"On the authority of Abu Hurairah RA, may Allah be pleased with him who said: The Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, said ... "
In Defense of Abu Hurairah RA - To Some Erroneous Claims
ABU HURAIRAH (603–681 CE) أبو هريرة
His real name was `Abd Shams (Worshipper of the Sun), but it was changed to `Abd al-Rahman ibn Sakhr by Rasulullah SAW . He was of the Daws tribe, a Companion of Rasulullah SAW and a prolific narrator of Hadith. It is said that either he was fond of, or was once spotted with a kitten which became the reason for earning the nickname “Abu Hurairah RA” meaning “he of the kitten.” He was born in Yemen in the Tihamah region on whose border lays the Red Sea. Not much is known about his private life or family except that he had a mother. He embraced Islam through Tufayl ibn `Amr RA, the chief of his tribe, who had come back to the settling after having met Rasulullah SAW and embraced Islam at Makkah. In one of his journeys he accompanied him to Makkah and embraced Islam there.
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Thus, Abu Hurairah’s RA entry into Islam was in the early days while his fellowmen delayed their Islam. However, he migrated to Madinah only in (7H or 629CE) the seventh year after Hijrah apparently with his mother who had not embraced Islam. He himself was a little over 33 at that time. Since Rasulullah SAW was away at Khaibar, he stayed among the Ahl Al-Suffah. He was single without a wife or child. He encouraged his mother to become a Muslim, but she refused. He was quite concerned about his mother who refused to budge. One day, he reported to Rasulullah SAW with tears in his eyes and explained that his persuasion had failed and there was no chance she would give in. Further, she had said things about Rasulullah SAW that he wouldn’t like to hear. He asked him to supplicate for her. Rasulullah SAW agreed and when Abu Hurairah RA went home, he found her bathing in order to recite the testimony. He had just wiped the tears of grief off his eyes that began to flow again from joy.
After Rasulullah SAW return from Khaibar, Abu Hurairah clung to him until he demised (i.e., for about two years) like no one else, despite having to pass his days in extreme hunger and deprivation. He admitted that he went hungry for such long stretches that he would ask Rasulullah’s Companions about a verse of the Qur’an in pretention, hoping that the man would take him home for dinner. On one occasion, he found no luck with Saidina Abu Bakr RA who was passing by and who moved on after answering his question. Then Saidina Umar Al Khattab RA happened to show up and he asked him too. But he too answered his question and then moved on. Finally, Rasulullah SAW passed by and realized that I was hungry. He said: “Abu Hurairah!” He said, “At your service.” He told him to follow, until he took him into his house. Upon entering, they discovered that someone had gifted a bowl of milk. “Abu Hurairah,” Rasulullah SAW said, “Go get the Ahl Al-suffah. Abu Huraira’s heart sank: this little bowl and the dozens on the Platform! But he had to do as told. They came in, in turns, drank from the bowl and left. Then Rasulullah SAW made him drink, and drink, and drink, until the milk could burst from his veins. Once, Rasulullah SAW allowed two dates each to a group of the Ahl Al-suffah. Abu Hurairah RA chewed one and reserved one. He asked him why he had done that. He said it was for his mother. He told him, “Eat it, I’ll give you two more.”
"Abu Hurayrah is a glaring proof of the authenticity and trustworthiness of the ahadith".
Bukhari reports him as saying, “I said to Rasulullah SAW, ‘I hear a lot from you but I forget.’” He said, ‘Spread your cloak,’ which I did. He moved his hands as if filling it with something and then said, ‘Take it and wrap it around you.’ I did, and thereafter I forgot nothing that I heard from him.” It is also recorded that he said, “People are surprised that I narrate many a hadith. Well, had it not been for the Qur’anic verse, I would not have narrated any Hadith. It says (2: 159), ‘Indeed, those who conceal the clear signs and guidance that We have sent down, after We have made them clear to the people in the Book, they, such of them, are cursed by Allah and cursed by those who curse.’ The thing is, my Muhajir brothers were busy in the market, while the Ansar were busy in the fields. But I stuck to Rasulullah SAW, satisfied with what little would fill my stomach, thus being in attendance when others were not. Further, I used to memorize, while they did not.” All in all, he spent four years and a few days in Rasulullah’s close company.
