In The Name of Allaah, The Mot Merciful, The Bestower of Mercy.

His Status Amongst The Imaams

Imaam Abu Yoosuf [rahimahullaah] was one of the senior companions of Imaam Abu Haneefah [rahimahullaah]. He narrated hadeeth from Al-A’mash, Hammaam Bin Urwah, Muhammad Bin Ishaaq, Yahyah Bin Sa’eed and other than them [rahimahumullaah]. And those who narrated from him include Imaam Muhammad Ibn Al-Hasan Ash-Shaybaanee, Imaam Ahmad Bin Hanbal and Imaam Yahyah Bin Ma’een [rahimahumullaah].

Imam Abu Haneefah [rahimahullaah] said, “Abu Yusuf is the most knowleagible amongst my companions”.

Al-Muzanee [rahimahullaah] said, “Abu Yusuf used to seek knowledge of hadeeth more than us”.

His Character and Adherence to The Religion

Ibn Al-Madeenee [rahimahullaah] said, “Abu Yusuf was a very truthful person (in character and religious affairs)”.

Ibn Ma’een [rahimahullaah] said, “He was trustworthy (in religious affairs and character)”.

His Aqeedah And Stance Against Philosophers

Abu Zur’ah [rahimahullaah] said, “Abu Yusuf was free from the beliefs of the Jahmiyyah”.

Bash’shaar Al-Khaffaaf [rahimahullaah] said, “Abu Yusuf used to say, ‘Unlawful is the speech of the one who says that the Qur’aan is created. It is obligatory to oppose him and it is neither permissible to give him salaams nor reply to his salaam”.

He also said, “Whoever seeks knowledge through theological rhetoric will become a heretic”.

Humility

He used to sit in the gatherings of the scholars despite their different levels in knowledge, because he even used to attend the gatherings of Imam Ahmad,  who was a youth at the time, engaging in discussion and research.

He Loved Justice

He said, “I was appointed as judge and I hope that Allaah will not ask me about oppressing anyone or favouring anyone, except that one day a man came to me and said that he has an orchard that was in the possession of Ameerul Mumineen [i.e. the Muslim ruler]. So, I went to Ameerul Mumineen and made that known to him, but he said, ‘The orchard is mine and Al-Mahdee bought it for me’. I said, ‘Would the Ameerul Mumineen allow that I bring the person so that you hear his claim?’. I brought the man and he claimed that the orchard belongs to him. So, I said to Ameerul Mumineen, ‘What does the Ameerul Mumineen say?’ He said, ‘It is my orchard’. I said to the man, ‘Indeed, you have heard what his response is’. The man said, ‘Let him swear by Allaah’. I said, ‘O Ameerul Mumineen! Will you swear by Allaah?’ He said, ‘No’. I said, ‘I will ask you three times to swear by Allaah, otherwise I will pass judgement on you O Ameerul Mumineen’. So, I asked him three times to swear by Allaah, but he refused, so I judged that the orchard is for the claimant. At the end or close to the end of dispute Imaam Abu Yusuf was not able to sit together with the man and the Khaleefah, so he decided that the orchard is submitted to the man”.

An Excerpt from Al-Bidaayah Wan-Nihaayah. Vol 10. Pages 180-181