Qur'an, Hadith and Scholars: Abu Hurayrah: Difference between revisions

'Abd al-Rahman ibn Sakhr ad-Dawsi (Arabic : عبدالرحمن بن صخر الدوسي), or Abu Hurayra, born between 601 and 604 and died between 676 and 679, is a celebrated sahabi, or companion of the prophet Mohammed. It is estimated that he transmited 5,374 hadiths, more or less the equivalent of an entire Qu'ran by himself. He is cited in more than half of the classic isnâds (chains of transmission) of the hadiths, making him the greatest know traditionalist (muhaddith). He is therefore responsible for transmitting more hadiths than any other companion of the prophet according to the tradition, even though according to this same tradition he spent less time around Muhammad and was less intimitely familiar with him than the other companions. In affect, according the majority of authors, he only knew Muhammad during the latter part of his life: at most he knew the prophet for 4 years before the latter's death.

He was very poor during the life of the prophet, but he became the governor of Bahrain during the reign of ‘Umar Ibn al-Khattâb, and he subsequently abandoned the post then became emir of Madinah under the caliphate of Mu’âwiya.

Place of Abu Hurayrah amongst the Companions of the Prophet During his Lifetime

Bukhari 5432 (and 3708) :

Thirmidhi 3764 :

Bukhari 5375 :

Bukhari 6452 :

Commentary :

Ahl as-Suffah (أهل الصفة) : literally, the people of the banquet. They sojourned permanently about the prophet's mosque and sheltered under a canopy.

Verse 273 of surah number two al-Baqarah may make an allusion to them:

Bukhari 7324 :

During the course of the last four years of the life of the prophet when according to the tradition he had total, uncontested power in Medinah, it is difficult to imagine someone daring to step upon the neck of a true companion of the prophet in broad daylight. It seems possible that Abu Hourayra didn't habitually accompany the prophet but rather stayed in or around the mosque of Madinah in the day, and homeless under the stars at night, amongst the "Suffah." In such a position he might well have seen the power that religion had in those times in that place. The opportunities afforded by religion would have been apparent.

Judged as too Gossipy during the Lifetime of the Prophet, Saved by the Magic Cloth

If one takes into account that he supposedly transmitted more than 5000 hadiths in the space of four years, that works out to collectively about 4 hadith per day, a startling piece of statistical evidence. Even more confusing : according to numerous sources, during these 4 years, in total he could only have known the prophet for a year and nine months since the prophet sent him under the command of ibn Al Hadhrami to Bahrain. The messenger of Allah died while Abu Hurayrah was still there in Bahrain (Abou Houreyra : Mahmoud Abou Ar Riya Al Misri, Commentaires des Hadiths, de Ibn Koteyba, page 39 et 41). But also because the prophet has spent a great amounts of his time in military expeditions during the last 4 years of his life it is unlikely that Abu Hurayrah spent even 1 year and 9 months around him. Numerous contemporaries of Abu Hurayrah expressed their astonishment if not their doubts concerning this profusion of hadith traditions which seemed to pour out of Abu Hurayrah like bullets from a machine gun .

Muslim 6399 (2493) :

(See also Muslim 7509 (2493) and 7510 (3004) and Bukhari 3568)

Ahmad in al-Mousnad (16/563) :

Muslim 6397 (2492)

(see also Bukhari 118,119, 3648, 7354, 2047 and 2350)

Suspicion that he Invented Hadiths

Bukhari 5355 :

Muslim 2589 (1109)

His Use and Occasional Inconvienence to the Caliphates

While he was impoverished during the life of the prophet, Abu Hurayrah managed to considerably enrich himself during the reigns of the first caliphs. He was designated the emir of Madinah more than once. He continued to narrate hadiths throughout his life, but not everyone seemed pleased by his narrations: 'Umar threatened him to shut him up while Mu’âwiya found it easier to purchase his silence.

Tarik Madinat Dimachk by Ibn Asākir Vol 67 p 343

Ibn Asâkir (Ta’rikh Dimashq), Ibn Kathir (Al-Bidaya wa l-Nihâya), Al Dhahabî (Siyar A’lâmi al Nubalâ)

Bukhari 120 + Ibn Hajar al-’Asqalanî (Fath al-Bari)

Ibn Hajar al-‘Asqalanî (Fath al-Bari) explains the previous hadith in these terms : « The scholars have deduced that the jar that he did not divulge contains some hadiths with the names of the governors of the treasury, their state and their time period. Abû Hurayra made the same indirect reference to certain ones amongst them, because because he was afraid for himself. »

Ibn Sa’d al-Baghdadi Kitab al-Tabaqât al Kabîr :

Abu Hurayrah finished his life immensely wealthy, the governor of Medinah living in a palace. In the service of the first caliphs and in particular the Umayyads, he very effectively collaborated and ingratiated himself with the founders of today's current Sunni islam, a venture which served to make him immensely rich and powerful.

Examples of Hadiths in the Pure Style of Abu Hurayrah

Some Hadiths Which Were Favored by the Caliphate:

Bukhari 6924 :

Bukhari 1442 :

Bukhari 2548 and 2549 :

Abu Dawud 2175 :

Others concerning good morals:

Bukhari 5185 :

Bukhari 5136 and Muslim 1419 :

Bukhari 1088 and Muslim 1339 :

Bukhari 5194 :

(see also Muslim 1436)

Tirmidhi 1159 :

Muslim 5661 :

Other hadiths:

Muslim 6580 :

Bukhari 3295 :

Bukhari 608 :

Bukhari 3320 :

Bukhari 278 :

Bukhari 279 :

Bukhari 3292 :

Bukhari 3860 :

Muslim 6924 :

Bukhari 3056 :

Bukhari 1145 :

This last hadith, like much else in the tradition, seems to imply a flat earth that does not turn.