This excerpt is taken from Sheikh Abu Hamza Abdul Khaliq Siddiqi's book Sahih Fazail Amaal.
Sayyiduna Anas (RA) narrates that the Messenger of Allah (SAW) said to Abi bin Ka'b (RA): "Indeed, Allah Almighty has commanded me to recite Surah Al-Bayyina to you." Sayyiduna Abi bin Ka'b (RA) asked: Has Allah mentioned my name? He replied: Yes. Upon this, Sayyiduna Abi bin Ka'b (RA) wept (with joy).
Reference: Sahih al-Bukhari, Book of Tafsir Surah Lam Yakun, Hadith No: 4959.
Sayyiduna Anas bin Malik (RA) narrates that the Messenger of Allah (SAW) said: "Among my Ummah, the greatest reciter of the Qur'an is Abi bin Ka'b (RA)."
Reference: Sunan Tirmidhi, Book of Virtues, Hadith No: 3790 -
Al-Albani (may Allah have mercy on him) graded it as "Sahih."◈ Adherence to the Commands of the Messenger of Allah ﷺ:
Once the Messenger of Allah, peace be upon him, sent Sayyiduna Abi bin Ka'b, may Allah be pleased with him, to collect zakat. He came to a companion and presented all the camels. After examining them, he said that you have to give only one young camel. He said: "It is neither suitable for riding nor does it give milk; this young fat she-camel is present." He said: "Until I am ordered, I cannot accept it. The Messenger of Allah, peace be upon him, is nearby. If you wish, you can present this she-camel yourself before him. If he accepts it, then I will also accept it." He took the she-camel and presented it before the Prophet, peace be upon him, and said: "O Prophet of Allah! I came to collect zakat, and I presented all the camels before him, but he said that only one young camel is obligatory upon you. Since it neither gives milk nor is suitable for riding, I gave him this fat she-camel, but he refused it. Now I present it before you." He said: "It is obligatory upon you to give that one; anything more than that is sadaqah (voluntary charity), and we will accept it." He said: "Then it is present." He permitted its acceptance and prayed for blessings in their wealth.
Reference: Sunan Abu Dawood, Book of Zakat, Hadith No: 1854 -
Al-Albani, may Allah have mercy on him, graded it as Hasan.Sayyiduna Abdullah bin Umar رضي الله عنهما said to Sayyiduna Abu Hurairah رضي الله عنه: O Abu Hurairah! You spent more time in the company of the Messenger of Allah صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم than we did, and you also remember the Hadith of the Messenger more than we do.
Reference: Sunan al-Tirmidhi, Book of Virtues, Chapter on the Virtues of Abu Hurairah رضي الله عنه, Hadith No: 3836.
Al-Albani رحمه الله authenticated it as "Sahih."Sayyiduna Abu Hurairah رضي الله عنه narrated that I said: O Messenger of Allah! I have heard many Hadiths from you so far, but I forget them. The Prophet صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم said: "Spread your cloak." I spread the cloak. He took a handful of dust with his hand and put it in the cloak and said: "Apply it to your body." So I applied it, and after that, I never forgot any Hadith.
Reference: Sahih al-Bukhari, Book of Virtues, Hadith No: 3648.
◈ Service to the Prophet ﷺ:
The Companions of the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ considered serving him their greatest honor. Many Companions had dedicated themselves to his service. Sayyiduna Abu Hurairah رضي الله عنه was always present in the blessed service; often he had the honor that when the Prophet went to relieve himself, he would bring water in a basin or a pitcher for him to perform ablution.
Reference: Sunan Abu Dawood, Book of Purification, Hadith No: 45 -
Al-Albani رحمه الله has graded it as Hasan.◈ Respect and Love for Ahl al-Bayt and the Relatives of the Prophet ﷺ:
The Companions and Ahl al-Bayt, may Allah be pleased with them, also held great respect and love for the Messenger of Allah, peace be upon him. One day, Sayyiduna Abu Hurairah, may Allah be pleased with him, met Imam Hasan, may Allah be pleased with him, and said, "Please lift your shirt where the Messenger of Allah, peace be upon him, kissed, so that I may kiss there." Accordingly, he lifted his shirt, and Abu Hurairah kissed that spot.
