❖ An Analytical Review of Allegations Against Abu Hurairah (RA)
✍ Written by: Hafiz Zubair
✿ Overview of the Accusations
Recently, a self-proclaimed “thinker” on Facebook made baseless accusations against Abu Hurairah (RA), alleging that:
- ʿUmar (RA) referred to him as the “enemy of Allah” and a “traitor”, even lashing him.
- Abu Hurairah (RA) fabricated Hadiths.
This article provides a detailed and research-based response to these claims.
① Allegation: ʿUmar (RA) Accused Abu Hurairah (RA) of Betrayal
◈ The Incident Referenced
This accusation is based on a narration in Ṭabaqāt Ibn Saʿd, which describes the following:
- ʿUmar (RA) appointed Abu Hurairah (RA) as the governor of Bahrain.
- Upon his return, he possessed twelve thousand dirhams.
- ʿUmar (RA), surprised at this wealth, asked for its source and emotionally referred to him as “enemy of Allah”.
- Abu Hurairah (RA) explained it came from personal earnings through his horses and archery skills.
- Despite this clarification, ʿUmar (RA) took the wealth.
- Later, ʿUmar (RA) offered to reappoint him as governor, but Abu Hurairah (RA) politely refused.
This clearly demonstrates that ʿUmar (RA) did not truly regard Abu Hurairah (RA) as a traitor or enemy of Allah; rather, it was an instance of his stern temperament.
◈ Reality in the Light of Evidence
✔ ʿUmar’s insistence on reappointment is evidence of his trust in Abu Hurairah’s honesty.
✔ The entire episode reflects ʿUmar’s administrative caution, not Abu Hurairah’s betrayal.
✔ Maulana Amin Ahsan Islahi also notes that despite ʿUmar’s rigorous scrutiny, Abu Hurairah (RA) continued narrating Hadiths freely, proving his integrity and reliability.
② Allegation: Fabrication of Hadith Regarding Badr
◈ The Narration in Question
It is claimed that Abu Hurairah (RA) said he met Ruqqayyah (RA), the wife of ʿUthmān (RA), during the Battle of Badr, even though:
- Ruqqayyah (RA) had already passed away during Badr.
- Abu Hurairah (RA) accepted Islam in the 7th year of Hijrah, long after Badr.
◈ Chain of Transmission Analysis
❖ This narration is disconnected (munqatiʿ) and rejected (munkar).
❖ Scholars such as Imam Bukhari, Imam Bayhaqi, Imam Ṭabarāni, and Imam Dhahabi have deemed the narration unacceptable.
❖ Its narrator, Muṭṭalib, has no proven meeting with Abu Hurairah (RA).
❖ The critic relied on a weak and disconnected report to refute the authentic Hadiths narrated by Abu Hurairah (RA), exposing a bias-driven rather than academic objection.
③ The Character of Abu Hurairah (RA)
◈ Abu Hurairah (RA) under ʿUmar’s (RA) Scrutiny
Despite ʿUmar’s (RA) well-known sternness and vigilance, Abu Hurairah (RA) continued narrating Hadiths during his caliphate.
If there had been any doubts about his trustworthiness or memory, ʿUmar (RA) would have prohibited him.
◈ Clarification by Maulana Amin Ahsan Islahi
Abu Hurairah’s perseverance and unwavering dedication to Hadith transmission is a clear testament to his sense of responsibility and truthfulness.
Had he been dishonest or negligent, ʿUmar (RA) would not have allowed him to continue narrating.
Conclusion
✦ The allegations made against Abu Hurairah (RA) are unfounded and baseless in light of historical and academic scrutiny.
✦ ʿUmar’s (RA) conduct with him reflects administrative caution, not personal distrust.
✦ Relying on weak and disconnected narrations to question a well-established Companion is both unjust and academically flawed.
✦ Abu Hurairah (RA) remains a trustworthy narrator, whose contributions to the preservation of Hadith are invaluable.
