Hammad ibn Abi Sulayman

Hammad ibn Abi Sulayman al-Ash'ari al-Kufi (50–120 AH) was the direct and primary teacher of Abu Hanifah al-Nu'man. He transmitted the Kufa jurisprudential tradition from Ibrahim al-Nakha'i, who transmitted from Alqamah, who transmitted from Abdullah ibn Mas'ud, who narrated from the Prophet ﷺ. This chain gives the Hanafi school its primary connection to Prophetic practice. Hammad was recognized as the leading jurist of Kufa in his time, and Abu Hanifah studied under him for 18 years. He was known for his mastery of fiqh and hadith and was trusted by the scholars of his era.