Reference: Musnad Ahmad: 488/2
Reference: Sahih Ibn Hibban, No: 5593
Ibn Hibban has declared it authentic.◈ Treatment of Parents:
Marwan often appointed Sayyiduna Abu Hurairah (may Allah be pleased with him) as his deputy. Regarding this relationship, once they were residing in Dhi al-Halifah, and his mother was living separately in another house. When he would leave his house, he would stand at the door of her house and say, "As-salamu alaykum ya ummatahu wa rahmatullahi wa barakatuh" (Peace be upon you, O his mother, and the mercy and blessings of Allah). She would reply, "Wa alayka ya banee wa rahmatullahi wa barakatuh" (And upon you, O my son, and the mercy and blessings of Allah). Then he would say, "May Allah have mercy on you as you cared for me in my childhood." She would respond, "May Allah have mercy on you as you treated me when you grew up." When he entered the house, he would also observe such etiquettes.
Reference: Al-Adab Al-Mufrad by Al-Bukhari, Chapter: Reward of Parents, Number: 12.
As long as his mother was alive, he did not prefer to perform Hajj without her.
Reference: Sahih Muslim, Chapter: The reward of a servant and his recompense when he advises his master and does good
◈ Taste for Knowledge:
You had a great eagerness for knowledge, and his passion for knowledge had reached the level of intense desire. Similarly, he wanted every Muslim's heart to develop the same degree of thirst for knowledge. So one day, he went to the market and called out to the people, asking, "What has compelled you?" People asked, "Compelled by what?" He said, "The inheritance of the Messenger of Allah, peace be upon him, is being distributed there, and you are sitting here!" People asked, "Where is it being distributed?" He said, "In the mosque!" People ran to the mosque, but there was no material inheritance there. So the people returned and said, "Nothing is being distributed there." However, some people were praying (voluntary prayers), some were engaged in reciting the Holy Quran, and some were discussing what is lawful and unlawful. He said, "I pity you people; this is indeed the inheritance of your Prophet, peace be upon him."
Reference: Tabarani Awsat: 221/1
◈ Love of the Prophet ﷺ:
The love of Sayyiduna Abu Hurairah رضي الله عنه for the Messenger of Allah صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم was at the highest level. He would not be separated from him even for a moment. All the Muhajireen and Ansar were busy with their own tasks, but his task was only to quench the fire of passion by seeing the beautiful face of the Prophet صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم. At one occasion, he expressed this by saying, "O Messenger of Allah! Your sight is the capital of my life and the coolness of my eyes." After the Holy Prophet صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم, he refrained from eating rich food merely because the Prophet صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم never ate to his fill. One day, people invited him to roasted goat. He refused only because the Prophet صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم left this world in such a state that he never ate even a loaf of barley bread with ease.
Reference: Sahih Bukhari, Book of Foods, Hadith No: 5414.
◈ Morals and Habits:
Sayyiduna Abu Hurairah رضي الله عنه came to Dar al-Islam in such a way that he had the opportunity to benefit from the company of the Prophet for two and a half to three years. Although this period may seem short on the surface, in the sense that during this time he was never separated from the noble service even for a moment, whether traveling or staying, in solitude or in company, and he made full use of the moments available in this short period. This short period, in terms of quality, is equivalent to a very long period. The result of this service to the Messenger صلى الله عليه وسلم was that the teachings of the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم deeply influenced him, and he became a complete embodiment of Islamic teachings.
Reference: Siyar A'lam al-Nubala: 519/3.
Sayyiduna Ibn Umar رضي الله عنهما said, I saw in a dream as if I had a piece of silk in my hand. Wherever I pointed towards a place in Paradise, it would take me flying in that direction. I narrated this dream to Umm al-Mu'minin Sayyida Hafsa رضي الله عنها. She conveyed it to the Prophet of Mercy صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم, who said: "Your brother is a righteous man." Or he said: "Abdullah is a righteous man."
Reference: Sunan Tirmidhi, Book of Virtues, Chapter on the Virtues of Abdullah bin Umar رضي الله عنهما, Hadith No: 3825.
