الرحلةThe Journey

أبو يوسف القاضي

Abu Yusuf (RH)

Abu Yusuf Ya'qub ibn Ibrahim

Also known as: Qadi Abu Yusuf

113–182 AH · 731–798 CE

Fiqh Hanafi

Abu Hanifa's leading student and the first chief judge (qadi al-qudat) of the Abbasid state.

Abu Yusuf came from a poor family in Kufa and studied with Abu Hanifa for many years; his teacher supported him so he could keep studying. He also learned hadith from scholars such as al-A'mash and Hisham ibn 'Urwah.

He became a judge in Baghdad and then, under Harun al-Rashid, the first to hold the title chief judge (qadi al-qudat). His Kitab al-Kharaj, written at the caliph's request, sets out the law of land tax and public finance and urges justice towards the people. Through his position he spread the Hanafi school across the Abbasid lands.

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Life journey

  1. 731 CE Kufa الكوفة
  2. 782 CE Baghdad بغداد
    Died 798 CE · 182 AH
    Appointed judge in Baghdad under the Abbasids; the year is approximate.

Teachers

  • Imam Abu Hanifa (RH) 699–767 CE
    His foremost student, who stayed with him for years in Kufa and later spread the school as chief judge in Baghdad.

Students

  • al-Shaybani (RH) 750–805 CE
    After Abu Hanifa's death al-Shaybani completed his study of the school with Abu Yusuf.
  • Imam Ahmad (RH) 780–855 CE
    Ahmad said the first person he wrote hadith from was Abu Yusuf.

Key works

  • Kitab al-Kharaj كتاب الخراج
    Book of Land Tax
    On taxation and public finance, written for Harun al-Rashid.

Places in their life

The Great Mosque of Kufa
The Great Mosque of Kufa
Photo: ن.عامری, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
al-Mustansiriyyah, an Abbasid college of 1233, Baghdad
al-Mustansiriyyah, an Abbasid college of 1233, Baghdad
Photo: Taisir Mahdi, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Sources

  • al-Dhahabi, Siyar A'lam al-Nubala'
  • al-Khatib al-Baghdadi, Tarikh Baghdad
  • Ibn Khallikan, Wafayat al-A'yan
Draft, awaiting scholarly review.