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| Illustration Only: Abu Hurairah RA - love cats. |
After Rasulullah SAW demised, he took part in the battles against the apostates and deniers of zakah. At the time of Saidina Abu Bakr RA, he was in Jihad. He was there in the famous Yarmuk battle that decided the fate of the Romans. During the time of Saidina Umar RA, he was appointed Governor of Bahrain Province (the Eastern part of the Peninsula) but was removed after two and a half years. Saidina Umar RA never kept anyone in any important position for long, he kept rotating the job An amazing incident took place when Abu Hurairah returned to Makkah with much wealth. Saidina Umar's RA asked him where he had got it from. He informed him that, in his spare time, he traded and earned profits, in addition to piling up his own salary. Saidina Umar's remarked, “Nay! I believe since you were the Governor, they traded with you on favorable terms in order to win your favor. You better cut it into two and deposit one half in the governmental treasury.” Now, Abu Hurairah RA was an Arab, who will give away a large sum as a gift, but from whom not a penny can be taken by force. If he willed, Abu Hurairah RA could have told `Umar's, “Nothing doing, I have earned it the Halal way, and will only give in charity whenever I wish.” After all, Abu Hurairah RA was not a modern-day governor who has to build roads, bridges, schools, hospitals and airports. His governorship would not have cost him more than an hour or two per day. But he did not say any such thing. Probably he saw some justification in Saidina Umar's conclusion, and, further, being a Hadith scholar, who had been through the phase when he fell on the ground because of hunger, and people pressed their feet on his neck under the impression that this was an epilepsy attack, he had been through all that, and had little regard for money. Moreover, he must have thought, to get rid of one-half is not such a bad idea from the point of accountability in the Hereafter. Therefore, he cheerfully deposited one half of what he had brought from Bahrain. Of course, Saidina Umar RA trusted him. He offered Abu Hurairah RA the post once again, but Abu Hurairah RA turned down the offer.
“I was Abu Hurayrah’s guest. At night I found him, his servant and his wife going into Prayers in turns. One of them would be in Prayers for one-third of the night, while the other two slept. Then he would wake up one of the other two and go to bed himself.”– Uthman al-Nahdi.
As a result of Rasulullah SAW supplication, he had a prodigious memory. The secretary of Marwan (the Madinan Governor) reports that once Marwan asked Abu Hurairah RA to dictate a hadith on a particular topic while his secretary wrote them down. After a year Marwan placed his secretary to sit behind the curtain with the older collection (containing a hundred or so of the ahadith), and told Abu Hurairah RA that he had lost the collection, could he dictate the same ahadith once more? To surprise, Abu Hurairah did it, without moving a single syllable from one place to another, exactly as he had narrated a year ago.
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| One of the Hadith narrated by Abu Hirairah RA. |
"The time will come when one will not care how one gains one's money, Legally or Illegally."
(This the reality today)
Saidina Umar RA, however, was not always happy with the Companions narrating a hadith perhaps because he was afraid the newly converted would get confused between it and the Qur’an. Once he warned Abu Hurairah RA: “Either you will stop narrating Hadith or I’ll exile you to Daws.” He also warned Ubay ibn Ka`b (a former Jew), “Either you will stop narrating hadith or I’ll exile you to the lands of the monkeys.” Yet, he had allowed Abu Hurairah RA to express his juridical opinions. Somebody asked Abu Hurairah about eating out of meat gifted to a Hajee, which was from an animal hunted down by a non-Hajee. He allowed it (although hunting is disallowed for a Hajee). Then he mentioned his opinion to Saidina Umar RA. He remarked, “Had you given another opinion, I would have punished you.”
