Abû Hurairah Ad-Dausî

’Abû Hurairah Ad-Dausî became a Muslim in the seventh year of Hijrah. He immigrated to Al-Madînah Al Munawwarrah before the battle of Khaibar[1] which he had attended together with the Prophet, Allah’s Prayers and Peace be upon him, and he stayed with him until he died. He was with the Prophet, Allah’s Prayers and Peace be upon him, for only four years, yet many Hadîth were related later on his behalf by more than eight hundred men between companions and followers..

In addition to that, every Muslim knows him, every scholar learns of his knowledge and every narrator relates on his behalf.

’Abû Hurairah relates how he and his mother became Muslims… He says: I immigrated to Allah’s Prophet, Allah’s Prayers and Peace be upon him, and I said on my way: O what a long tedious tiresome night; nevertheless, it has rescued me from the place of heathenism.

A slave of mine ran away on the way, when I reached the Prophet, Allah’s Prayers and Peace be upon him, I give him the oath of allegiance (for Islam), and while I was sitting with him, suddenly the slave appeared. The Prophet, Allah’s Prayers and Peace be upon him, said to me: “O ’Abû Hurairah! Here is your slave”. I said: O Prophet of Allah, he (i.e. the slave) is free, for Allah’s Sake, and manumitted him.

’Abû Hurairah reported: I invited my mother, who was a polytheist, to Islam. I invited her one day and she said to me something about Allah’s Messenger, Allah’s Prayers and Peace be upon him, which I hated. I came to Allah’s Messenger, Allah’s Prayers and Peace be upon him, weeping and said: O Allah’s Messenger, I invited my mother to Islam but she did not accept (my invitation). I invited her today but she said to me something which I did not like. (Kindly) supplicate Allah that He may set the mother of ’Abû Hurairah right. Thereupon Allah’s Messenger, Allah’s Prayers and Peace be upon him, said: “Oh Allah, set the mother of ’Abû Hurairah on the right path”. I came out quite pleased with the supplication of Allah’s Prophet, Allah’s Prayers and Peace be upon him, and when I came near the door it was closed from within. My mother heard the noise of my footsteps and she said: O ’Abû Hurairah, just wait, and I heard the noise of falling of water. She took a bath and put on the shirt and quickly covered her head with a headdress and opened the door and then said: O ’Abû Hurairah, I bear witness to the fact that there is none has the right to be worshipped but Allah, and Muhammad is His bondsman and His Messenger. ’Abû Hurairah said: I went back to Allah’s Messenger, Allah’s Prayers and Peace be upon him, and (this time) I was shedding the tears of joy. I said: O Allah’s Messenger, be happy, for Allah has responded to your supplication and He has set on the right path the mother of ’Abû Hurairah. He (the Holy Prophet) praised Allah, and extolled Him and uttered good words. I said: O Allah’s Messenger, supplicate to Allah so that He may instill love of mine and that of my mother too in the believing servants and let our hearts be filled with their love, whereupon Allah’s Messenger, Allah’s Prayers and Peace be upon him, said: “O Allah… Let there be love of these servants of Yours,(i.e. ’Abû Hurairah and his mother) in the hearts of the believing servants and let their hearts be filled with the love of the believing servants.”[2].

When the Prophet, Allah’s Prayers and Peace be upon him, died and ’Abû Hurairah was sitting in the mosque narrating the Prophet’s, Allah’s Prayers and Peace be upon him, Hadîth (words), the people said: ’Abû Hurairah spoke too often of the Prophet, Allah’s Prayers and Peace be upon him, until ‘Umar Ibn Al Khattâb asked him to stop doing that. ’Abû Hurairah defended himself saying: You used to say: ’Abû Hurairah narrates too many narrations, Allah shall judge about that, I was a poor man serving Allah’s Prophet, Allah’s Prayers and Peace be upon him, just to be fed in return, and the immigrants used to worry about their business deals in the markets, and Ansâr (supporters) used to worry about taking care of their money, and the Prophet, Allah’s Prayers and Peace be upon him, said: “Whoever lays down his cloak (garment), will never forget what he heard of me”. So, I lay down my cloak until he finished speaking, and then I held him tight to myself, and after that I never forgot any of his words, and by Allah, if it were not for a verse in Allah’s book, I would have not related to you anything:

(Verily, those who conceal the clear proofs, evidences and the guidance, which We have sent down, after We have made it clear for the people in the Book, they are the ones cursed by Allâh and cursed by the cursers).(Al-Baqarah “The Cow”,159).

