Abu Hurayrah (RA)
Abu Hurayrah and the Hadiths of the Prophet:
Because of his efforts, thousands of Hadith of the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ were passed on generation after generation.
Abu Hurayrah collected the most Hadiths of the Prophet Muhammand SAW (5734).
Early Life and Embrace of Islam:
Abu Hurayrah became a Muslim from at-Tufayl ibn ‘Amr, the leader of the Daws tribe.
When at-Tufayl returned to his village after meeting with the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ and accepting Islam, Abu Hurayrah was one of the first to respond to his call.
The Prophet Changing the Name of Abu Hurayrah:
Abu Hurayrah once accompanied at-Tufayl to Makkah and had the privilege of meeting the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ.
The Prophet asked him: what is your name? Abu Hurayrah replied: Abdu Shams (Servant of a Sun)
The Prophet Muhammad ﷺ replied: instead, let it be Abdur-Rahman, the Servant of the Beneficent Lord.
He was well-renowned as Abu Hurayrah (the Father of the Kitten) because just like the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ, he loved cats.
Migration to Madinah:
At the beginning of the seventh year of Hijrah, he arrived in Madinah.
The Prophet Muhammad ﷺ had gone on a campaign to Khaybar but despite this, Abu Hurayrah came to Madinah with his mother, as he had no wife or children at this time.
Abu Hurayrah’s Mother’s Embrace of Islam:
His mother was still a Mushrik (associated partners with Allah) and he prayed for her to become a Muslim but she refused.
One day, Abu Hurayrah invited his mother to have faith in Allah alone and follow His Prophet. However, she responded by insulting the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ, which hurt him.
The Prophet’s Dua for Abu Hurayrah’s Mother:
Abu Hurayrah went to the Prophet with tears in his eyes and the Prophet ﷺ asked: What makes you cry, O Abu Hurayrah?
Abu Hurayrah replied: I have not given up inviting my mother to Islam but she has always rebuffed me. Today, I invited her again and I heard words from her which I do not like. Do make supplication to Allah to make the heart of Abu Hurayrah’s mother inclined to Islam.
The Prophet Muhammad ﷺ responded to his request and prayed for his mother.
Abu Hurayrah’s Mother’s Embrace of Islam:
Abu Hurayrah then narrated: I went home and found the door closed. I heard splashing of water and when I tried to enter my mother said: Stay where you are, O Abu Hurayrah. After putting on her clothes, she said: Enter.
Abu Hurayrah’s mother then said: I testify that there is no God but Allah and I testify that Muhammad is His Servant and His Messenger.
Abu Hurayrah’s Reaction:
Abu Hurayrah said: I returned to the Prophet weeping with joy just an hour before I had gone weeping from sadness and said: I have good news O Messenger of Allah. Allah has responded to your prayer and guided the mother of Abu Hurayrah to Islam.
Devotion to the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ:
Abu Hurayrah loved the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ very much.
Abu Hurayrah’s Supplications:
He would constantly pray to Allah SWT and say: Praise be to Allah Who has guided Abu Hurayrah to Islam. Praise be to Allah Who has taught Abu Hurayrah the Quran. Praise be to Allah who has bestowed on Abu Hurayrah the companionship of Muhammad ﷺ.
Dedication to Knowledge:
When Abu Hurayrah arrived in Madinah, he set his heart on gaining as much knowledge as he possibly could.
Zayd ibn Thabit Narrating a Story about Abu Hurayrah’s Dua for Knowledge:
Zayd ibn Thabit once said: while Abu Hurayrah, I and another friend of mine were in the Masjid praying to Allah and performing Dhikr, the Messenger of Allah appeared.
The Prophet Muhammad ﷺ came towards us and said: Carry on with what you were doing.
Zayd ibn Tabit then said: my friend and I made a supplication to Allah before Abu Hurayrah did and the Prophet began to say Ameen to our Duas.
