Risala Turjhee Madhab Shafee al Radhi praises the book and its writer. Busthan al Haditheen, Shah Abdul Aziz praises both the book and the author.
Hafidh Abu Bakr bin Mahdhi, the Khateeb of Baghdad, was born on Thursay 27 Ziqaat 380 Hijri, concentrated on Din following the advice of his father and visited Basra, Kufa, Nishapur, Isfahaan, Hijaaz. He was taught by renowned names like Abu Naim writer of Hilayat al Auliya and Abu Saeed Makeeni, Abu Hasan bin Basher. Great Ulema like Ibne Makuula Muhaddith and Muhammad bin Marzook Zahfrani were his students. In Makka, Allamah Barsti taught him al-Bukhari in five days. Ismail bin Ahmad Nishapuri, had three sitting with him. His memory and intelligence was unmatched. After inquiring knowledge he returned to Baghdad. He wrote 60 Books including Tarikhe Baghdad that is 14 Volumes. No one could narrate Hadith without his permission.
In Muftha Kanzul Dhurraya and Bistaan an Muhaditheen we read: "Imam of Ahl ul Sunnah Makki al Raimali, states that I was in Baghdad when I saw myself in one of Baghdadi's gatherings, to his right was Shaykh Nasr bin Ibrahim and on his right was another aged person. I inquired as to who it was and was told that it was the Prophet who had come to hear Baghdadi"
In Ahlul Sunnahs recognised Imam Fakhradin Radhi, writes as follows: ""Imam Ahmad Hanbal was asked about Imam Malik. The reply his Hadith are correct but the narrators are weak. Then someone asked him about Imam Shaafi, the reply was his Hadith and opinion is correct. Then someone asked about Imam Azam, he said "Numan opinion is of no value, nor is his Hadith of any value. Bahiqi writes "Imam Ahmad cautioned Imam Abu Hanifa because he would accept weak and fabricated Hadith". "Risalaah thurjeeya Madhab Shaafee" by Imam Fakhradin Radhi, quoting "Al Alhfam" page 233
In Tarikh al Baghdad by Muallif Hafidh Abu Bakr Ahmad bin Ali al Khateeb Baghdad we read the following: "Imam Hanbal said that a goats faeces is on par with fatwas of Abu Hanifa" Tarikh al Baghdad Volume 13 page 411 "Ahmad bin Hassan Tirmidhi quotes I heard Imam Ahmad bin Hanbal say that Abu Hanifa is a liar". Tarikh al Baghdad Volume 13 page 418 Nasibi / Deobandi's we congratulate you for adhering to such an Imam! You are liars like you Imam!
In "Shi'a aur Sunni" by Dr Islam Mahmood Misri, an article in an Egyptian magazine "Mukhthar al Islami" - issue 90, 8th edition, Jamadhi al Awwal 1406 Hijri on page 13 we read: "Imam Malik said about Abu Hanifa that he is the worst of people and it would have been easier for him to raise his sword against the Muslims".
In Tarikh al Baghdad we read: "Hadhrath Imam Malik said that for the Muslims Abu Hanifa's Fitnah is more damaging than the Fitnah of Shaytaan". Tarikh al Baghdad Volume 13 page 392
On the same page under the Chapter "Dhikr Numan" "Abdullah Rahman said that I don't know if after Dajjals Fitnah there exists any bigger Fitnah than the opinions of Abu Hanifa".
In the same book we read further comments by Imam Malik on the Imam of the Deobandis: "Imam Malik bin Anas stated no one had damaged Islam more than Numan" . Tarikh al Baghdad Volume 13 page 396 "Once Malik asked Walid bin Muslim: do people listen to Abu Hanifa in your city? he said: yes.' Imam Malik replied its amazing that your city has not been destroyed.Imam Malik said Abu Hanifa mocked Allah's Deen whoever does so is irreligious." Tarikh al Baghdad Volume 13 page 400
Imam Shaafi in "Tabaqat ai Kubra" writes: "I have read Abu Hanifa Numan's books and Numan and his followers proclaim that we believe in the Qur'an and Allah (swt) but they are opposed to it". In "Isthaqsai al Ahfam" it's written: ".that there was a debate between Imam Shaafi and Muhammad bin Hasan who was the student of Imam Azam and this is recorded by Yaqoodh Hamoowi in Muajum al Adbha by Shah Waliyullah in "Risala Insaaf fi biyaan Subu ay Ikhthilaaf" and Radhi in his "Risala Tarjhi Madhab Shaafi" that Shaafi said "I said to Muhammad bin Hasan that I have read you book and apart from bismillah it is all wrong". This is a slap in the face of the Deobandis.
In Tarikh Baghdad we read: "Imam Shaafi said that no-one more mischievous has appeared in Islam than Abu Hanifa". Tarikh Baghdad Volume 13 page 398 Again Baghdad records this: "Imam Shafi'i said that Imam Azam's Fatwas are like a chameleon it continually changes its colours". Tarikh Baghdad Volume 13 page 411 Ahmad, Malik and Shaafi have attacked your beloved Imam!