Consequent to the historical circumstances of the past, and Abu Hurairah’s choices, he was the person who quoted most; more than 5,000 ahadith being documented in the Musnad of Ahmad itself. The Sahihan have altogether 326 ahadith that originate from him. He was followed in numbers by `Abdullah ibn `Umar, Anas ibn Malik, `Aishah, Jabir ibn `Abdullah and Abu Sa`eed al-Khudri. He used to say, “There was a time when I was a cameleer tending the camels of Bushra, to satisfy my stomach. Praise to Allah that He made it possible for me to marry Bushra, and lead people in Prayers.” Yet, he did not narrate all that he had heard from Rasulullah SAW . He said, “I have saved two vessels of knowledge. I speak out of one. If I spoke out of the other, people will slaughter me.” The allusion was to the predictions Rasulullah SAW had made about the political upheavals that would take place after him. Had Abu Hurairah RA begun to speak about who was right and who wrong, in the light of what he had heard from him, the activists would have gone after him. Naturally, he was a much respected person during his life. In fact, some Companions quoted from him and their jurists wished to hear how Abu Hurairah judged. Not surprisingly, he led in the funeral Prayer of `Aishah Bint Abu Bakr, and, even of Hafsa (Rasulullah’s wife) with her brother, Ibn `Umar, a well-known pious person and nominee to the Khilafah, alive, praying behind him. He also led the funeral Prayer of Umm Salamah (another wife of Rasulullah SAW) when she died.
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| Another Hadith narrated by Abu Hurairah RA |
Abu Hurairah RA is a glaring proof of the authenticity and trustworthiness of the ahadith.
Abu Hurairah is a glaring proof of the authenticity and trustworthiness of the ahadith. If they were forged during the late first and early second Islamic century, by a group of forgers, and fastened to his name, as the Orientalists and their Eastern tail-polishers allege, surely, the forgers would not have used Abu Hurairah’s name. They would have chosen for such a cause someone like Bilal, or `Ammar ibn Yasir, who were in the company of Rasulullah SAW day one of Islam, so to say, and lasting full 23 years. Anything forged in the name of the earliest Muslims, stood better chance of acceptance as genuine than those fastened to Abu Hurairah RA who was not destined to receive Rasulullah’s company but for just above four years. Further, the forgers would have evenly distributed their forgeries among many, especially among the `Ashara al-Mubashshara, the widely respected ten Companions, instead of fastening 5,000 narratives on a single man and arousing suspicion. Finally, the narratives of Abu Hurairah RA widely corroborate those narrated by other Companions and are supported by historical evidences. But, there are people, in every society, who are more likely to move on the lines drawn by idiots using their tongue-skills, than by the lines drawn by a True Rasul, and a True Companion.
“I was Abu Hura1rah’s guest. At night I found him, his servant and his wife going into Prayers in turns. One of them would be in Prayers for one-third of the night, while the other two slept. Then he would wake up one of the other two and go to bed himself.”– Uthman al-Nahdi.
Abu Hurairah RA had a wide shoulder, brown colored body, a gap between his front two teeth, two pleats of hair dangling, and a beard dyed red. Not much is known about his wife and children except that he had married his former employer, Bushra, and that one of his daughters was married to Said ibn al-Musayyib. Abu `Uthman al-Nahdi said, “I was Abu Hurayrah’s guest. At night, I found him, his servant and his wife going into Prayers in turns. One of them would be in Prayers for one-third of the night, while the other two slept. Then he would wake up one of the other two and go to bed himself.” Abu Hurayrah died in 681H at the age of 78. (The article will be expanded, Allah willing, with the next revision: Au.).
