Transcribed from the Islaahi Majlis conducted on 18/01/2024
Hadrat Abu Hurairah Radiallahu Anhu was a senior Sahaabi of Nabi Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam. He was a Yemeni Sahaabi from the Dows tribe. Regarding his name, people were unaware of his actual name, thus there exists plenty of differences in this matter. Hafez Ibn Hajar Rahimahullah has written in Al-Isaabah that there approximately 20 views concerning the name of Hadrat Abu Hurairah Radiallahu Anhu, and approximately 15 views regarding Hadrat Abu Hurairah Radiallahu Anhu’s father’s name. Muhaddith Haakim Rahimahullah has stated in Isti’aab the most correct view is that his name is Abdur Rahmaan bin Sakhar.
Being Known by One’s Title
Amongst the Arabs, it is common to be known by one’s title, for example such as Abu Turaab (Father of Sand), Abu Hurairah (the father of kitten) etc. These titles are commonly practiced to the extent that the real name of a person is sometimes only known to his close family members. It is for this reason that the name of Hadrat Abu Hurairah Radiallahu was not known.
Receiving the Title of “Abu Hurairah”
The word “Hurairah” is rooted in the word “Hirrah” which means “a cat”. One narration mentions that Abu Hurairah Radiallahu Anhu would graze goats and kept a cat with him. He would play with the cat during the day and when he returned home in the evening, he would put the cat in a tree where it slept. Hence, he states that he became famous by the name Abu Hurairah.
According to another narration, he received this title when one day, the cat was inside his sleeve. Nabi Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam asked him what was in his sleeve and he replied that it was a cat. From that day, Nabi Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam referred to him as Abu Hurairah meaning, the father of a kitten. This seems to be the most preferred view that he received this title from Rasulullah Salallahu Alaihi Wasallam.
The author of Istiaab writes,
وهذا اشبه عندي ان يكون النبي صلّي الله عليه وسلم كنّاه بذلك
This is more correct according to me that Nabi Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam titled him with this.
Companionship with Nabi Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam
Hadrat Abu Hurairah Radiallahu Anhu stayed with Nabi Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam for approximately four years. In the seventh year of Hijrah, when the Battle of Khaybar was taking place, he left his hometown and came to Madinah Sharif. He went straight to Khaybar, accepted Islam and participated in the battle. He then stayed with Nabi Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam. While travelling to Madinah Sharif from Yemen, he recited a poem:
يا ليلة من طولها وعنائها علي انها من دار الكفر نجّت
What can I say about the long duration of the night and its difficulty, this difficulty is being experienced as this night granted me salvation from Darul Kufr.
Accompanying him on the journey to Madinah Sharif was a slave-boy who ran away. When Hadrat Abu Hurairah Radiallahu Anhu met Nabi Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam and accepted Islam, that slave-boy presented himself. Nabi Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam asked if the slave-boy belonged to him. Hadrat Abu Hurairah Radiallahu Anhu replied,
هو حر لوجه الله
He is free for the Pleasure of Allah Ta’ala.
The Islam of Abu Hurairah Radiallahu Anhu’s Mother
Hadrat Abu Hurairah Radiallahu Anhu’s mother was a Mushrikah (polytheist). One day, he invited her to accept Islam and she expressed some distasteful remarks about Nabi Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam. He approached Nabi Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam and requested him to make Dua for his mother to accept Islam. Nabi Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam raised his hands and prayed,
اللهم اهد ام ابي هريرة
“Oh Allah! Grant Hidaayat to the mother of Abu Hurairah Radiallahu Anhu.”
When this Dua was made, Hadrat Abu Hurairah Radiallahu Anhu was convinced that the Dua was accepted and set off to meet his mother immediately.
When he reached close to home, she heard his footsteps and said, “Oh Abu Hurairah! Do not enter the house!” He heard the water and realized she was taking a bath. After Ghusl, she put on her clothing and before putting the scarf on her head, she opened the door and declared the Shahaadah.
يا أبا هريرة اشهد الاّ اله الا الله واشهد ان محمدا عبده ورسوله
This was the Barakah of the Dua of Nabi Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam.
Abu Hurairah returns to Rasullullah Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam with the good news
He returns to Nabi Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam crying, “O Rasulullah Salallahu Alaihi Wasallam! My mother has accepted Islam, Allah Ta’ala has granted her Hidaayat.” Nabi Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam said, “Alhamdulillah!”, along with some good words.
The second Dua that Hadrat Abu Hurairah Radiallahu Anhu requested from Nabi Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam was to make him and his mother beloved to the entire world. Nabi Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam made this Dua and said,
اللهم حبّب عبدك هذا وامه الي عبادك المومنين وحبّبهم اليهما
“Oh Allah! Make this servant of Yours and his mother beloved to Your believing servants, and make the believing servants beloved to them.”
