After making istighfaar, the mas’alah would become clear and Imaam Abu Hanifah (rahimahullah) would easily understand it. When this would happen, Imaam Abu Hanifah (rahimahullah) would become extremely pleased and would say, “I am happy as I have hope that my sin was forgiven due to which I was able to understand the mas’alah.”

When Hazrat Fudhail bin ‘Iyaadh (rahimahullah) (the student of Imaam Abu Hanifah (rahimahullah)) heard of this, he wept profusely and said, “May Allah Ta‘ala have mercy on Imaam Abu Hanifah (rahimahullah)! That he was able to perceive the blockage in his path was on account of his mistakes being so few! As far as other people are concerned, they do not perceive their blockage as their sins have overwhelmed them.”

(‘Uqood-ul-Jummaan pg. 228)