"An Abi Hurayrata, radiallahu 'anhu, qal qala rasulallahi, sallallahu alayhi wa sallam ... "
Through this phrase millions of Muslims from the early history of Islam to the present have come to be familiar with the name Abu Hurairah RA. In speeches and lectures, in Friday khutbahs and seminars, in the books ofhadith and sirah, fiqh and 'ibadah, the name Abu Hurairah RA is mentioned in this fashion:
"On the authority of Abu Hurairah RA, may Allah be pleased with him who said: The Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, said ... "
Through his prodigious efforts, hundreds of ahadith or sayings of Rasulullah SAW were transmitted to later generations. His is the foremost name in the roll of hadith transmitters. Next to him comes the names of such companions as 'Abdullah the son of 'Umar, 'Anas the son of Malik, 'Umm al-Mu'minin 'A'aishah, Jabir ibn 'Abdullah and Abu Sa'id al-Khudri all of whom transmitted over a thousand sayings of Rasulullah SAW
Abu Hurairah RA became a Muslim at the hands of at-Tufayl ibn 'Amr RA the chieftain of the Daws tribe to which he belonged. The Daws lived in the region of Tihamah which stretches along the coast of the Red Sea in southern Arabia. When at-Tufayl returned to his village after meeting the Prophet and becoming a Muslim in the early years of his mission, Abu Hurairah RA was one of the first to respond to his call. He was unlike the majority of the Daws who remained stubborn in their old beliefs for a long time.
When at-Tufayl RA visited Makkah again, Abu Hurairah RA accompanied him. There he had the honor and privilege of meeting the noble Rasulullah who asked him: "What is your name?"
"'Abdus-Shams - Servant of a Sun," he replied.
"Instead, let it be 'Abdur-Rahman - the Servant of the Beneficent Lord,"said Rasulullah SAW.
"Yes, 'Abdur-Rahman (it shall be) O Messenger of Allah," he replied. However, he continued to be known as Abu Hurairah, "the kitten man", literally "the father of a kitten" because like Rasulullah SAW he was fond of cats and since his childhood often had a cat to play with.
Abu Hurairah RA stayed in Tihamah for several years and it was only at the beginning of the seventh year of the Hijrah that he arrived in Madinah with others of his tribe. Rasulullah SAW had gone on a campaign to Khaybar. Being destitute, Abu Hurairah took up his place in the Masjid with other of the Ahlus-Suffah. He was single, without wife or child. With him however was his mother who was still a mushrik. He longed, and prayed, for her to become a Muslim but she adamantly refused. One day, he invited her to have faith in Allah alone and follow His Prophet but she uttered some words about the Prophet which saddened him greatly. With tears in his eyes, he went to the noble Prophet who said to him:
"What makes you cry, O Abu Hurairah?"
"I have not let up in inviting my mother to Islam but she has always rebuffed me. Today, I invited her again and I heard words from her which I do not like. Do make supplication to Allah Almighty to make the heart of Abu Hurairah's mother incline to Islam."
Rasulullah SAW responded to Abu Hurairah's request and prayed for his mother. Abu Hurairah said:
"I went home and found the door closed. I heard the splashing of water and when I tried to enter my mother said, 'Stay where you are, O Abu Hurairah.' And after putting on her clothes, she said, 'Enter!' I entered and she said, 'I testify that there is no Allah but Allah and I testify that Muhammad is His Servant and His Messenger.'
"I returned to Rasulullah SAW, weeping with joy just as an hour before I had gone weeping from sadness and said, 'I have good news, O Messenger of Allah. Allah has responded to your prayer and guided the mother of Abu Hurairah to Islam.' "
Abu Hurarah RA loved Rasulullah SAW a great deal and found favor with him. He was never tired of looking at Rasulullah SAW whose face appeared to him as having all the radiance of the sun and he was never tired of listening to him. Often he would praise Allah for his good fortune and say:
"Praise be to Allah Who has guided Abu Hurairah to Islam."
"Praise be to Allah Who has taught Abu Hurairah the Qur'an."
"Praise be to Allah who has bestowed on Abu Hurairah the companionship of Muhammad, may Allah bless him and grant him peace."
