes by itself, planks of wood, nails, sealant and now a sail, but how can I use this boat in order to cross the river to the Royal Palaces?' I stood staring in wonderment and suddenly the boat began to move. It came towards me against the current. It stood floating beside me while I was on the river bank, as if telling me to embark onto it. I went on the boat and yet again it began to move. There was no navigator or sailor on the boat, and the boat began to travel towards the direction of the royal palaces, without anyone having programmed it as to where to go. I could not understand what was happening, and how this boat had formed and was taking me to my destination against the flow of water. The boat eventually reached the other side of the River Tigris and I disembarked. I turned around and the boat had disappeared, and that is why I am late.'

At this moment, the athiest brust out laughing and remarked, 'Oh Abu Hanifah, I heard that you were the best debator from amongst the Muslims, I heard that you were the wisest, the most knowledgable from amongst your people. From seeing you today, I can say that you show none of these qualities. You speak of a boat appearing from nowhere, without someone having built it. Nails positioning themselves without someone having banged them, sealant being poured without someone having poured it, and the boat taking you to your destination without a navigator against the tide, your taking childish, your talking rediculous, I swear I do not belive a word of it!'

Abu Hanifah Rahimullah turned to the athiest and replied, 'You don't believe a word of it? You dont believe that nails can appear by themselves? You dont believe sealant can be poured by itself? You dont believe that a boat can move without a navigator, hence you don't believe that a boat can appear without a boat maker?'

The athiest remarked defiantly, 'Yes I dont believe a word of it!'

Abu Hanifah Rahimullah replied, 'If you cannot believe that a boat came into being without a boat maker, than this is only a boat, how can you believe that the whole world, the universe, the stars, the oceans, and the planets came into being without a creator?

The athiest astonished at his reply got up and fled.

:wasalam:
 

Zaynab123

Subhana Allah!
:salam2:

wow! MASHA ALLAH. its beautiful story. jazak Allahu khayra Abu Hurairah....:)
keep up the good work insha Allah

:wasalam:
 

Al-Kashmiri

Well-Known Member
Staff member
As-salaamu `alaykum.

Are you sure this is an authentic athar regarding Abu Haneefah? To be honest, it doesn't sound like one (the the arguement is sound and good maa shaa Allaah). Please provide the reference, as I have read many similar stories attributed to Abu Haneefah rahimahullaah, and some of them contain clear bid`ah (with regards to Muslim belief) in them, or they are simply false reports.
 

Obase

Speaks his mind...
As-salaamu `alaykum.

Are you sure this is an authentic athar regarding Abu Haneefah? To be honest, it doesn't sound like one (the the arguement is sound and good maa shaa Allaah). Please provide the reference, as I have read many similar stories attributed to Abu Haneefah rahimahullaah, and some of them contain clear bid`ah (with regards to Muslim belief) in them, or they are simply false reports.

I agree- It constitutes Abu Hanifah lying to make a point(which I find odd) and also the argument of 'appearing out of no where' does not challenge an athiest today- they do not claim this. They believe things evolved over time.
 

BrotherZak

Junior Member
I agree- It constitutes Abu Hanifah lying to make a point(which I find odd) and also the argument of 'appearing out of no where' does not challenge an athiest today- they do not claim this. They believe things evolved over time.

Well they believe for the most part with their number of explanation of how the universe emerged no conscious cause was involved.
 

xSharingan01x

TraVeLer
Saalam,

Not sure if the story is authentic, however the scholars do have an concensus that certain things (similar to a miracle, although they do not call it a miracle since the miracles happen to the Anbiyas, or related to the Anbiyas) can happen to the Auliyas of Allah SWT (i'm not talking about some Pir Baba or anything lol),

They do point out, that this usually happens in the context of Jihad or related to it. We have many references to such events during the time of the prophet and during the time of the Sahabas.
Example: When the Muslim army wanted to cross the river to pursuing the enemy, they made a Dua to Allah SWT so split the water for them (like how Allah SWT split the water for Musa (PBUH). Instead they were able to cross the river only their knees touching the water.

Example 2: When one of the false prophet (not sure about the time period, could be during the time of Umar (RA)) wanted a Sahaba to affirm that he is a prophet, and the Sahaba refused so they threw him in the fire, and he came out alive. Later Umar (RA) met the person in the Prophet's mosque, and Umar said "Blessed be Allah who allowed me to live until I witnessed a man from the Ummah of Muhammed SAAS who was given the miracle similar to Ibrahim (pbuh).

I'm sure of you are familiar with these stories, if you want sources, request I will have to look it up :D

Even present day, some of the stories of the Mujahideen are quite interesting.

Allah knows best

Wasalam
 
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