Abu Hurayrah then made a supplication saying: O Allah, I ask You for what my two companions have asked and I ask You for knowledge which will not be forgotten.
The Prophet Muhammad ﷺ said: Ameen.
Abu Hurayrah’s Dedication to Knowledge:
With his great memory, Abu Hurayrah set out to memorise many Hadiths in the four years he spent with the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ.
Many companions were amazed by the number of Hadiths he memorised, and they would often question him about certain Hadiths he heard.
His Memory Tested by Marwan ibn al-Hakam:
Once Marwan ibn al-Hakam wanted to test Abu Hurayrah’s memory, so he sat with him in one room and behind a curtain, he placed a scribe which Abu Hurayrah did not know about and he ordered the scribe to write down exactly what Abu Hurayrah said.
A year later, Marwan called Abu Hurayrah again and asked him to recall the same Hadith that the scribe had recorded.
It was found that Abu Hurayrah had not forgotten a single word.
Struggles and Hardships:
Abu Hurayrah went through many hardships and difficulties in his search for knowledge.
Hunger:
Abu Hurayrah was often very hungry and said about this: when I was afflicted with severe hunger, I would go to a companion of the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ and ask them about an Ayat of the Quran in order to stay with them so they would take me to the house and provide food.
Abu Hurayrah continued: One day, my hunger became so severe that I had to place a stone on my stomach. Abu Bakr then passed by and I asked him about an Ayat from the Quran. I only asked him so that he would invite me to his house but he didn’t. Then, Umar ibn al-Khattab passed by and I asked him about an Ayat but he also did not invite me back to his house.
The Prophet Providing Milk:
Abu Hurayrah said: Then, the Messenger of Allah passed by, realising I was hungry and said: Abu Hurayrah! I replied: At your command and followed him until we entered his house.
The Messenger of Allah said to me: O Abu Hurayrah, go to the Ahl as-Suffah (a group of poor people) and invite them.
Abu Hurayrah did as he was told and they all drank from the milk that the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ provided.
A Time of Ease After Hardship:
When Muslims were blessed with great wealth, Abu Hurayrah had a comfortable home living with his wife and child. However, this did not change his personality and he never forgot about his days of hardship.
Family Devotion to Worship:
Abu Hurayrah’s time would be spent in devotion to Allah and Qiyam al-Layl was a regular practice within his family.
He would stay up for a third of the night, his wife for another third and his daughter for a third.
not a single hour during the night would go by the house of Abu Hurayrah without worship, Dhikr and prayer.
Governorship in Bahrain:
During Umar’s caliphate, he appointed Abu Hurayrah as the governor of Bahrain.
In Bahrain, Abu Hurayrah became very rich and when Umar Ibn al-Khattab heard about this, he recalled him to Madinah and questioned him about how he had gained this fortune.
Abu Hurayrah replied: From breeding horses and the gifts which I received. Umar then ordered: Hand it over to the treasury of the Muslims.
Abu Hurayrah did as he was told and prayed to Allah SWT to forgive Umar ibn al-Khattab.
Refusal to Govern Again:
Umar ibn al-Khattab then asked him to become a governor again but Abu Hurayrah declined due to this previous incident.
Umar asked him why he refused and Abu Hurayrah replied: so that my honour would not be tarnished, my wealth taken and my back beaten, and I fear to judge without knowledge and speak without wisdom.
Advice on Kindness to Parents:
Abu Hurayrah was known to also encourage people to be kind and good to their parents.
Passing of Abu Hurayrah:
Abu Hurayrah passed away in the year fifty nine AH when he was 78 years old.
Hadith Narrated by Abu Hurayrah:
Abu Hurayrah reported: I said: O Messenger of Allah, I hear many traditions from you, but I forget them. The Prophet said: Spread open your garment. I spread it and he placed something from his hand into it, saying: Wrap it. I wrapped it around me, and then I never forgot a tradition ever again. (Bukhari)