On reaching Madinah, Abu Hurayrah RA set his heart on attaining knowledge. Zaid ibn Thabit RA the notable companion of the Prophet reported:
"While Abu Hurairah RA and I and another friend of mine were in the Masjid praying to Allah Almighty and performing dhikr to Him, the Messenger of Allah appeared. He came towards us and sat among us. We became silent and he said: "Carry on with what you were doing."
"So my friend and I made a supplication to Allah before Abu Hurairah did and Rasulullah SAW began to say amin to our du'a.
"Then Abu Hurairah RA made a supplication saying, 'O Lord, I ask You for what my two companions have asked and I ask You for knowledge which will not be forgotten.'
"Rasulullah SAW, said, 'Amin.' We then said, 'And we ask Allah for knowledge which will not be forgotten,' and Rasulullah SAW replied, 'The Dawsi youth has asked for this before you.' "
With his formidable memory, Abu Hurairah RA set out to memorize in the four years that he spent with Rasulullah SAW, the gems of wisdom that emanated from his lips. He realized that he had a great gift and he set about to use it to the full in the service of Islam.
He had free time at his disposal. Unlike many of the Muhajirin he did not busy himself in the market-places, with buying and selling. Unlike many of the Ansar, he had no land to cultivate nor crops to tend. He stayed with Rasulullah SAW in Madinah and went with him on journeys and expeditions.
Many companions were amazed at the number of hadith he had memorized and often questioned him on when he had heard a certain hadith and under what circumstances.
During the reign Marwan ibn al-Hakam wanted to test Abu Hurairah's power of memory. He sat with him in one room and behind a curtain he placed a scribe, unknown to Abu Hurairah RA, and ordered him to write down whatever Abu Hurairah RA said. A year later, Marwan called Abu Hurairah RA again and asked him to recall the same ahadith which the scribe had recorded. It was found that he had forgotten not a single word.
Abu Hurairah RA was concerned to teach and transmit the ahadith he had memorized and knowledge of Islam in general. It is reported that one day he passed through the suq of Madinah and naturally saw people engrossed in the business of buying and selling.
"How feeble are you, O people of Madinah!" he said.
"What do you see that is feeble in us, Abu Hurairah?" they asked.
"The inheritance of the Rasulullah SAW, is being distributed and you remain here! Won't you go and take your portion?"
"Where is this, O Abu Hurairah?" they asked.
"In the Masjid," he replied.
Quickly they left. Abu Hurairah RA waited until they returned. When they saw him, they said: "O Abu Hurairah, we went to the Masjid and entered and we did not see anything being distributed."
"Didn't you see anyone in the Masjid?" he asked.
"O yes, we saw some people performing Salat, some people reading the Qur'an and some people discussing about what is halal and what is haram."
"Woe unto you," replied Abu Hurairah RA,"that is the inheritance of Rasulullah SAW.
Abu Hurairah RA underwent much hardship and difficulties as a result of his dedicated search for knowledge. He was often hungry and destitute. He said about himself:
"When I was afflicted with severe hunger, I would go to a companion of Rasulullah SAW and asked him about an ayah of the Qur'an and (stay with him) learning it so that he would take me with him to his house and give food.
"One day, my hunger became so severe that I placed a stone on my stomach. I then sat down in the path of the companions. Saidina Abu Bakr RA passed by and I asked him about an ayah of the Book of Allah. I only asked him so that he would invite me but he didn't.
"Then Saidina Umar ibn al-Khattab RA passed by me and I asked him about an ayah but he also did not invite me. Then Rasulullah SAW, passed by and realized that I was hungry and said,
'Abu Hurairah!'
"'At your command,' I replied and followed him until we entered his house. He found a bowl of milk and asked his family:
'From where did you get this?'
"'Someone sent it to you,' they replied. He then said to me:
'O Abu Hurairah, go to the Ahlus-Suffah and invite them.'
"I did as I was told and they all drank from the milk."