’Abû Hurairah was completely dedicated to learning the Prophet’s, Allah’s Prayers and Peace be upon him, Hadîth and relating it later to others. He was a poor man, he often used to press his belly against gravel because of hunger.

He became a ruler to Bahrain, and this post was given to him by ‘Umar Ibn Al Khattâb. ’Abû Hurairah starts having some more money. ‘Umar hears that, so he sends for him, and ’Abû Hurairah comes to him at once. ‘Umar, the leader of the believers, surprises him by his words: O, enemy to Allah, and enemy to His book, you stole Allah’s money?. ’Abû Hurairah replied: I am not an enemy to Allah or His book; I am not the one who would steal Allah’s money. So, ‘Umar said: Then how did you get hold of all this money?.. ’Abû Hurairah said: My horses increased in number through giving birth to new horses, and my wealth increased.. ‘Umar replied: Then give it to Bayt –ul- Mal (The public treasury).

So, ’Abû Hurairah paid all his money to the public treasury, then he held his hands up to pray and said: O Allah… Forgive the leader of the believers.

As days go by, ‘Umar sends to ’Abû Hurairah once more to become a ruler to a region, but ’Abû Hurairah refuses. ‘Umar asks him: Why?.. He replies: O leader of the believers, so I would not be insulted and hit at my back, and I would fear to judge without knowledge, and to speak without patience… ‘Umar leaves him, and ’Abû Hurairah devotes himself to relating the Prophet’s, Allah’s Prayers and Peace be upon him, Hadîths applying the Prophet’s words: “Allah will help a man who had heard of us and related what he heard as he heard it. It is probable that a person who receives a piece of information indirectly may comprehend it better than he who has heard it directly from its source”[3].

He says about himself: The Prophet’s, Allah’s Prayers and Peace be upon him, companions have known that I am the best narrator among them to the Prophet’s, Allah’s Prayers and Peace be upon him, Hadîth except for ‘Abdullah Ibn ‘Umar… For he used to write and I do not write…

Then he speaks of Allah’s blessing on him saying: I grew up as an orphan. I immigrated as a poor man, and I was working for Busrah Bint Ghazwân just to be supplied by food. I would serve them when they landed somewhere, and help them while riding… And here I am, Allah has helped me to marry her, so praise be to Allah who has given power to religion and has made ’Abû Hurairah an Imâm (leader).

When he was asked why he was called as ’Abû Hurairah, he said: I used to be a shepherd for my family, and I had a small cat[4]. At night I used to put her in a tree to rest and during the day, I took her along with me, played with her, so they called me ’Abû Hurairah.

’Abû Hurairah related from the Prophet’s, Allah’s Prayers and Peace be upon him, words: “Whoever helps a believer out of a hardship in this life, Allah will help him out of a hardship on the Day of Judgment, and whoever makes matters easier for any Muslim, Allah will ease matters for him in this life and in the afterlife, and who shields a Muslim, Allah will shield him in this life and in the afterlife, for Allah will help a man who helps his fellowman, and who seeks a way to knowledge, Allah will help him find his way to Paradise. Whenever a group of people gather at a house to read from Allah’s book and study it amongst them, peace will surround them, mercy will devour them, the angels will stay close to them, and Allah will speak of them to who is with Him. And who has little good deeds to offer, shall not be saved by his name (or family’s name)”[5].

It is now the 58^th year of Hijrah, and ’Abû Hurairah is seventy two years old, getting ready to meeting Allah, Praise and Glory be to Him, by saying: O Allah, I am longing and loving to meeting you… please love meeting me…

His soul rises to its Creator, and he is buried in Baqî‘[6] beside the Prophet’s, Allah’s Prayers and Peace be upon him, companions, and his book of good deeds remains opened for every narrator or scholar who relates a Hadîth that starts by:

[1] Khaibar: An oasis and date-growing village, about 100 kilo-meters from Al-Madînah. During the Prophet’s, Allah’s Prayers and Peace be upon him, time, it was inhabited by a Jewish tribe called Banu Nadîr. It was conquered by the Muslims in 5H.

[2] Narrated by Imâm Muslim.

[3] As At-Tirmidhi narrated that Ibn Masûd (may Allah be pleased with him) said.

[4] Small cat: In Arabic is called Hurairah.

[5] Narrated by Imâm Muslim.

[6] Baqî‘: The cemetery of the people of Madînah, many of the companions of the Prophet, Allah’s Prayers and Peace be upon him, are buried in it.

