Salafi Research Institute SRI
In Defence of The Sahabi al-Jalil
The Faqeeh, The Mujtahid, The Muhaddith
Abu Hurairah
(Radhiallaahu Anhu)
Part 5
By
Shaikh Muhammad Ra’is Nadwi [1430H]
(Shaikh ul-Hadith, Jamia Salafiyyah, Banaras)
From
Al-Lamhaat Ilaa Maa Fee Anwaar al-Baaree Minuz-Zuloomaat
Series compilers, Translated and Annotated
Abu Hibbaan & Abu Khuzaimah Ansaari
Abu Hurairah (Radhiallaahu Anhu) was originally from the land of Yemen and was from the great tribe of Daus, the Messenger of Allaah (Sallalahu Alayhee Was-Sallam) said
“Eemaan is in Yemen, Fiqh is in Yemen and wisdom is in Yemen.” (Saheeh al-Bukhaari, Saheeh Muslim and Ahmad)
So this hadeeth shows the virtue of Eemaan, jurisprudence and wisdom of the people of Yemen. Hence no one with correct intellect and sound disposition can deny the companion, Abu Hurairah from Yemen had the abilities of jurisprudence or wisdom and his virtue and respect in this.
One ahadeeth states,
“Abu Hurairah had knowledge.” (Mustadrak (3/509), in another hadeeth the Messenger of Allaah (Sallalahu Alayhee Was-Sallam) said, “Abu Hurairah is the one with Wisdom in this Ummah” (Kunz al-A’maal (5/217), al-Esteeya’aab (1/8).
The Qur’aan says,
“He grants Hikmah to whom He pleases, and he, to whom Hikmah is granted, is indeed granted abundant good. But none remember (will receive admonition) except men of understanding.” (Soorah al-Baqarah:269)
Abu Hurairah according to the statement of the Messenger of Allaah (Sallalahu Alayhee Was-Sallam) had juristic abilities and wisdom from Allaah and the people of knowledge have also mentioned the meaning of Hikmah to mean juristic abilities and knowing the Prophetic Sunnah. (See al-Jaam’e al-Ahkaam al-Qur’aan (20/230)
Abu Hurairah (Radhiallaahu Anhu) was from the Arab tribe of Daus and the Messenger of Allaah (Sallalahu Alayhee Was-Sallam) said,
“I can only accept the gift of the people from the tribes of Qurashee, Ansaari and Dausee.” (Abu Dawood, Nasaa’ee Tirmidhee with Tuhfatul-Ahwadhee (4/379-380, also see Musnad Ahmad with the Footnotes of Allaamah Ahmad Shaakir (13/97), Jaam’e Ibn Wahb (pg.57), Musnad Humaidee (2/454) and the chain is authentic)
This hadeeth also shows the virtue of Abu Hurairah, however due to bigotry and narrow mindedness an individual is deprived of insight and sight which causes him to be deprived of knowing and understanding the truth.
It is narrated in Saheeh al-Bukhaari, Muslim and Musnad Humaidee (2/453) that Tufail bin Umar Dausee (Radhiallahu Anhu) said to the Messenger of Allaah (Sallalahu Alayhee Was-Sallam) curse the Daus tribe so the Messenger of Allaah (Sallalahu Alayhee Was-Sallam) said,
“Oh Allaah guide the Daus.” (Asaabah Fee Ma’ariftus Sahaabah of Haafidh Ibn Hajr in the mentioning of Tufail (2/225)
Imaam Sama’anee mentions that Jaabir (Radhiallaahu Anhu) narrated the companion Tufail bin Umar ad-Dausee came to Makkah in the beginning period of Islaam and said to the Messenger of Allaah (Sallalahu Alayhee Was-Sallam)
“Oh Messenger of Allaah (Sallalahu Alayhee Was-Sallam) my tribe in Yemen is like a castle so make Hijrah and come there with me.” Insaab of Sama’aanee (2/401-402), Saheeh Muslim, Mustadrak (4/76), Musnad Abee Awaanah (1/47).