The time came of course when the Muslims were blessed with great wealth and material goodness of every description. Abu Hurairah RA eventually got his share of wealth. He had a comfortable home, a wife and child. But this turn of fortune did not change his personality. Neither did he forget his days of destitution. He would say, "I grew up as an orphan and I emigrated as a poor and indigent person. I used to take food for my stomach from Busrah bint Ghazwan. I served people when they returned from journeys and led their camels when they set out. Then Allah SWT caused me to marry her (Busrah). So praise be to Allah who has strengthened his religion and made Abu Hurairah an Imam." (This last statement is a reference to the time when he became governor of Madinah)
Much of Abu Hurairah's time would be spent in spiritual exercises and devotion to Allah. Qiyam al-Layl staying up for the night in prayer and devotion - was a regular practice of his family including his wife and his daughter. He would stay up for a third of the night, his wife for another third and his daughter for a third. In this way, in the house of Abu Hurayrah no hour of the night would pass without 'ibadah, dhikr and Salat.
During the caliphate of Saidina Umar Al Khattab RA, Saidina Umar RA appointed him as governor of Bahrain. Saidina Umar RA was very scrupulous about the type of persons whom he appointed as governors. He was always concerned that his governors should live simply and frugally and not acquire much wealth even though this was through lawful means.
In Bahrain, Abu Hurayrah RA became quite rich. Saidina Umar RA heard of this and recalled him to Madinah. Saidina Umar RA thought he had acquired his wealth through unlawful means and questioned him about where and how he had acquired such a fortune. Abu Hurairah RA replied: "From breeding horses and gifts which I received."
"Hand it over to the treasury of the Muslims," ordered Saidina Umar Al Khattab RA.
Abu Hurairah RA did as he was told and raised his hands to the heavens and prayed: "O Lord, forgive the Amir al-Mu'minin." Subsequently, Saidina Umar RA asked him to become governor once again but he declined. Saidina Umar RA asked him why he refused and he said:
"So that my honor would not be besmirched, my wealth taken and my back beaten."
And he added: "And I fear to judge without knowledge and speak without wisdom."
Throughout his life Abu Hurairah RA remained kind and courteous to his mother. Whenever he wanted to leave home, he would stand at the door of her room and say: "As-salamu alaykum, yaa ummatah, wa rahmatullahi wa barakatuhu, peace be on you, mother, and the mercy and blessings of Allah." She would reply: "Wa alayka as-salam, yaa bunayya, wa rahmatullahi wa barakatuhu - And on you be peace, my son, and the mercy and blessings of Allah." Often, he would also say: "May Allah have mercy on you as you cared for me when I was small," and she would reply: "May Allah have mercy on you as you delivered me from error when I was old." Abu Hurairah RA always encouraged other people to be kind and good to their parents.
One day he saw two men walking together, one older than the other. He asked the younger one: "What is this man to you?"
"My father," the person replied.
"Don't call him by his name. Don't walk in front of him and don't sit before him," advised Abu Hurairah RA.
Muslims owe a debt of gratitude to Abu Hurairah RA for helping to preserve and transmit the valuable legacy of Rasulullah SAW . He died in the year 59H when he was seventy-eight years old.
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| Maqam of Abu Hirairah RA - Hamideyeh, Damascus, Syria. |
Defense Of Abu Hurairah RA
A Reply To Some Erroneous Claims
The Shia claims that:
Muslim in his Saheeh in Volume 1, writes that during the time of the Prophet (may Peace Be Upon Him) Umar bin Khattaab beat Aboo Hurayrah for fabricating lies.
In Volume 2 of Saheeh Muslim, he quotes ‘Aa'ishah as, " Aboo Hurayrah is a great liar who fabricates ahaadeeth and attributes them to the holy Prophet (may Peace Be Upon Him)."
