The hadiths narrated from Abu Hurairah are not narrated from other companions, even though Sayyiduna Abu Hurairah embraced Islam much later. The total number of his narrations is mentioned to be more than five thousand, which is many times more than the narrations of the Khulafa-e-Rashideen and other companions.
First Point: Explanation in the Light of Mathematics
First of all, if we use mathematics, it becomes clear to us that this issue is simple.
The explanation is that the definite companionship of Hazrat Abu Hurairah (may Allah be pleased with him) lasted three years, which amounts to
Reference: (1050)
days of the life of the Messenger of Allah, peace be upon him.Abu Hurairah (may Allah be pleased with him) was always with the Prophet, peace be upon him; wherever he went, traveled, he was with him. He spent most of the day with the Prophet, peace be upon him, as he himself stated about himself. See:
Reference: Sahih al-Bukhari (2047), Sahih Muslim (2492)
.So how many hadiths can we expect him to hear daily from the Prophet, peace be upon him?
Even if there are only five hadiths daily, the number exceeds 5,000, and here by hadith we mean five states, that is, it can be a hadith, an action, or any act or statement that was done or conveyed in front of the Messenger of Allah ﷺ. All of this is called hadith. Then this number is what has reached us from the hadith collection. Some narrations are authentic, some are of good grade, and some are weak. Thus, this number includes all types of hadith.
So, is it considered too much to note down only three or four things about someone daily?
Second point: Other companions are also included in the abundance of narration
Sayyiduna Abu Hurairah alone does not narrate abundantly; rather, among the companions who narrated hadiths abundantly are other honorable companions as well, including Anas bin Malik, Abdullah bin Umar, Abdullah bin Abbas, Abdullah bin Zubair, Abu Saeed Khudri, Rafi' bin Khadij, Bara' bin Azib رضي الله عنهم and others.
All these companions are counted among the younger companions, and their narrations are far more numerous than those of the senior companions. But it is very strange that only Sayyiduna Abu Huraira's frequent narrations are subject to objection, while others' are not.
Third Point: The Example of Sayyiduna Abdullah bin Abbas (RA)
Understand this as well: in the interpretative narrations, Sayyiduna Abdullah bin Abbas has the most narrations, despite the fact that there were companions much older than him and who spent a longer time in the company of the Messenger of Allah ﷺ, and certainly referred to the Messenger ﷺ for the interpretation of the Holy Quran, yet their narrations are much fewer compared to Ibn Abbas.
How can the fewer narrations from other companions be a cause of criticism against the narrations of Sayyiduna Abdullah bin Abbas?
Fourth Point: Special Emphasis on Memorization of Hadith
One reason for Sayyiduna Abu Hurairah رضي الله عنه narrating many hadiths is that he memorized these hadiths with great care and exerted more effort in this than other companions, which he himself mentioned as follows:
I stayed in the company of the Messenger of Allah صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم for three years. In my entire life, I never had as much passion for memorizing hadith as I did during those three years.
Reference: (Sahih al-Bukhari:3591)
The second reason for Sayyiduna Abu Hurairah narrating many hadiths is explained by him as follows:
"If I were not afraid of being threatened by the two verses of the Holy Quran, I would not have narrated every word I heard from the Noble Prophet. These two verses are:
إِنَّ الَّذِينَ يَكْتُمُونَ مَا أَنزَلْنَا مِنَ الْبَيِّنَاتِ وَالْهُدَى مِنْ بَعْدِ مَا بَيَّنَّاهُ لِلنَّاسِ فِي الْكِتَابِ أُوْلَئِكَ يَلْعَنُهُمُ اللَّهُ وَيَلْعَنُهُمُ اللَّاعِنُونَ، إِلَّا الَّذِينَ تَابُوا وَأَصْلَحُوا وَبَيَّنُوا فَأُولَٰئِكَ أَتُوبُ عَلَيْهِمْ ۚ وَأَنَا التَّوَّابُ الرَّحِيمُ
Reference: (Al-Baqarah:159)
Translation: Indeed, those who conceal the evidences and guidance that We have revealed after We have made it clear to the people in the Book, upon them is the curse of Allah and the curse of those who curse. But those who repent, correct their deeds, and explain, then I will accept their repentance, and I am the Most Accepting of Repentance, the Most Merciful.
In Musnad Ahmad and Tirmidhi, it is narrated from Abdullah bin Umar that he said to Abu Hurairah رضي الله عنه: You stayed with the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم more than us and you remember more hadiths than us.
Hafiz Dhahabi says: Abu Hurairah had the strongest memory, and we do not know that he ever made a mistake in any hadith.
Reference: Siyar A'lam al-Nubala (2/621)
.Fifth Point: Duration of Companionship and Prophetic Supplication
Sayyiduna Abu Hurairah رضي الله عنه stayed with the Prophet ﷺ for approximately four years, and that too in the last years of the Prophet’s صلى الله عليه وسلم life. This is not a trivial period for acquiring knowledge.
Hafiz Ibn Hajar, may Allah have mercy on him, said about the duration of companionship of Hazrat Abu Huraira, may Allah be pleased with him, with the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم:
"You came to Khyber in the year 7 Hijri, and Khyber was in the month of Safar, and the Prophet Muhammad صلى الله عليه وسلم passed away in the eleventh year in Rabi' al-Awwal, so this period became four years and more."
Reference: Fath al-Bari (6/608)
.Along with this, special prayers of the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم for the memorization of Sayyiduna Abu Huraira were also found, and Sayyiduna Abu Huraira also witnessed their effects. He himself narrates that once I said, "O Messenger of Allah! I hear many things from you, but I forget." The Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم said, "Spread your cloak." I spread my cloak, he made the fingers of both his hands into a fist and put them inside my cloak, then said, "Wrap the cloak." I wrapped the cloak around my body, and after that, I did not forget anything. And see:
Reference: Sahih al-Bukhari (99)
.Sixth Point: Comparison with the Rightly Guided Caliphs
The frequent narration of Abu Hurairah رضي الله عنه compared to the Rightly Guided Caliphs also stems from a lack of knowledge because it is known that they were caliphs at different times. In itself, this is a great responsibility that due to its busyness, no time remains for any other work.