These narrations also establish the virtue of the tribe of Abu Hurairah. The tribe of Daus is a branch of the tribe of Azd. (Tabaqaat Khaleefah bin Khayaat (pg.814) and the tribe of Azd also has much virtue. (Tuhfatul-Ahwadhee With Tirmidhee, Chapter al-Manaaqib)
The uncle Abu Hurairah, Sa’ad bin Abee Dhabaab was the king of the Daus tribe when he became muslim the Messenger of Allaah (Sallalahu Alayhee Was-Sallam) made him the Ameer of the tribe and after the demise of the Messenger of Allaah (Sallalahu Alayhee Was-Sallam) he maintained this position during the period of the leader of the believers, Abu Bakr and Umar (Radhiallaahu Anhuma). (Ktaab al-Amwaal (pg.496) of Abee Ubayd, Musannaf Ibn Abee Shaybah (3/143), Musnad Ahmad (4/79), Taareekh al-Kabeer of Bukhaari (2/46 Q2).
Many families of the Daus tribe accepted Islaam and offered to help the Messenger of Allaah (Sallalahu Alayhee Was-Sallam). (ad-Difa’ah An Abee Hurairah (pg.18-21)
The mother of Abu Hurairah Ameenah bint Safeeh bin Haarith was also a woman of the Daus tribe. (al-Ma’arif of Ibn al-Qutaibah (pg.277) she was also a female companion of the Messenger of Allaah (Sallalahu Alayhee Was-Sallam). Abu Hurairah’s father, Sakhar according to the narration of ibn al-Kalbee was a companion (Fath ul-Baaree (9/164), however ibn al-Kalbee is weak. However Abu Hurairah’s maternal uncle Sa’ad bin Safeeh (Radhiallaahu Anhu) was from the bravest men of the Daus tribe and he was also a companion. (Tabaqaat Ibn Sa’ad (4/325) and Asaabah)
Abu Hurairah mentioned himself his name in the days of ignorance used to be Abdush-Shams (cited by Ibn Khuzaimah with an authentic Chain) and the Messenger of Allaah (Sallalahu Alayhee Was-Sallam) changed it and named it Abdur-Rahmaan or Abdullaah. (Tahdheeb ut-Tahdheeb and al-Esteeya’aab in the biography of Abu Hurairah). The Messenger of Allaah (Sallalahu Alayhee Was-Sallam) also chose this kunyah (ie Abu Hurairah) for him. (al-Mustadrak (3/506) with an authentic chain). The reason for this Kunyah was that he used to like small cats and a cat in arabic is known as hirrah and its plural is Hurairah (see Jaami at-Tirmidhee). Abu Hurairah was also the Khaleef of Abu Bakr. (see Kitaab al-Kunaa of Daulaabee (1/61).
Abu Hurairah became Muslim in the beginning of Islaam but he migrated in 7H with about 70 families and at that time Abu Hurairah was about 30 years old.
Abu Hurairah Accepting Islaam
Haafidh Ibn Hajr has mentioned in Asaabah that the well known chief of the tribe of Daus Tufail binUmayr (Radhiallaahu Anhu) came to Makkah in the beginning of Islaam and met the Messenger of Allaah (Sallalahu Alayhee Was-Sallam) after which he accepted Islaam. (Assabah, Tabaqaat Ibn Sa’ad (1/353), Mustadrak (3/259). After having accepted Islaam he returned to his land of Yemen and started spreading the message of Islaam and invited his tribe to Islaam. So Abu Hurairah was the only person who accepted Islaam and thereafter the other people started to accept Islaam. (Asaabah (2/225-226), Tabaqaat Ibn Sa’ad)
We find from this narration Abu Hurairah became Muslim in the beginning of Islaam however he saw the Messenger of Allaah in 7H when he the Messenger of Allaah (Sallalahu Alayhee Was-Sallam) was in the battle of Khaybar. For detals see Anwaar al-Kaashifah of Allaamah Mu’allimee al-Yamaanee (p.144 and p.204) and the notes to Insaab by Mu’allimee also.)
So the conclusion is Abu Hurairah had accepted Islaam in the beginning. Imaam al-Maghaazee Imaam Muhammad bin Ishaaq narrates, Abu Hurairah was from the most respected and virtuous member of the Daus tribe.” (Footnote to Insaab and Mustadrak (3/506)
The Love of The Messenger of Allaah (Sallalahu Alayhee Was-Sallam) For Abu Hurairah (Radhiallaahu Anhu)
The Messenger of Allaah (Sallalahu Alayhee Was-Sallam) loved Abu Hurairah a great deal. Once the Messenger of Allaah (Sallalahu Alayhee Was-Sallam) said to Abu Hurairah,
“Ask me for something from the wealth.” Abu Hurairah replied, “Of Messenger of Allaah (Sallalahu Alayhee Was-Sallam) I only ask you to teach me some of the knowledge Allaah granted to you. So the Messenger of Allaah (Sallalahu Alayhee Was-Sallam) spread the shawl of Abu Hurairah on the ground and began to recite something over it. When he had finished he said, “Take your shawl and keep it with you.” Abu Hurairah said, “From that day I did not even forget one letter of the hadeeth.” (Tadhkirratul-Huffaadh, the meaning of this is also narrated in Bukhaari, Muslim, Nasaa’ee and others and Hilyatul-Awliyaa (1/381).