In Volume 4 of Saheeh Muslim, Nadwee says "Imaam Aboo Haneefah said, 'The Companions of the Prophet (may Peace Be Upon Him) were generally pious and just. I accept every haeeth narrated by them, but I do not accept the ahadeeth whose source is Aboo Hurayrah, Anas ibn Maalik, or Samrah ibn Jundab.'"
I have the following comments:
(1) It is obvious from the initial post that the information quoted is a poor rephrasing of some well known incidents surrounding Aboo Hurayrah's life - radiyallahu 'anhu - which have been addressed by the scholars. These events are often used to discount Aboo Hurayrah's veracity and thereby negate a large section of the Sunnah.
The two prominent sources in contemporary times for raising these allegations against Aboo Hurayrah are the Shee'ah and the students of the orientalists.
As for the former, many of these allegations are to be found in the work, Aboo Hurayrah, by the Lebanese Shee'ee author, Abd al-Husayn Sharaf ul-Deen al-'Amalee.
Aspects of this work were refuted by Dr. Muhammad Ajaaj al-Khateeb (Professor at the University of Damscus, Colleges of Sharia and Education) in his Master's thesis, al-Sunna Qabl al-Tadween (Cairo: 1483/1963) and also in his work, Aboo Hurayrah Raawiya al-Islaam (Cairo: 1962).
Regarding the latter, most of the arguments of the Orientalists were summarized by Mahmud Abu Rayyah of Egypt. In his work, Adwa' 'alas-Sunnat-il-Muhammadeeyah (Cairo: 1377/1958), Abu Rayya attempted to show that the Sunnah is fabricated in the whole and toward that aim he raised questions on Aboo Hurayrah's veracity.
When Abu Raya's book first appeared, a number of scholars addressed his arguments. The most prominent responses were
Dr. Mustafaa as-Sibaa'ee (founder of the Muslim Brotherhood in Syria), in his thesis, al-Sunna wa Makanatuha fit-Tashree' al-Islaamee, (Cairo: 1380/1961);
Shaykh 'Abdur-Razzaq Hamza (the head of Darul-Hadeeth in Makkah and Imaam of Masjid al-Haram), Zulumat Abi Raya amam Adwa' al-Sunnah al-Muhammadeeyah, (Cairo: n.d.); and
The definitive response by Shaykh 'Abdur-Rahmaan ibn Yahyaa al-Mu'allamee al-Yamanee (the Librarian of Masjid al-Haram), al-Anwaar ul-Kaashifah lima fee Kitaab Adwaa' 'ala al-Sunnah min al-Zallal wa l-Tadleel wa l-Mujaazafah, (Cairo: 1378) - may Allah have mercy with them all.
(2) It should be noted that pertaining to most of the objections raised against Abu Hurairah ra , there exists a definitive defense written by the Iraqi Muslim Brotherhood scholar, 'Abdul-Mun'im Saalih al-'Alee al-'Izzee, entitled Dif'a 'an Abu HuraIrah ra (Baghdad: 1393/1973). In this work, al-'Izzi reviewed, page by page, over 110 classical works (most of which are in a number of volumes, extending thousands of pages) with the aim of collecting everything related to AbU HuraIrah.
With regards to the three specific objections raised against Abu Hurairah in the post, the response is as follows:
(3) Saidina Umar Al Khattab never beaten Abu Hurairah RA during the lifetime of Rasulullah SAW - for lying against the Prophet.
