Abu Hanifa was the first of the four great imams of the Ahl as-Sunnah.. He was born in Kufa in 80/698. Zayd’s movement, in fact, was unable to captivate the hearts of the activist groups because he did not claim to be the Mahdi-an idea which had become so dear to the Supporters. Abu' Hanifa. was asked about Zayd’s going out, so he said: "His going out was similar to the going out of the Apostle of Allah, may Allah bless him and his family, at the Battle of Badr. "He added: "If I had known that the people would not abandon him as they had abandon his father, I would have fought along side him. However, I helped him with Money, Ibrahim ibn ‘Abdullah ibn Hasan ibn ‘Ali was recruiting men in order to help his brother Muhammad, who had proclaimed himself the Khalifa in al-Madinat al-Munawwara. When he came to Kufa, it was rumored that Abu Hanifa was helping him. Mansur heard this and had the Imam taken from Kufa to Baghdad