Al-Albani رحمه الله declared it "Sahih."The Noble Prophet صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم said: "Abdullah is a very good boy. I wish he would pray Tahajjud at night." Salim narrated that Sayyiduna Abdullah رضي الله عنهما thereafter used to sleep very little at night.
Reference: Sahih Bukhari, Book of Virtues of the Companions of the Prophet ﷺ, Chapter on the Virtues of Abdullah bin Umar bin Al-Khattab رضي الله عنهما, Hadith No: 3739
◈ Nafl and Nawafil:
The Companions, may Allah be pleased with them, used to perform the obligatory prayers with great enthusiasm and readiness, and similarly, they would also observe the Nawafil, Ishraq, solar eclipse, and other prayers. Abdullah bin Umar, may Allah be pleased with both of them, when traveling, would perform Nawafil prayers while sitting on the mount, and he considered this to be the Sunnah of the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him.
Reference: Sahih Muslim, Book of Prayer, Hadith No: 700/31.
◈ Strictness in Congregation:
Sayyiduna Abdullah bin Umar, may Allah be pleased with both of them, narrates that one night we were waiting for the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, to lead the Isha prayer. One-third of the night passed when he came and said, "If it were not difficult for the Ummah, I would have prayed the Isha prayer right now."
Reference: Sahih Muslim, Book of Mosques, Hadith No: 220/639.
◈ Spending the Best of One’s Wealth:
Sayyiduna Abdullah bin Umar رضي الله عنهما used to give away whatever he liked in the way of Allah. Once, while on the journey of Hajj, he liked the gait of his she-camel, so he dismounted and told his servant Nafi to include it among the sacrificial animals.
Reference: Tabaqat Ibn Saad, Tadhkirah Abdullah bin Umar.
◈ Following the Sunnah:
Among all the companions of the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ, Sayyiduna Abdullah bin Umar رضي الله عنهما was especially distinguished in following the Sunnah of the Messenger of Allah ﷺ. When the Prophet ﷺ returned from the pilgrimage journey, he sat his she-camel at the mosque door and first offered two rak'ahs of prayer, then proceeded inside the house. After that, Abdullah bin Umar رضي الله عنهما also adopted this practice.
Reference: Sunan Abu Dawood, Book of Jihad, Hadith No: 2782 -
Allama Albani رحمه الله declared it Hasan Sahih.He used to apply yellow henna and said that he saw the Messenger of Allah ﷺ doing the same.
Reference: Sunan Abu Dawood, Book of Clothing, Hadith No: 6064 -
Albani رحمه الله called it "Sahih al-Isnad."There is a long list of incidents of following the Sunnah, but this is not the place for detailed discussion.
◈ Weeping and Crying:
Allah Almighty had softened the hearts of the Companions, may Allah be pleased with them, like wax, so when they heard the sermons and admonitions of the Messenger of Allah ﷺ, or recited the Holy Quran, or had moments of fear of Allah, they would become deeply moved and tears would involuntarily flow from their eyes. Abdullah bin Umar, may Allah be pleased with both of them, when reciting this verse of the Holy Quran ﴿أَلَمْ يَأْنِ لِلَّذِينَ آمَنُوا أَن تَخْشَعَ قُلُوبُهُمْ لِذِكْرِ اللَّهِ﴾
Reference: (57-Al-Hadid:16)
"Has the time not come for those who have believed that their hearts should become humbly submissive at the remembrance of Allah?" would weep uncontrollably and continue crying for a long time.
Reference: Asad al-Ghabah, mentioning Abdullah bin Umar, may Allah be pleased with him.
◈ The Honor and Love of the Friends of the Messenger ﷺ:
The companions of the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ, whom he loved, also held him in great respect and honor. Once Abdullah bin Umar رضي الله عنهما saw a man dragging his garment in the corner of the mosque. He asked, "Who is this person?" Someone replied, "Don't you recognize him? This is Muhammad bin Usama." Upon hearing this, Abdullah bin Umar رضي الله عنهما lowered his head, struck the ground with his hand, and said, "If the Messenger of Allah ﷺ had seen him, he would have loved him."
Reference: Sahih Bukhari, Book of the Virtues of the Companions of the Prophet, Hadith No: 3734.
