The Imams of the Madhhab
Biographies of the Imams of the Hanafi Madhab
The Hanafi madhhab is unlike the other three madhhahib in this regard. The madhhab is not limited to the sayings of imam Abu Haneefah (founder of the madhhab) like the rest. But rather, the close students of imam Abu Haneefah are also considered in their sayings and opinions. This is why the students are referred to as "Companions" rather than students since they also exercised Ijtihaad and often differed with the Imam himself.
The most important Companions are Abu Yoosuf and Muhammad ibn al-Hasan ash-Shaybaani. They are referred to as "The Two Companions" [الصاحبان]. In the books of Fiqh, they are the ones being referred to when the authors use the words which indicate two people such as "near them" [عندهما], generally speaking. However, there are other Companions of Abu Haneefah who are considered as well. They are Zufar ibn al-Huthayl and Al-Hasan ibn Ziyad al-Lu'lu'i.
The hierarchy is as follows:
Abu Haneefah -> Abu Yoosuf -> Muhammad -> Zufar ibn al-Huthayl -> Al-Hasan ibn Ziyad al-Lu'lu'i.