Quick Answer:
Abū Ḥanīfah has said the following in regards to Imam al-Sadiq (‘a): I have not seen a more knowledgeable jurisprudent than Jaʿfar ibn Muhammad.
Detailed Answer:
Abū Ḥanīfah has said the following in regards to Imam al-Sadiq (‘a): I have not seen a more knowledgeable jurisprudent than Jaʿfar ibn Muhammad. At one point, Manṣūr (the caliph) asked for Abū Ḥanīfah and said to him: Oh Abū Ḥanīfah, the people have become captivated by Jaʿfar ibn Muhammad, so prepare some difficult questions to test him with. Abū Ḥanīfah prepared forty questions.
Abū Ḥanīfah narrates the story as follows:
I went to Manṣūr while he was in Ḥīrah and when I entered the hall, I saw that Jaʿfar ibn Muhammad was sitting on his right side. When I saw him, I was overcome by his greatness and this was a state which I had never felt, not even before Manṣūr (who was the caliph of the time and the holder of great power). I gave him my greetings. He indicated with his hand that I should sit and so I sat down. At this point, Manṣūr turned to him and said: Oh Abā ‘Abdillah, this is Abū Ḥanīfah. The Imam (‘a) replied: Yes indeed… Then the caliph turned to me and said: Oh Abū Ḥanīfah, ask him your questions. I began to ask the questions and he answered them in the following way: He would say: Your opinion on this matter is such, the opinion of the people of Medina is such, and our opinion is such. Abū Ḥanīfah then said: I asked him my forty questions and he answered them all in that same manner. Is it not so that the most knowledgeable man is he who is most knowledgeable about the various opinions of the people? [1] [2]
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