In Tarikh al Baghdad we read: "Someone asked Imam Azam if I say that I testify that the Ka'ba is the truth but I don't know whether its in Makka or Madina, if someone testifies that Muhammad bin Abdullah is a Prophet but I don't know whether its that person buried in Madina or elsewhere what's my position? Imam Azam replied Anyone with the above faith is a Momin. Imam Bukhari Shaykh Hameedi said that whoever issued this Fatwa is a Kaafir". Tarikh Baghdad Volume 13 page 370 Commenting on Abu Hanifa's views that Iman remains stagnant in Tarikh Baghdad - Sufyan narrates: "anyone with the above faith is a Kaafir". Tarikh Baghdad Volume 13 page 376
Baghdadi records this fatwa of Imam Abu Hanifa: "That if anyone worships this shoe in order to get close to Allah (swt) it is not a sin. The Ahl'ul Sunnah deems this clear kufr". Tarikh Baghdad Volume 13 page 372 On the same page we read that: "Imam Azam contradicted many verses of the Qur'an including the one that makes Salat a part of Deen. The other verse is that refers to the fact that different levels of faith".
In Tarikh Baghdad we read that: "Imam Abu Hanifa said that Iblis and The Great Truthful one Abu Bakr were equal in Iman". Tarikh Baghdad Volume 13 page 373 On the same page Imam Abu Hanifa declares: "The Iman of Adam and Iblis is the same" To the Nasibi who accuse the Shi'a of disrespecting the Sahaba, we invite them to offer their opinions of their Imam, whose disrespect of Allah (swt)'s Prophet is such that he equates him iman is being on par with the Iman of Shaythan. On the same page we read that: "A man stood up urinating Abu Hanifa said why don't you sit down? He said Murijee why don't you go away, he replied I won't because I have already stated that your Iman is equal to that of Gibrael". In eyes of Ahl' ul Sunnah in Tarikh Baghdad we learn that: "Hamad bin Abi Salman sent Abu Hanifah a message declaring him to be a Mushrik" Tarikh Baghdad Volume 13 page 380
In the same book we read: "Abu Hanifa was attending a gathering a meeting of Esa bin Muslim, Abu Hanifa said that the Qur'an is a creation, Esa said remove him from here if he repents fine else kill him" Tarikh Baghdad Volume 13 page 378 In the past Ahlul Sunnah had debates over whether the Qur'an is outdated; whoever said it was created was a Kaffir in Baghdad page 378 we are told that the first to hold this aqeedah was Abu Hanifa. In Baghdad we read: "Qaya bin Rubbee said he saw Ameer of Kufa Yusuf bin Uthman raise Imam Abu Hanifa to a high place and made him repent for committing kufr" Tarikh Baghdad Volume 13 page 381 On page 382: "Shareek asked why did he [Abu Hanifa} do tauba the answer was for committing kufr". Tarikh Baghdad Volume 13 page 382 On the same page we read: "Shareek bin Abdullah Qadi narrates that Abu Hanifa twice asked for forgiveness for his views on Allah (swt) and the Prophet (S)".
In Tarikh Baghdad we read: "Muhammad bin Abdullah al Maliki said I heard Abu Bakr Subjistani telling his followers that What do you say when to a Fatwa on which Imam Malik, Shaafii, Imam Auzai, Hasan bin Saleh, Safyan Suhri and their respective followers have an ijma? They [his followers] said that it must be the most correct ruling. Abu Bakr Subjistani then said that these individual have an ijma that Abu Hanifa evil and misguided" Tarikh Baghdad Volume 13 page 383 This must be uncomfortable reading for the Deobandis but since they started this war of words, they deserve a taste of their own medicine. It is time to trap this animal and hang it.
In Tarikh Baghdad, we read: "Saeed bin Salman said to Qadi Abu Yusuf ' heard that the people of Khurusan say Abu Hanifa is Jahimee and Murijee' Qadi said that this was correct. Saeed then asked what was your relationship with him as his student? Abu Yusuf said we went to him and he taught us Fiqh in our Deen we did not do his taqlíd" Tarikh Baghdad Volume 13 page 386
In Tarikh Baghdad: "Abdullah bin Muhammad said her heard from Abu Masshur that Abu Hanifa Imam Azam was the leader a misled sect and Qadi Abu Yusuf was asked whether he was a Murji'i he confirmed theta he was. Sahl asked was he Jahmee Qadi said Yes'. Sahl then asked "What was your link with him. Qadi said Abu Hanifa was a teacher if he said a good thing we would accept it if he said something bad we ignored. Abu Yusuf said leave talk about Abu Hanifa, he died a Jahmee" Tarikh Baghdad Volume 13 page 325 In "Waqqat Damaath ai Jahimeeya" page 376 we read that: "Abu Hanifa declared that my teacher Jahim bin Safwaan was a Kaafir". Incredible, Abu Hanifa followed an Imam who was a Kaafir and Qadi Abu Yusuf confirms he was Jahimee.
In Tarikh Baghdad we find that: "Someone narrated a Hadith in front of Abu Hanifa he laughed and it was impure. Another individual quoted a Hadith Abu Hanifa said it was "Sajaa", a third quoted a Hadith Numan said its nonsense, he replied to a fourth this tradition is from Shaytan. One man said Wudhu is half the Iman, Abu Hanifa said