Page "Fiqh" Paragraph 47

The Hanafi school was the earliest established under the jurist Imam Abu Hanifa, who was born and taught in Iraq.

Imam Abu Hanifa ( 80A. H .– 150A. H.

), whose real name was Nu ' man ibn Thabit, was born in the city of Kufa ( modern day Iraq ) in the year 80 A. H ( 689 A. D ).

Born into a family of tradesmen, the Imam's family were of Persian origin.

Under Imam Abu Hanifa, the witr prayer was considered to be compulsory and the Hanafis also differed with other sects in relation to methods of taking ablution, prayers and payment of tithe or zakat.

Imam Abu Hanifa also differed with the other three schools in many areas including the type of punishments meted out for various crimes in Islam.

On the whole, the Hanafi school of jurisprudence could be said to have the most differences with other three schools.