Love for Sayyiduna Abu Hurairah رضي الله تعالى عنه

Allah Almighty blessed Sayyiduna Abu Hurairah رضي الله تعالى عنه with a great memory due to the supplication of the Prophet ﷺ. Once, Marwan bin al-Hakam al-Umavi had some Hadiths written down by him and after a year claimed that the book was lost and asked him to write them again. He wrote the same Hadiths again, and when both books were compared, there was not a single letter different.

[Al-Mustadrak by Al-Hakim 3/510, and its chain is Hasan, Hadith: 32, p. 13-14]

When Sayyiduna Abu Hurairah رضي الله تعالى عنه would narrate Hadiths, he would begin by saying, "Abul Qasim, the truthful, the trustworthy Prophet ﷺ said: 'Whoever lies about me intentionally, let him take his seat in the Fire.'"

[Musnad Ahmad 2/413, Hadith 9350, and its chain is Sahih]

He would swear by Allah and say that he would lie on the ground due to severe hunger and tie a stone to his stomach because of the intensity of his hunger.

[Sahih Bukhari: 6452]

Sayyiduna Abu Hurairah رضي الله تعالى عنه used to tell his daughter: "Do not wear gold, for I fear the flames of (Hell) fire upon you."

[Hilyat al-Awliya 1/380, and its chain is Sahih]

Imam Shafi'i رحمه الله said: "In the whole world, the greatest memorizer of Hadith was Abu Hurairah رضي الله تعالى عنه."

[Tarikh Dimashq by Ibn Asakir 71/253, and its chain is Sahih]

Sayyiduna Abu Hurairah رضي الله تعالى عنه used to say: "O Allah, do not keep me alive till the year 60."

[Tarikh Dimashq by Abi Zur'ah al-Dimashqi: 234, and its chain is Sahih]

Sayyiduna Abu Hurairah رضي الله تعالى عنه would also say: "O Allah, do not keep me alive till the rule of children."

[Dala'il al-Nubuwwah by Al-Bayhaqi 6/466, and its chain is Sahih]

Once, Sayyiduna Abu Hurairah رضي الله تعالى عنه brought some dates to the Prophet ﷺ and said: "O Messenger of Allah, pray for blessings for me in them." The Prophet ﷺ gathered them and prayed for blessings, then said: "Take these dates and put them in your provision pouch. Whenever you want to take dates from it, just put your hand in and take out, but do not scatter them."

Sayyiduna Abu Hurairah رضي الله تعالى عنه said that he spent so many weights in the way of Allah from those dates. They would eat from them, feed others, and it always remained tied to his waist until (Sayyiduna) Uthman رضي الله تعالى عنه was martyred, and then it got lost.

[Sunan al-Tirmidhi: 3839, who said: "Hasan Gharib," and its chain is Hasan, authenticated by Ibn Hibban, Al-Ihsan: 6498]

A 'Saa' equals 60 Saas, which is approximately 150 kilograms.

Sayyiduna Abu Hurairah رضي الله تعالى عنه has numerous virtues. Over seven hundred Tabi'een learned Hadith from him, and esteemed companions including Sayyiduna Umar رضي الله تعالى عنه trusted him. According to his supplication, he passed away before the year 60 AH, in either 57, 58, or 59 AH. رضي الله تعالى عنه

Imam Abu Bakr Muhammad bin Ishaq رحمه الله made an excellent statement about him, summarizing as follows:

Four types of people criticized Sayyiduna Abu Hurairah رضي الله تعالى عنه:

1. The Mu'tazilite Jahmi (who denies the attributes of Allah)
2. The Khawarij (extremists who declare other Muslims disbelievers)
3. The Qadari (who denies predestination and authentic Hadith)
4. The ignorant (who pretends to be a scholar and opposes authentic Hadith without evidence due to blind imitation)
   [Al-Mustadrak by Al-Hakim 3/513, Hadith 6176, and its chain is Sahih]

Sayyiduna Abu Hurairah رضي الله تعالى عنه would say: "Each one of you sees the speck in his brother's eye but forgets the log or the branch in his own eye."

[Kitab al-Zuhd by Imam Ahmad p. 178, Hadith 992, and its chain is Sahih]

This narration is also reported as Marfu' (attributed to the Prophet ﷺ).

[Zawaid al-Zuhd by Ibn Sa'ad: 212, and its chain is Hasan, Sahih Ibn Hibban, Al-Mawarid: 1848]

Two Important Issues from the Fiqh of Sayyiduna Abu Hurairah رضي الله تعالى عنه:​

1. Fatiha behind the Imam: Sayyiduna Abu Hurairah رضي الله تعالى عنه told one of his students to recite it quietly in their heart.
   [Sahih Muslim: 395]
   
   The student asked what to do when the Imam recites loudly. He replied: "Recite it quietly in your heart."
   [Juz' al-Qira'ah by al-Bukhari: 73, and its chain is Hasan]
   
   Sayyiduna Abu Hurairah رضي الله تعالى عنه said: "When the Imam recites Surah al-Fatiha, you also recite it and finish before the Imam does."
   [Juz' al-Qira'ah: 283, and its chain is Sahih, Nasr al-Bari in the investigation of Juz' al-Qira'ah by al-Bukhari p. 27]
   
   It is understood that reciting quietly means moving the lips without making audible sound but not merely imagining the words.
2. Raf' al-Yadain (raising the hands) at three positions in Salah: Sayyiduna Abu Hurairah رضي الله تعالى عنه would raise his hands at the beginning of Salah, before going to Ruku, and after rising from Ruku.
   [Juz' Raf' al-Yadain by al-Bukhari: 22, and its chain is Sahih, Nur al-Aynayn in establishing the issue of Raf' al-Yadain p. 160]

Finally, we pray to Allah Almighty to fill our hearts with love for Sayyiduna Abu Hurairah رضي الله تعالى عنه and all the Companions, Tabi'een, and believers. Ameen.