بـسـم الله والحـمـد لله والـصلاة والـسـلام عــلى رسـول الله، وبـعـد
HIS NAME:
There is a substantial difference about his (pre-Islaamic as well as his Muslim) name and the name of his father. No other person has had so much difference about his name as has been with the name of Abu Hurairah.
Ḳhalifah bin Ḳhayyaaṫ said: “his name is `Umair bin `Aamir bin `Abd ḋhee al-Shirree bin Ṫareef bin `itaab bin Abi Sa`b bin Manbih bin Sa`d bin Tha`labah bin Sulaim bin Fahm bin Ghanm bin Daws.”
And it is said that he is: “`Abdullaah bin `Aamir.”
It is also said, he is: “Burair bin `Ishriqah.”
And it is said: “Sikeen bin Dawmah.”
Also: “`Abdullaah bin `Abd al-Shams.”
Yaḥya bin Ma`een and Abu Nu`aim said: “`Abd Nahm.”
Furthermore it is said: “`Abd al-Ghanm.”
Overall, whatever has been mentioned of the names which have `Abd (عـبـد) in them, then there is no doubt that it had been changed after his embracing of Islaam. The Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم would not let someone keep a name like `Abd al-Shams, or `Abd Ghanm, or `Abd al-`Uzzah, or something similar except that he would change it (due to the Shirk of such names). After Islaam his name is said to be `Abdullaah or `Abdul-Raḥmaan and Allaah knows best, as even in this there has been a difference of opinion.
Ḥaitham bin `Adee said: “before Islaam his name was `Abd al-Shams, and after Islaam his name was `Abdullaah.”
Ibn Is-ḥaaq said: “I was informed by my companions that Abu Hurairah said, “My name in Jaahiliyyah (days of ignorance) was `Abd al-Shams, so the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم named me `Abdul-Raḥmaan, and gave me the kunya (nickname) Abu Hurairah because I found a kitten which I carried it in my sleeves, so he صلى الله عليه وسلم said to me, “you are Abu Hurairah”.”
Ibraheem bin Sa`d reported that ibn Is-ḥaaq said: “Abu Hurairah’s name is: `Abdul-Raḥmaan bin Ṣakhr” – a large number of people who were experts in names and nicknames agree upon this name.
Abu Aḥmad al- Ḥaakim said: “the most correct name according to us of Abu Hurairah is: `Abdul-Raḥmaan bin Ṣakhr – but his kunya (nickname) became more famous and he became as if he had no other name than his kunya.”
Al-Nawawi also said: “From the 30 different statements about the name of Abu Hurairah, `Abdul-Rahmaan bin bin Ṣakhr is the most correct one.” [Note: and this is what most of the contemporary scholars also agree upon]
Tirmidhee reported that it was said to Abu Hurairah: “Why were you nicknamed Abu Hurairah?” He said, “I used to tend the sheep of my family, and I had a small kitten which I used to put it on the tree in the night. And when it was daytime, I used to take it with me and play with it; and thus I was nicknamed Abu Hurairah.” [Sunan al-Tirmidhee # 3840, graded as ‘Hasan” by Shaikh al-Albaanee].
Even the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم used to call him as “Abu Hurairah” and sometimes as “Aba Hirr”, as mentioned in the various narrations.
HIS MIGRATION:
Abu Hurairah narrated that, “On my way to the Prophet I was reciting: - 'What a long tedious tiresome night! Nevertheless, it has saved us from the land of Kufr (disbelief).' I had a slave who ran away from me on the way. When I went to the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم and gave the pledge of allegiance for embracing Islaam, the slave showed up while I was still with the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم who remarked, "O Abu Hurairah! Here is your slave!" I said, "I manumit him for Allaah's sake," and so I freed him.” [Saheeh al-Bukhaaree # 2393, 2394]
`Amr bin `Ali al-Fallaas said: “Abu Hurairah approached al-Madeenah in the year of al- Ḳhaibar, in the month of Muharram in the 7th year of Hijri.”
