بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم
Q: Is it correct that which is attributed to Abu Hanifah that he was Murji’ee?
A: This is correct and no one denies this. Abu Hanifah fell into irjaa and no one denies it, neither Hanifi nor Sunni, no one denies this. Ahlus Sunnah sternly censured him due to this and for other reasons. Therefore it is not allowed for a Hanifi or anyone else to follow the mistakes any individual no matter who it may be. Not Abu Hanifah, not Malik, and not Shaafi’ee, however I do not know of errors in creed with theses individuals except Abu Hanifah, as he fell into saying the statement, “the Quran is created” but eventually repented from that as is firmly established (and or affirmed) by the scholars. However his (mistake with regards to) irjaa, him repenting from such was never affirmed, nor has anyone claimed such. No one from the Hanifis or other than them to the best of my knowledge.
Translated by Najeeb Al Anjelesi
Source: فتاوى فضيلة الشيخ ربيع بن هادي المدخلي