As far as the knowledge of the Imams of Ahlul Bayt is concerned, it is
sufficient to say that Imam Jafar al-Sadiq (a.s.) was the teacher of the two
Sunni Imams, i.e., Abu Hanifa al-Numan and Malik Ibn Anas. Abu Hanifa al-Numan
said: "Except for the two years Numan would have starved," referring to the two
years he had benefited from the knowledge of Imam Jafar al-Sadiq (a.s.).
Although Abu Hanifa al-Numan did not become a Jafri, he learned the various
religious sciences in these two years. Malik Ibn Anas also confessed
straightforwardly that he had not met anyone learned in Islamic Jurisprudence
better than Imam Jafar al-Sadiq (a.s.).
"Abu Hanifa al-Numan! People have become so infatuated with Imam Jafar al-Sadiq
(a.s.) and placed him far too highly in their esteem. Therefore, I want you to
prepare some very difficult questions which you will put to him in my presence
and in front of other scholars." These were the instructions given to Abu Hanifa
al-Numan by Al-Mansur the second Abbasid Caliph. Much as he loved Imam Jafar
al-Sadiq (a.s.) and respected his scholarly achievement, Abu Hanifa al-Numan had
no choice but to comply with the Caliph's request. Therefore, he prepared 40
such questions and waited for a call from the Caliph, which soon arrived. He
went to him to find Imam Jafar al-Sadiq (a.s.) sitting with him as well as many
other people. As he looked at Imam Jafar al-Sadiq (a.s.), he was in awe of him
much more than of the Caliph. Al-Mansoor asked Abu Hanifa al-Numan to put his
questions to Imam Jafar al-Sadiq (a.s.) and he did, one by one. He answered all
questions in detail. Needless to say, these were questions on issues subject to
much controversy among scholars. Imam Jafar al-Sadiq (a.s.) said in his answer
to each question, as reported by Abu Hanifa al-Numan: "You, i.e. the scholars
of Iraq, say so and so, but the scholars of Madinah say such and such, while our
own view is the following. He may agree with us or with the scholars of Madinah
or may disagree with us all, elucidating his own opinion. None of the 40
questions represented any difficulty for him."
Such was the standing of Imam Jafar al-Sadiq (a.s.) whom Abu Hanifa al-Numan
describes as the 'most learned scholar I have ever seen.' This is in line with
Abu Hanifa al-Numan's criterion which states: "The most learned scholar is
the one who knows best the differences among scholars."