	*The Sheikh* Of All Narrators ’Abû Hurairah Ad-Dausî** May Allah be pleased with him
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	’Abû Hurairah Ad-Dausî became a Muslim in the seventh year of Hijrah. He immigrated to Al-Madînah Al Munawwarrah before the battle of Khaibar[1] which he had attended together with the Prophet, Allah’s Prayers and Peace be upon him, and he stayed with him until he died. He was with the Prophet, Allah’s Prayers and Peace be upon him, for only four years, yet many Hadîth were related later on his behalf by more than eight hundred men between companions and followers.. In addition to that, every Muslim knows him, every scholar learns of his knowledge and every narrator relates on his behalf. ’Abû Hurairah relates how he and his mother became Muslims… He says: I immigrated to Allah’s Prophet, Allah’s Prayers and Peace be upon him, and I said on my way: O what a long tedious tiresome night; nevertheless, it has rescued me from the place of heathenism. A slave of mine ran away on the way, when I reached the Prophet, Allah’s Prayers and Peace be upon him, I give him the oath of allegiance (for Islam), and while I was sitting with him, suddenly the slave appeared. The Prophet, Allah’s Prayers and Peace be upon him, said to me: “O ’Abû Hurairah! Here is your slave”. I said: O Prophet of Allah, he (i.e. the slave) is free, for Allah’s Sake, and manumitted him. ’Abû Hurairah reported: I invited my mother, who was a polytheist, to Islam. I invited her one day and she said to me something about Allah’s Messenger, Allah’s Prayers and Peace be upon him, which I hated. I came to Allah’s Messenger, Allah’s Prayers and Peace be upon him, weeping and said: O Allah’s Messenger, I invited my mother to Islam but she did not accept (my invitation). I invited her today but she said to me something which I did not like. (Kindly) supplicate Allah that He may set the mother of ’Abû Hurairah right. Thereupon Allah’s Messenger, Allah’s Prayers and Peace be upon him, said: “Oh Allah, set the mother of ’Abû Hurairah on the right path”. I came out quite pleased with the supplication of Allah’s Prophet, Allah’s Prayers and Peace be upon him, and when I came near the door it was closed from within. My mother heard the noise of my footsteps and she said: O ’Abû Hurairah, just wait, and I heard the noise of falling of water. She took a bath and put on the shirt and quickly covered her head with a headdress and opened the door and then said: O ’Abû Hurairah, I bear witness to the fact that there is none has the right to be worshipped but Allah, and Muhammad is His bondsman and His Messenger. ’Abû Hurairah said: I went back to Allah’s Messenger, Allah’s Prayers and Peace be upon him, and (this time) I was shedding the tears of joy. I said: O Allah’s Messenger, be happy, for Allah has responded to your supplication and He has set on the right path the mother of ’Abû Hurairah. He (the Holy Prophet) praised Allah, and extolled Him and uttered good words. I said: O Allah’s Messenger, supplicate to Allah so that He may instill love of mine and that of my mother too in the believing servants and let our hearts be filled with their love, whereupon Allah’s Messenger, Allah’s Prayers and Peace be upon him, said: “O Allah… Let there be love of these servants of Yours,(i.e. ’Abû Hurairah and his mother) in the hearts of the believing servants and let their hearts be filled with the love of the believing servants.”[2]. When the Prophet, Allah’s Prayers and Peace be upon him, died and ’Abû Hurairah was sitting in the mosque narrating the Prophet’s, Allah’s Prayers and Peace be upon him, Hadîth (words), the people said: ’Abû Hurairah spoke too often of the Prophet, Allah’s Prayers and Peace be upon him, until ‘Umar Ibn Al Khattâb asked him to stop doing that. ’Abû Hurairah defended himself saying: You used to say: ’Abû Hurairah narrates too many narrations, Allah shall judge about that, I was a poor man serving Allah’s Prophet, Allah’s Prayers and Peace be upon him, just to be fed in return, and the immigrants used to worry about their business deals in the markets, and Ansâr (supporters) used to worry about taking care of their money, and the Prophet, Allah’s Prayers and Peace be upon him, said: “Whoever lays down his cloak (garment), will never forget what he heard of me”. So, I lay down my cloak until he finished speaking, and then I held him tight to myself, and after that I never forgot any of his words, and by Allah, if it were not for a verse in Allah’s book, I would have not related to you anything: (Verily, those who conceal the clear proofs, evidences and the guidance, which We have sent down, after We have made it clear for the people in the Book, they are the ones cursed by Allâh and cursed by the cursers).