Abu Hurairah embraced Islaam in the year of (the battle of) al-Ḳhaibar when he was 30 years old. He participated with the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم in that battle, and then later on became committed to him and stayed with him.
WAS SATISFIED WITH HUNGER FOR THE PURPOSE OF SEEKING KNOWLEDGE:
After the battle of al-Ḳhaibar, Abu Hurairah became committed to the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم and was more attached to him than anyone else for the purpose of seeking knowledge and had accepted hunger for this purpose.
Narrated Muḥammad ibn Sireen: “We were with Abu Hurairah while he was wearing two linen garments dyed with red clay. He cleaned his nose with his garment, saying, "Bravo! Bravo! Abu Hurairah is cleaning his nose with linen! There came a time when I would fall senseless between the pulpit of Allaah's Apostle and 'Aishah’s dwelling whereupon a passerby would come and put his foot on my neck (to perform ruqya), considering me a mad man, but in fact, I had no madness, I suffered nothing but hunger."” [Saheeh al-Bukhaaree # 7324]
Al-Bukhaaree also reported that Abu Hurairah said: “By Allaah except Whom none has the right to be worshipped, (sometimes) I used to lay (sleep) on the ground on my liver (abdomen) because of hunger, and (sometimes) I used to bind a stone over my belly because of hunger. One day I sat by the way from where they (the Prophet and his companions) used to come out. When Abu Bakr passed by, I asked him about a Verse from Allaah's Book and I asked him only that he might satisfy my hunger, but he passed by and did not do so. Then `Umar passed by me and I asked him about a Verse from Allaah's Book, and I asked him only that he might satisfy my hunger, but he passed by without doing so. Finally Abu al-Qasim (the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم) passed by me and he smiled when he saw me, for he knew what was in my heart and on my face. He said, "O Aba Hirr (Abu Hurairah)!" I replied, "Labbaik, O Allaah's Apostle!" He said to me, "Follow me." He left and I followed him. Then he entered the house and I asked permission to enter and was admitted. He found milk in a bowl and said, "From where is this milk?" They said, "It has been presented to you by such-and-such man (or by such and such woman)." He said, "O Aba Hirr!" I said, "Labbaik, O Allaah's Apostle!" He said, "Go and call the people of Ṣuffah to me." These people of Ṣuffah were the guests of Islaam who had no families, nor money, nor anybody to depend upon, and whenever an object of charity was brought to the Prophet, he would send it to them and would not take anything from it, and whenever any present was given to him, he used to send some for them and take some of it for himself. The order of the Prophet upset me, and I said to myself, "How will this little milk be enough for the people of al-Ṣuffah?" I thought I was more entitled to drink from that milk in order to strengthen myself, but behold! The Prophet came to order me to give that milk to them. I wondered what will remain of that milk for me, but anyway, I could not but obey Allaah and His Apostle so I went to the people of al-Ṣuffah and called them, and they came and asked the Prophet's permission to enter. They were admitted and took their seats in the house. The Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم said, "O Aba-Hirr!" I said, "Labbaik, O Allaah's Apostle!" He said, "Take it and give it to them." So I took the bowl (of milk) and started giving it to one man who would drink his fill and return it to me, whereupon I would give it to another man who, in his turn, would drink his fill and return it to me, and I would then offer it to another man who would drink his fill and return it to me. Finally, after the whole group had drunk their fill, I reached the Prophet who took the bowl and put it on his hand, looked at me and smiled and said. "O Aba Hirr!" I replied, "Labbaik, O Allaah's Apostle!" He said, "There remain you and I." I said, "You have said the truth, O Allaah's Apostle!" He said, "Sit down and drink." I sat down and drank. He said, "Drink," and I drank. He kept on telling me repeatedly to drink, till I said, "No. by Allaah Who sent you with the Truth, I have no space for it (in my stomach)." He said, "Hand it over to me." When I gave him the bowl, he praised Allaah and pronounced Allaah's Name on it and drank the remaining milk.” [Saheeh al-Bukhaaree # 6452]
HIS EAGERNESS TO SEEK KNOWLEDGE:
Abu Hurairah’s hand was with the hand of the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم, he would accompany him wherever he صلى الله عليه وسلم went till the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم died. He accompanied the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم for 4 years. He was the one who preserved the most Aḥaadeeth. He used to accompany the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم while the Muhaajireen and the Anṣaar could not attend because of their being busy in their trade and agriculture.
The Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم testified that Abu Hurairah was the most eager one to pursue knowledge and Ḥadeeth as mentioned by al-Bukhaaree:
Narrated Abu Hurairah: I said: "O Allaah's Apostle! Who will be the luckiest person, who will gain your intercession on the Day of Resurrection?" Allaah's Apostle صلى الله عليه وسلم said: “O Abu Hurairah! I have thought that none will ask me about it before you as I know your longing for the (learning of) Ḥadeeth. The luckiest person who will have my intercession on the Day of Resurrection will be the one who said sincerely from the bottom of his heart "None has the right to be worshipped but Allaah." [Saheeh al-Bukhari # 98]
It has also been reported that Abi bin Ka`b رضي الله عنه said: “Abu Hurairah was the foremost (bravest) in questioning the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم about things which the others did not ask.”
Other than the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم, Abu Hurairah also reported from Abu Bakr, `Umar, Fadl bin al`Abbaas, Abi bin Ka`b, Usamah bin Zaid, `Aaishah, Basrah al-Ghifaary, and Ka`b al-Ahbaar رضي الله عنهم.
Imaam al-Shaif`ee said: “Abu Hurairah reported the most Aḥaadeeth from amongst the people of his time.”
Imaam al-Bukhaaree said that there were more than 800 people from amongst the Companions and their followers (the tabi`een) who reported from Abu Hurairah. From the Sahaabah who reported from him are Ibn `Abbaas, Ibn `Umar, Jaabir, Anas bin Maalik, Waathilah bin al-Asqa` رضي الله عنهم.
From the Kibaar al-Tabieen are: Marwaan ibn al-Ḥakm, Qubaisah bin al-Dhuaib, `Abdullaah bin al-Tha`labah, Muhammad ibn Sireen, and many more.
The most authentic chains (linking to Abu Hurairah) are those which are reported from al-Zuhree from Sa`eed bin al-Musaiyib from Abu Hurairah.
And which are reported from Abi al-Zinaad from al-A`raj from Abu Hurairah.
And also which are reported from ibn al-`Aon and Ayoob from Muhammad ibn Sireen from Abu Hurairah.
HIS FEAR:
Abu Hurairah feared that he would forget the Aḥaadeeth of the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم so he complained to him, as is mentioned in the following narrations…
Al-Bukhaaree reported that Abu Hurairah said: I said to Allaah's Apostle صلى الله عليه وسلم "I hear many narrations (Aḥaadeeth) from you but I forget them." Allaah's Apostle said, "Spread your Rida' (garment)." I did accordingly and then he moved his hands as if filling them with something (and emptied them in my Rida') and then said, "Take and wrap this sheet over your body." I did it and after that I never forgot anything. [Saheeh al-Bukhaaree, Ḥadeeth # 119]
In the narration of Abu Ya`laa, it is said that Abu Hurairah complained to the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم about his bad memory, so the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم said to him, “Spread your Rida’” and the rest of the narration is as above.