It is reported authentically that Abu Hurairah said to the Messenger of Allaah (Sallalahu Alayhee Was-Sallam),
“Supplicate for me that Allaah makes me and my mother beloved to his beloved believer. So the Messenger of Allaah (Sallalahu Alayhee Was-Sallam) supplicated for him. Abu Hurairah said, “Whoever sees or hears about me, he begins to love due to the blessing of the supplication of the Messenger of Allaah (Sallalahu Alayhee Was-Sallam). (Saheeh Muslim, Tabaqaat Ibn Sa’ad (3/54-55 Q2), Hilyatul-Awliaa)
So loving Abu Hurairah is a sigh of Eemaan therefore do the hanafee’s love Abu Hurairah more or the people of Rayy (opinion) especially Imaam Abu Haneefah?
Once Abu Hurairah was ill and was sitting in a corner of the Prophets Masjid, the Messenger of Allaah (Sallalahu Alayhee Was-Sallam) searched for him and when he found him he put his hand on his chest and supplicated for him and Abu Hurairah recovered. (Sunan Abee Dawood (1/502) with an authentic chain). This shows the Messenger of Allaah (Sallalahu Alayhee Was-Sallam) loved Abu Hurairah greatly.
Similarly Abu Hurairah also greatly loved the Messenger of Allaah (Sallalahu Alayhee Was-Sallam), he said to the Messenger of Allaah (Sallalahu Alayhee Was-Sallam),
“Oh Messenger of Allaah when I see you I feel very happy and joyous and my eyes water.” (Musnad Ahmad (3/323), Mustadrak (4/160), Majma’a az-Zawaa’id (9/363) with an authentic chain).
After the death of the Messenger of Allaah (Sallalahu Alayhee Was-Sallam) when Abu Hurairah would narrate ahadeeth he would faint due to the great love he had for the Messenger of Allaah (Sallalahu Alayhee Was-Sallam). (Jaam’i Tirmidhee with a Hasan chain), Mustadrak (1/418), Kitaab az-Zubd (pg.159) of Ibn al-Mubaarak) Abu Hurairah would also refer to the Messenger of Allaah (Sallalahu Alayhee Was-Sallam) as his best friend. (Saheeh al-Bukhaari, Musannaf Ibn Abee Shaybah (2/408).
A jurist of the hanafee madhab (ie an individual of the people of Rayy (opinion) was once degrading Abu Hurairah (Radhiallaahu Anhu) and was saying he was not a jurist and his narrations are not to be accepted, when suddenly a serpent (snake) started to chase him and only stopped chasing him once he repented. (See Siyar A’laam an-Nabulaa (2/444) of Dhahabee, Taareekh al-Islaam (2/337) also of Imaam Dhahabee, Tuhfatul-Ahwadhee Sharh Tirmidhee, Baab Maa Jaa Fee Fadhal at-Tahoor (1/11) from Aa’ardhatul-Ahwadhee, Hayaatul-Haywaan of Damairee and Difa’ah Ann Abee Hurairah (pg.480).
Ibn Umar (Radhiallaahu Anhuma) said,
“Oh Abu Hurairah you are from the biggest scholars amongst the companions.” (Jaam’i Tirmidhee, Asaabah and Esteeya’aab)
However the hanafee jurists of Ahlur-Rayy after all this claim, one of the companions who spent the most time with the Messenger of Allaah (Sallalahu Alayhee Was-Sallam) was a non-Faqeeh and the hadeeth narrated by him, which oppose the hanafee principles will not be accepted and according to Kawthari his hadeeth (ie Abu Hurairah’s) and of other such companions will not be accepted in contradiction to the Qiyaas (analogical reasoning) of Abu Haneefah.
To be continued…Inshallaah