(Al-Baqarah “The Cow”,159). ’Abû Hurairah was completely dedicated to learning the Prophet’s, Allah’s Prayers and Peace be upon him, Hadîth and relating it later to others. He was a poor man, he often used to press his belly against gravel because of hunger. He became a ruler to Bahrain, and this post was given to him by ‘Umar Ibn Al Khattâb. ’Abû Hurairah starts having some more money. ‘Umar hears that, so he sends for him, and ’Abû Hurairah comes to him at once. ‘Umar, the leader of the believers, surprises him by his words: O, enemy to Allah, and enemy to His book, you stole Allah’s money?. ’Abû Hurairah replied: I am not an enemy to Allah or His book; I am not the one who would steal Allah’s money. So, ‘Umar said: Then how did you get hold of all this money?.. ’Abû Hurairah said: My horses increased in number through giving birth to new horses, and my wealth increased.. ‘Umar replied: Then give it to Bayt –ul- Mal (The public treasury). So, ’Abû Hurairah paid all his money to the public treasury, then he held his hands up to pray and said: O Allah… Forgive the leader of the believers. As days go by, ‘Umar sends to ’Abû Hurairah once more to become a ruler to a region, but ’Abû Hurairah refuses. ‘Umar asks him: Why?.. He replies: O leader of the believers, so I would not be insulted and hit at my back, and I would fear to judge without knowledge, and to speak without patience… ‘Umar leaves him, and ’Abû Hurairah devotes himself to relating the Prophet’s, Allah’s Prayers and Peace be upon him, Hadîths applying the Prophet’s words: “Allah will help a man who had heard of us and related what he heard as he heard it. It is probable that a person who receives a piece of information indirectly may comprehend it better than he who has heard it directly from its source”[3]. He says about himself: The Prophet’s, Allah’s Prayers and Peace be upon him, companions have known that I am the best narrator among them to the Prophet’s, Allah’s Prayers and Peace be upon him, Hadîth except for ‘Abdullah Ibn ‘Umar… For he used to write and I do not write… Then he speaks of Allah’s blessing on him saying: I grew up as an orphan. I immigrated as a poor man, and I was working for Busrah Bint Ghazwân just to be supplied by food. I would serve them when they landed somewhere, and help them while riding… And here I am, Allah has helped me to marry her, so praise be to Allah who has given power to religion and has made ’Abû Hurairah an Imâm (leader). When he was asked why he was called as ’Abû Hurairah, he said: I used to be a shepherd for my family, and I had a small cat[4]. At night I used to put her in a tree to rest and during the day, I took her along with me, played with her, so they called me ’Abû Hurairah. ’Abû Hurairah related from the Prophet’s, Allah’s Prayers and Peace be upon him, words: “Whoever helps a believer out of a hardship in this life, Allah will help him out of a hardship on the Day of Judgment, and whoever makes matters easier for any Muslim, Allah will ease matters for him in this life and in the afterlife, and who shields a Muslim, Allah will shield him in this life and in the afterlife, for Allah will help a man who helps his fellowman, and who seeks a way to knowledge, Allah will help him find his way to Paradise. Whenever a group of people gather at a house to read from Allah’s book and study it amongst them, peace will surround them, mercy will devour them, the angels will stay close to them, and Allah will speak of them to who is with Him. And who has little good deeds to offer, shall not be saved by his name (or family’s name)”[5]. It is now the 58^th year of Hijrah, and ’Abû Hurairah is seventy two years old, getting ready to meeting Allah, Praise and Glory be to Him, by saying: O Allah, I am longing and loving to meeting you… please love meeting me… His soul rises to its Creator, and he is buried in Baqî‘[6] beside the Prophet’s, Allah’s Prayers and Peace be upon him, companions, and his book of good deeds remains opened for every narrator or scholar who relates a Hadîth that starts by: As narrated by ’Abû Hurairah, may Allah be pleased with him,. Back To Main Page Back To Amongst The Prophet’s Companions [1] Khaibar: An oasis and date-growing village, about 100 kilo-meters from Al-Madînah. During the Prophet’s, Allah’s Prayers and Peace be upon him, time, it was inhabited by a Jewish tribe called Banu Nadîr. It was conquered by the Muslims in 5H. [2] Narrated by Imâm Muslim. [3] As At-Tirmidhi narrated that Ibn Masûd (may Allah be pleased with him) said. [4] Small cat: In Arabic is called Hurairah. [5] Narrated by Imâm Muslim. [6] Baqî‘: The cemetery of the people of Madînah, many of the companions of the Prophet, Allah’s Prayers and Peace be upon him, are buried in it.