Al-Tirmidhee reported that `Abdullaah ibn `Umar said to Abu Hurairah, “You were the most committed to the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم amongst us, as well as the one who memorized the most Aḥaadeeth from amongst us.” [al-Tirmidhee # 3836, and the chain of narration is authentic]
Muḥammad bin Qais bim Maḳhramah said: “Once a man came to Zaid bin Thaabit and asked him about a thing. Zaid said to him, upon you is to go to Abu Hurairah – because one day I, Abu Hurairah and another person were sitting in the Masjid praying to Allaah and making Dhikr of our Lord when the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم came to us and sat with us. When he sat, we became quiet. He said, “return to what you were doing.” So, Zaid said, “me and my companion supplicated before Abu Hurairah made his du`aa, and the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم was saying Ameen at our supplication. Then Abu Hurairah said, “O Allaah! I ask You same as what my two companions had asked You and I ask you for the `ilm which I will not forget.” The Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم said “Ameen”. So we said, “O Messenger of Allaah! We also ask Allaah for the knowledge which we do not forget.” The Prophet said, “Al-Dawsy (i.e. Abu Hurairah) has preceded you.” [Al-Ḥaakim narrated this in his Mustadrak. And it is Dha`eef, see al-Dha`eefah of Shaikh al-Albaanee # 3848.]
Narrated Abu Hurairah: You people say that Abu Hurairah tells many narrations from Allaah's Apostle and you also wonder why the Muhaajireen (the emigrants) and the Anṣaar (the helpers) do not narrate from Allaah's Apostle as Abu Hurairah does. My emigrant brothers were busy in the market while I used to stick to Allaah's Apostle صلى الله عليه وسلم content with what fills my stomach; so I used to be present when they were absent and I used to remember when they used to forget, and my Anṣaari brothers used to be busy with their properties and I was one of the poor men of al-Ṣuffah. I used to remember the narrations when they used to forget. No doubt, Allaah's Apostle صلى الله عليه وسلم once said, "Whoever spreads his garment till I have finished my present speech and then gathers it to himself, will remember whatever I will say." So, I spread my colored garment which I was wearing till Allaah's Apostle had finished his saying, and then I gathered it to my chest. So, I did not forget any of those narrations. [Reported by al-Bukhaaree # 7354 and Muslim 4/1939]
Ibn al-Hajar reported in Fath al-Baari that Sa`d has reported in his Tabaqaat with a Saheeh chain on the authority of Sa`eed bin `Amr bin Sa`een bin al-`Aas that `Aaishah said to Abu Hurairah, “You narrate Ḥadeeth from the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم that which I did not hear from him.” He said, “O my mother! The mirror and the (cooking) pot kept you away from him, whereas there was nothing that would distract me from the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم.” [Fath al-Baari 7/94]
Abu Hurairah said that the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم said, "When a man visits his brother, Allaah تعالى says to him, 'You have been good and your evening will be good and you can take your place in the Garden.'" [Adab al-Mufrad of Imaam al-Bukhaaree # 345, graded as ‘Hasan’ by Shaikh al-Albaanee]
HIS MEMORY:
About the memory of Abu Hurairah – Abu Za`iza`ah, the scribe of Marwaan said: “Marwaan had invited Abu Hurairah (to his house) and he (Abu Hurairah) started narrating the Aḥaadeeth. Marwaan used to make me hide behind the bed and asked to write down everything which Abu Hurairah had narrated. After a year had passed, he sent again for Abu Hurairah and asked him to narrate the Aḥaadeeth, and asked me to verify – and he (Abu Hurairah) did not even change a word.
Al-Bukhaaree reported that Abu Hurairah said: “There is none among the companions of the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم who has narrated more Ḥadeeth than I except `Abdullaah bin Amr (bin Al-'As) who used to write them and I never did the same.” [Saheeh al-Bukhaaree # 113]
HIS ZUHD (ASCETICISM):
Narrated Abu Uthman: “I was a guest of Abu Hurairah for seven days. Abu Hurairah, his wife and his slave used to get up and remain awake for one-third of the night by turns. Each would offer the night prayer and then awaken the other. I heard Abu Hurairah saying, "Allaah's Apostle distributed dates among his companions and my share was seven dates, one of which was a Hashafa (a date which dried on the tree before it was fully ripe).” [Saheeh al-Bukhaaree # 5125]
THE PROPHET’s PRAYER FOR HIM:
Abu Nu`aim said about Abu Hurairah: “He is the one who has memorized the most Ḥadeeth of the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم, and that he صلى الله عليه وسلم prayed (to Allaah) that the Believers love him. He embraced Islaam between (the treaty of) Hudaibiyah and (the battle of) al-Khaibar, and migrated to al-Madeenah, and used to reside in al-Ṣuffah (in the Masjid of the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم).”
