some Salafi's accuse Imam Abu Hanifa ( Rahmatulla Alayhi ) of being a Murjia due to his stance on Imaan being seperate from Ibadah

A %2F b) There is a vast difference between the Murji'ah definition of Imaan%0D%0Aand that of the Ahlus Sunnah. Together with the belief that Imaan is%0D%0A'Testification of the heart and tongue', they also hold the belief that%0D%0A'Obedience or disobedience have no effect on one's Imaan'. Among the Ahlus%0D%0ASunnah there exist two views with regard to the definition of Imaan:%0D%0A1. The Muhaddithin as well as Imaam Shaaf'i (R.A) hold the view that%0D%0A'A`amaal (actions) are a part of Imaan.%0D%0A2. Imaam Abu Hanifah, the Ashaa'irah (according to one narration) and the%0D%0AMaaturidiyyah hold that 'A'amaal are not a condition for Imaan, meaning that%0D%0Anot carrying out 'A'amaal (e.g. fasting, salaah etc) or committing major%0D%0Asins do not render one out of the fold of Islam. The Muhaddithin and Imaam%0D%0AShaafi, despite their view that 'A'amaal are a part of Imaan, also concur in%0D%0Athis respect. Only the Khawaarij, a deviate sect, believe that perpetration%0D%0Aof a major sin removes one from the fold of Islam. By this it is clear that%0D%0Athis apparent difference of opinion is in fact literary (relating to terms%0D%0Aand words) and do not differ in the real sense.(Mirqaat Vol. 1 pg. 49%0D%0AAshrafiyyah). This literary difference, however, naturally gives rise to%0D%0Aanother that is just as inconsequential. Due to the Muhaddithin's stance%0D%0Athat 'A'amaal are a part of Imaan, they naturally conclude that Imaan is%0D%0Asubject to increase and decrease, since, A,amaal, a part of Imaan,%0D%0Afluctuate. Imaam Abu Hanifah, on the other hand, holds that the substance of%0D%0AImaan (i.e. the things necessary to bring belief in), cannot increase or%0D%0Adecrease, since Wahy (revelation) has terminated and Nabi (Sallallaahu%0D%0AAlayhi Wasallam) has left the world, but the quality of Imaan can differ%0D%0Aaccording to a persons actions. Thus good actions raise the quality of one's%0D%0AImaan while evil lowers its quality. i.e. We have to believe in the very%0D%0Asame things that Nabi(s.a.w) and his Sahaabah believed in, no more, no less.%0D%0AHowever, this does not mean that our Imaan is equal to theirs in all%0D%0Arespects. Yes, the substance is the same but the quality of their Imaan was%0D%0Agreatly superior. This is in fact the meaning of Imam Abu Hanifah's%0D%0Astatement that his Imaan was like that of Jibraa'eel (Alayhis salaam). To a%0D%0Adiscerning person it is therefor, abundantly clear that in substance, these%0D%0Atwo views are exactly the same and the apparent difference of opinion that%0D%0Aprobably arose out of a misunderstanding, inconsequential. (Sharhul Fiqhil%0D%0AAkbar li Ali Al Qari Pg. 164,165 Deoband). By these few details, the%0D%0Adifference between the view of Imam Abu Hanifah (R.A) and the Baatil belief%0D%0Aof the Murjiyah is also clear. In their belief, committing a sin, for%0D%0Aexample, cause no detriment at all to the state of a person's Imaan.%0D%0A%0D%0Ac) The issue here is not one of Taqleed, but of attempting Ijthaad-e-Mutlaq%0D%0Awithout proper qualification. Nabi (s.a.w) said: "Whoever speaks on the%0D%0AQuran without (proper) 'Ilm (knowledge), he should prepare his abode in the%0D%0AFire." (Mishkaat). This Hadith points out the severity of speaking in Deen%0D%0Awithout proper qualification. It is clear as day that nobody today possesses%0D%0Aqualifications even approaching those of the Mujtahideen of the past.%0D%0A%0D%0Ad) This statement is in fact true of all the A'immah-e-Mujtahideen. The%0D%0AFuqaha have mentioned that these statements are addressed to those%0D%0Apossessing qualifications equal to the task of determining Daleel (legal%0D%0Aproof). (Sharhu Uqoodi Rasmil Mufti of 'Allaamah Shaami). Leaving alone the%0D%0Acommon people, the Ulema of these times do not possess the necessary%0D%0Aqualifications.%0D%0A%0D%0Ae) Many eminent scholars, among them Imam Dhahabi, Ibn Sa'ad, Haafiz Ibni%0D%0AHajr etc, have considered the Imam to be a Taabi'ee. (Uqoodul Jummaan-%0D%0AEnglish Version Pg. 62 Azaadville)%0D%0A%0D%0Af) Due to lack of reference material, we are unable to provide information%0D%0Ain this regard.%0D%0A%0D%0Aand Allah Ta'ala Knows Best%0D%0A%0D%0AMufti Bilaal Cassim%0D%0AFATWA DEPT.%0D%0A%0D%0ACHECKED AND APPROVED: Mufti Ebrahim Desai