Sayyiduna Abu Hurairah (may Allah be pleased with him) says: People say that Abu Hurairah narrates many ahadith from the Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him). I have to appear before Allah Almighty. I was a poor man; I used to stay with the Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him) by filling my stomach with (necessary) food, while the Ansar used to look after their lands and the Muhajirun used to do business and trade in the market. Once, I was present in a gathering with the Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him), so he said: "Whoever will spread his sheet until I finish my speech and then gather it up, whatever he hears from me, he will never forget it." So I spread the sheet that was on my body until the Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him) finished his speech, then I gathered it up. By the One Who sent the Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him) with the truth, after that I never forgot anything I heard from the Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him). Sufyan says: The narrator named Mas'ud has narrated this, then another person stood up and also spread his sheet, so the Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him) said: "The young man from Daws has preceded you."
Hadith Referenceمسند الحميدي / 1176
Hadith Gradingمحدثین:إسناده صحيح
Hadith Takhrij«إسناده صحيح وأخرجه البخاري فى «صحيحه» برقم: 118، 119، 2047، 2350، 3648، 7354، ومسلم فى «صحيحه» برقم: 2492، وابن حبان فى «صحيحه» برقم: 7153، والحاكم فى «مستدركه» برقم: 3092، والنسائي فى «الكبریٰ» برقم: 5835، 5836، 5837، والترمذي فى «جامعه» برقم: 3834، 3835، وابن ماجه فى «سننه» برقم: 262، وأحمد فى «مسنده» برقم: 7395، 7396، وأبو يعلى فى «مسنده» برقم: 6219، 6229، 6248»
Explanation & Benefits
Shaykh Muhammad Ibrahim bin Basheer
Benefit: From this it is understood that Sayyiduna Abu Hurairah radi Allahu anhu had great love for hadith, and he narrated the most hadiths. He had immense love for the Noble Prophet sallallahu alayhi wa sallam, which is why he always stayed with the Noble Prophet sallallahu alayhi wa sallam and listened to hadiths. From this, it is also understood that a student should set aside all obstacles to learning, and should always remain attached to the teacher.
It is also understood from this that poverty is not an obstacle in the path of knowledge. It is also understood that wealth should be safeguarded and entrusted to Allah, and one should also supervise it. It is also established that buying and selling (trade) is a Sunnah.
It is also established that a person can acquire knowledge alongside business. From this, it is also understood that a teacher should make open time available for the student. It is also understood that a teacher should adopt every method by which students can understand, and should always keep praying for the students.
From this, it is also understood that oaths should be taken only by Allah. If it were permissible to swear by the Messenger, then surely Sayyiduna Abu Hurairah radi Allahu anhu would have sworn by the Messenger of Allah sallallahu alayhi wa sallam.
Source: Musnad al-Humaydi: Commentary by Muhammad Ibrahim bin Bashir, Page: 1174