Narrated Abu Hurairah: “I invited my mother, who was a polytheist, to Islaam. I invited her one day and she said to me something about Allaah's Messenger صلى الله عليه وسلم which I hated. I came to Allaah's Messenger صلى الله عليه وسلم weeping and said: Allaah's Messenger, I invited my mother to Islaam but she did not accept (my invitation). I invited her today but she said to me something which I did not like. (Kindly) supplicate Allaah to set the mother of Abu Hurairah on the right path. Thereupon Allaah's Messenger صلى الله عليه وسلم said: “O Allaah! Set the mother of Abu Hurairah on the right path.” I came out quite pleased with the supplication of Allaah's Apostle صلى الله عليه وسلم. When I came near our door it was closed from within. My mother heard the noise of my footsteps and she said: Abu Hurairah, just wait. I heard the splashing of water. She took a bath, put on her dress, quickly covered her head with a shawl opened the door and then said: Abu Hurairah, I bear witness to the fact that there is no one worthy of worship except Allaah and Muhammad is His slave and His Messenger. He (Abu Hurairah) said: I went back to Allaah's Messenger صلى الله عليه وسلم and (this time) I was shedding the tears of joy. I said: Allaah's Messenger, be happy, for Allaah has responded to your supplication and He has set on the right path the mother of Abu Hurairah. He (the Holy Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم) praised Allaah, and extolled Him and uttered good words. I said: Allaah's Messenger, supplicate Allaah to instill my love and that of my mother too in the hearts of the believing servants and let our hearts be filled with their love. Thereupon Allaah's Messenger صلى الله عليه وسلم said: “O Allaah, let there be love of these servants of yours, (i.e. Abu Hurairah and his mother) in the hearts of the believing servants and let their hearts be filled with the love of the believing servants.” (Abu Hurairah said: This prayer) was so well granted by Allaah that no believer ever born, who heard of me and who saw me, did not love me. [Saheeh Muslim # 2491]
HIS END:
`Abdul Razzaaq reported from Mu`mar that Ayoob informed him from Ibn Sireen that Abu Hurairah was sent by `Umar ibn al-Khaṫṫaab to al-Baḥrain and then was recalled from there. Later on, `Umar wanted to assign him to another work but he refused and stayed in al-Madeenah and in it he died.
Al-Khaleefah, Hishaam bin `Urwah and al-Bukhaaree said: He died in the year 57 Hijri.
Al-Haitham bin `Adee said: he died in the year 58 Hijri [and others said in the year 59 Hijri], and at the age of 78.
And it is said that he died in al-`Aqeeq and was carried to al-Madeenah, and the Janaazah prayer was led by al-Waleed bin `Utbah bin Abi Sufyaan, who was the governor of al-Madeenah for his uncle Mu`aawiyah bin bi Sufyaan.
Abu Hurairah narrated 5,374 Aḥaadeeth. Al-Bukhaaree and Muslim agreed upon 329 Aḥaadeeth. Also, Al-Bukhaaree individually reported 93 Aḥaadeeth, and Muslim individually reported 98 Aḥaadeeth.
References:
الإصابة في تمييز الصحابة – لإبن الحجر الأسقلاني
أسد الغابة في معرفة الصحابة – لإبن الأثير
الاستيعاب في معرفة الأصحاب - لإبن عبد البر
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