In the beginning, the teaching of Abu Hanifah (that heavily utilized analogy/qiyas) was not well received by the traditionalist/conservative contemporaries of his time. The author quoted a short story about Abu Hanifah advising one his disciple on how to approach the people and propagate the new branch of jurisprudence
Imam Abu Hanifah speaking to Zufar
“You are little versed in the method of propaganda. Just go back to Basra, present to the people the teachings of their own imams and, at the same time, expose the weaknesses of the same. Tell them afterwards that there exists yet another teaching which consists of this and that, and which is based on such and such arguments. Now, if the new matter has rooted in their souls, tell them only then that this is Abu Hanifah’s teaching. After this they will be embarrassed to reject it”.[From this book]
The author then presented a number of narrations from people who disagreed with Abu Hanifah. One of the narrations was a discussion between Abu Hanifah and Imam Jaffar Sadiq (may peace be upon him).
The author of this book (Goldziher) has a very negative view (stereotypical) about Shias and the school of Ahlul Bayt. In a number of places he accused the Shias of having laws that are based on Persian idiosyncrasy.
As for the meeting between Abu Hanifah with Imam as-Sadiq (may peace be upon him), the author tried to raise doubt about this event, despite quoting multiple sources and even admitting that the narration existed in an earlier source, at length and with great detail.
Here is the conversation between the Sunni Imam Abu Hanifah with Imam Jaffar as-Sadiq (may peace be upon him). I am re-producing this hadeeth from a different sources [1][2][3] because this is clearer and without errors in the translation
Abu-Na`im, in his book of Hilyat al-Awliya', has narrated that Ibn Shabramah and Abu-Hanifah, once, visited Ja`far ibn Muhammad who asked Ibn Abi-Layla, "Who is this one accompanying you?"
"This is a man who enjoys discernment and skillfulness in the religious affairs," answered he.
Al-Sadiq said, "Perhaps, this is the one who analogizes the affairs of the religion by his own opinions!"
"Yes, he is," answered he.
Al-Sadiq said, "Nu`man: Have you analogized your head, too?"
"How can I analogize my head?" asked Abu-Hanifah.
Al-Sadiq said, "I see that you can master nothing at all. Do you know what the word whose first part is infidelity and whose last part is faith is?"
"You then tell me about that word whose first part is infidelity and whose last part is faith," replied Abu-Hanifah.
Al-Sadiq said, "When a servant (of Almighty Allah) says, 'There is no god...' he will then declare infidelity; but when he continues, saying, 'but Allah', he will then declared faithfulness."
Al-Sadiq then turned to Abu-Hanifah and said, "Listen, Nu`man! My father has reported to me from my grandfather that the Messenger of Allah said, 'The first to analogize (i.e. compare) in the affairs of the religion was Iblis (Satan) who said, 'He said: What hindered you so that you did not prostrate when I commanded you? He said: I am better than he: Thou hast created me of fire, while him Thou didst create of dust. 7:12' Hence, one who analogizes any of the affairs of the religion by his own opinion will be joined to Iblis on the Resurrection Day, since the latter has been more skilled in the field of analogy!'"
Al-Sadiq then asked Abu-Hanifah, "Which one of these two sins are more serious; murder or commitment of adultery?"
"It is murder," answered Abu-Hanifah.
Al-Sadiq said, "However, Almighty Allah has accepted two witnesses only for murder but has not accepted less that four witnesses for the commitment of adultery!"
Al-Sadiq then added, "Which one of these two is more important; the prayer or the fasting?"
"It is the prayer," answered Abu-Hanifah.
Al-Sadiq said, "Why is it then that a woman must settle the fasting that she misses due to menstruation while it is not obligatory upon her to settle the prayers that she misses due to the same?"
Al-Sadiq then added, "Woe to you! How do you then depend upon analogy? Fear Allah and never compare the religious laws out of your own opinions."(3)
1- Al-Borujerdiy: Jami` Ahadith al-Shi`ah; 1:184 as quoted from al-Kulayniy: al-Kafi.
2- Ibn Hazm: al-Ihkam fi Usul al-Ahkam 8:513 S. 38.
3- Abu-Na'im:Hilyat al-Awiliya' #: 196-197
Mashalah, ask those invested with autority (AS) , if you do not know
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