Hadrat Abu Hurairah Radiallahu Anhu used to say that if he is mentioned anywhere in the world, automatically the people would have love for him. And if anybody had to see him, then also they would fall in love with him on account of this Dua of Nabi Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam.
Love of Nabi Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam for Abu Hurairah Radiallahu Anhu
Nabi Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam really loved Hadrat Abu Hurairah Radiallahu Anhu. One day, he saw him, took him by his hand and walked along with him. Hadrat Abu Hurairah was in an impure state at that time, and felt uncomfortable that Nabi Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam was holding him in that state. When Nabi Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam reached his destination, he quietly slipped away, went to make Ghusl, and then returned. Nabi Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam asked him where he had gone to? He replied that he was in need of Ghusl and went to purify himself. Nabi Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam said,
سبحان الله ! ان المومن لا يُنْجَسُ
“Subhanallah! A Mu’min doesn’t become Najis.”
Meaning that, a person can still walk, talk etc., despite being in the state of impurity.
Remaining in the company of Rasulullah Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam to acquire knowledge of Deen
It is said that he participated in Khayber and thereafter stayed with Nabi Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam due to his desire to acquire Deeni knowledge. He would accompany Nabi Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam wherever he went. The author of Isti’aab writes,
خيبر وشهدها مع رسول الله صلي الله عليه وسلم ثم لزمه وواظب عليه رغبة في العلم وكان يدور معه حيث دار
Hadrat Abu Hurairah Radiallahu Anhu says, “I remained with Nabi Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam until he passed away. I used to enter the homes of his wives with him and serve him. I made Jihaad with Nabi Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam and I made Hajj with him. I was most knowledgeable amongst the people in Hadith.”
فاقمت معه حتي مات ادور معه في بيوت نسائه واخدمه واغزوا معه واحج فكنت اعلم الناس بحديثه
Hadrat Abu Hurairah Radiallahu Anhu states, “No one knew more Ahaadith than me, other than Hadrat Abdullah Bin Amr Radiallahu Anhu.” The reason being that when Nabi Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam would speak, then Hadrat Abdullah Bin Amr Radiallahu Anhu would write, whereas I wouldn’t write Ahaadith, therefore Hadrat Abdullah Bin Amr surpassed me in gathering Ahadith.”
Glad Tidings for the Believers
It is recorded in a narration of Muslim Sharif, that on one occasion Nabi Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam was sitting in the company of Hadrat Abu Bakr, Hadrat Umar, Hadrat Abu Hurairah Radiallahu Anhum. Nabi Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam got up and left but they thought he would return shortly thereafter. When they saw Nabi Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam did not return after some time, they became worried. Hadrat Abu Hurairah Radiallahu Anhu was the first to get up and go in search of Nabi Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam.
He reached a garden belonging to an Ansaari Sahaabi. He couldn’t find the entrance to the garden but found an opening where a gutter was channelled from the well through the wall. Hadrat Abu Hurairah Radiallahu Anhu crouched into a fox-like posture, as mentioned in the Hadith, and entered the garden. He found Nabi Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam in a different condition due to being connected to Allah Ta’ala at that moment.
Nabi Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam on seeing him asked, “Oh Abu Hurairah, you are here?!” He replied, “We got worried when you didn’t return so I came in search of you. I couldn’t find the entrance to the garden so I shrunk myself like fox and got in through a gap in the wall.” Nabi Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam being overcome by a different condition, gave a shoe to Abu Hurairah Radiallahu Anhu and told him to leave and tell any Mu’min that he meets, if he has recited Kalimah, then Jannah is guaranteed for him.
Abu Hurairah Radiallahu Anhu left with the shoe, understanding that the shoe was proof of him meeting Nabi Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam and being instructed to convey this message. The first person he met was Hadrat Umar Radiallahu Anhu, and he narrated to him what transpired. Hadrat Umar Radiallahu Anhu struck Hadrat Abu Hurairah Radiallahu Anhu so fiercely on his chest that he fell flat on the floor.
He told Hadrat Abu Hurairah Radiallahu Anhu to go back to Nabi Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam. So, he went back crying. When he found Nabi Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam, he told him of his encounter with Hadrat Umar Radiallahu Anhu. Nabi Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam asked Hadrat Umar Radiallahu Anhu why he reacted in this way. Hadrat Umar Radiallahu Anhu replied that if people were to hear that they will get Jannah just for having Imaan, it will make them complacent on A’maal. Immediately Nabi Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam realized and stopped Hadrat Abu Hurairah Radiallahu Anhu from conveying the message.
From here, the Ulama deduce that sometimes the Ustaadh can err. If the student approaches the Ustaadh to highlight his error with the correct Adab, this will be acceptable. If the Sheikh errs, the Mureed can also correct him.
