ABU HURAIRA (RA)

Among those who love animals, very few have a name directly associated with one. And among the companions of the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him), none narrated more Hadiths than Abu Huraira (may Allah be pleased with him). Thus, with his personality and his wisdom, he holds a truly unique place among the Prophet’s companions.

Abu Huraira devoted his life entirely to Islam and to serving the Messenger of Allah. His love for the Prophet and his commitment to preserving his teachings made him one of the most influential figures in early Islamic history. Through his tireless efforts, he left behind an invaluable legacy which is the sayings of Prophet Muhammad.

His Name and Conversion

Abu Hurayra (RA) is a figure whose early life and precise lineage are subjects of some historical discussion. While his fame rests firmly on his widely recognized kunya (a teknonymic nickname), his birth name is not known with absolute certainty. Before his embrace of Islam, some sources suggest he was known as ʿAbd al-Shams ibn Ṣakhr. The meaning of “ʿAbd al-Shams” (“Servant of the Sun”) reflects the pre-Islamic polytheistic environment, where devotion to various deities was common. However, the exact given name before his conversion remains a point of scholarly debate, with some historians presenting alternative possibilities.

After his conversion to Islam, The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) is reported to have given him the name ʿAbd al-Raḥmān, meaning “Servant of the Most Merciful.” This renaming was a common practice during the early days of Islam, symbolizing a break from pre-Islamic customs and an allegiance to the One God, Allah. Such a change in name often carried profound spiritual significance, aligning one’s identity with their new faith.

Despite these discussions surrounding his name, it is his affectionate nickname that has become the most famous and the primary way he is remembered: “Abu Hurayra” which means “the Father of the Kitten”, a title given to him because he was often seen carrying a small cat in his pocket.

Abu Huraira belonged to the Daws tribe, which lived in the region of Yemen in southern Arabia. The Daws were known for their honesty and loyalty, and several members of the tribe accepted Islam after hearing about the Prophet Muhammad. He converted to Islam through his tribal chieftain, Tufayl ibn ‘Amr. His arrival in Medina took place in the 7th year of the Hijra (629 CE), meaning he only spent about three to four years with the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) but spent almost every moment in his company.

His Personality and Love for Prophet Muhammad

Abu Huraira was known for his deep devotion. Each night, he divided his time into three parts: one-third for rest, one-third for prayer, and one-third for studying and discussing Hadith. He, his wife, and his servant would take turns waking up during the night to pray. This showed how seriously he lived his faith, even in private moments.

His love for the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) was sincere and strong. He used to say, “When I see you, my heart is filled with joy and my eyes are comforted.” After the Prophet’s passing, Abu Huraira would sometimes cry while narrating Hadith in the Prophet’s Mosque, remembering his beloved teacher and friend.

One of the most touching stories about Abu Huraira has nothing to do with Hadith, but everything to do with his character. For a long time, his mother refused to accept Islam. Her rejection deeply pained him, especially when she would say things against the Prophet.One day, heartbroken, he went to the Prophet and tearfully begged him to pray for his mother’s guidance. The Prophet did so.

Abu Huraira rushed back home, and as he arrived, he heard his mother inside. She called him in, announced that she had taken her shahada, and embraced Islam. His loyalty to her was so profound that it’s famously reported he did not perform an optional Hajj (pilgrimage) until after she passed away, so he could remain by her side and serve her.

Ahl al-Suffah and His Devotion to Learning

After embracing Islam, Abu Huraira (RA) devoted his life to learning from the Prophet Muhammad. When he arrived in Madinah, he had no wealth, no family, and no permanent home. Because of this, he joined a special group of companions known as the Ahl al-Suffah (The People of the Bench).

The Ahl al-Suffah lived in a shaded area near the Prophet’s Mosque in Madinah. They were poor, but their hearts were rich in faith. They spent their days listening to the Prophet, learning the Qur’an, and memorizing his sayings. The Prophet personally cared for them, often sharing food with them or asking others to host them for meals.

Abu Huraira was one of the most active among this group. He used every moment to learn and remember what the Prophet said and did. Because he had no business or family duties (until later times when Prophet Muhammad died), he could focus completely on knowledge. He once said:

The Muhajirun were busy in the market, and the Ansar were busy with their fields. But I stayed with the Messenger of Allah, content with what filled my stomach, so I memorized what they did not.

Other great companions confirmed this. The famous Ibn Umar (RA) told him directly: “You were the one who stayed with the Prophet the most and memorized his Hadith the best.”

Through his great memory and strong faith, Abu Huraira became one of the main preservers of the Prophet’s teachings. He later narrated more sayings of the Prophet than any companion would.

Abu Huraira continued teaching Hadith for nearly fifty years after the Prophet’s death. He became a major source for later scholars, and his narrations form an important part of collections like Sahih al-Bukhari and Sahih Muslim.

He was more then a “narrator” of hadiths. He was a brilliant scholar, a legal expert, and a foundational teacher. After the Prophet’s death, he was one of the main scholars in Medina that people went to for fatwas (legal rulings). Other great scholars, like Ibn Abbas, would at times defer to Abu Huraira’s knowledge on a subject. He was also a master of Qur’an recitation (Qira’at), which he had learned directly from greats like Ubayy b. Ka’b. He then taught this knowledge to Imams who came after him.

He was respected not only for how much he knew, but for how carefully he preserved and shared it. His life showed that true knowledge is not just about memory. It is about love, humility, and living what one learns.