However, both 'Abdul-Husayn al-'Amalee (p. 268) and Abu Rayya (pp. 163, 171) report that 'Umar struck Abu Hurairah with a shield for relating too many hadeeth upon Rasulullah SAW - and accused him of lying. The source of this incident is not Sahih Muslim, but rather a Shiite text, Sharh Nahj al-Balagha, by the Shiite Mu'tazilite Ibn Abi al-Hadid who quotes Abu Ja'far al-Iskafi. Abu Ja'far al-Iskafi is a third century, Shiite Mu'tazalite. Al-Iskafi relates this incident with no chain or authorities (sanad). And thus this is an unverified historical incident that appears centuries after the deaths of Saidina Umar RA and Abu Hurairah RA. And moreover it is found in the works of those who harbor religious animosities against Abu Hurairah RA and adverse theological positions toward the Sunna. (See: al-Mu'allamee, al-Anwaer al-Kaashifah, pp. 152-153, al-Khateeb, al-Sunnah Qabl al-Tadween, p. 457, al-'Izzee, Difaa' 'an Abee Hurayrah, p. 123)
Historically, the Jahme, Bishr al-Maresi was perhaps the first to claim that Saidina Umar RA said that "the greatest liar among the narrators of hadIth is Abu Hurairah." To this fabrication, Imam al-Darimee responded, "How could Saidina Umar RA accuse him of lying against the Messenger of Allah SAW - and [at the same time] place him, in charge of important posts. Had [Abu Hurairah] been thought of by Saidina Umar RA - as [al-Marisee] claimed, 'Umar would not have entrusted [Abu Hurairah RA] with the affairs of the Muslims, placing him in charge, time and time again."
Also, ad-Darimee rhetorically asks al-Marisi, "If you were truthful in your claim, then expose [to us] who narrated such. You will not be able to expose a trustworthy narrator." (See al-Darimi, Radd al-Imaam al-Darimee 'Uthmaan ibn Sa'eed 'alaa Bishr al-Mareesee al-'Aneed, pp. 132-135.)
Interestingly, al-'Izzee shows that a number of grandsons of Saidina Umar RA related hadeeth from Abu HuraIrah RA from the Rasulullah . Among whom: (a) Salim ibn 'Abd Allah ibn 'Umar, who in SahIh al-BukhaarI alone relates three hadeeth; (b) and Hafs ibn 'Asim ibn 'Umar, who in SahIh al-BukhaarI alone relates eleven hadeeth. al-'Izzi comments (p. 123), "Did they not hear from their fathers that their grandfather considered Abu Hurairah a liar?"
(4) Saidatina Aishah RA never accused Abu Hurairah RA of lying. However, there do exist a number of incidents where she corrected Abu Hurairah’ for erring in the hadeeth he transmitted. This was not unique for Abu Hurairah, but rather Saidatina Aishah RA corrected a number of the Companions. Imam al-Zarkashee (794 A.H.) has gathered and commented upon all the statements wherein which ‘A’ishah corrected another of the Prophet's companions in his al-Ijaba li Irad ma Istadraakahu ‘Aishah 'ala -Sahabah.
Of these criticisms by Saidatina Aishah RA , there exists one in Sahih Muslim (Cairo: Vol. 3, p. 137). Specifically that Abu Hurairah RA related that the individual who at dawn (fajr) is in a state of sexual defilement, he is not permitted fast. When ‘Aishah and Umm Salamah were questioned regarding this they informed that Rasulullah SAW - during the month of Ramadan would awake at dawn in a state of sexual defilement not due to a dream (i.e., due to having sexual relations) and fast. When Abu Hurairah RA was later questioned as to his source, he informed that he heard that from al-Fadl ibn 'Abbas and not Rasulullah SAW directly.
Az-Zarkashee (Cairo: p. 57) informs that the ruling delivered by Abu Hurairah RA was initially the ruling given by Rasulullah SAW but was later abrogated. This abrogation it seems did not reach Abu Hurairah RA. That the ruling was abrogated is echoed in the verses regarding the permissibility of sexual relations with one's women during the night of Ramadan.
Moreover, it should be noted that a number of the leading scholars among the second generation (taabi'in), held the same opinion of Abu Hurairah RA. Among them was Saidatina Aishah's nephew, 'Urwah ibn al-Zubayr. It seems that 'Urwah interpreted Saidatina Aishah's RA statement to indicate a ruling specific to Rasulullah SAW- and not general for the umma. This opinion was also held by Taawoos, 'Ataa', Saalim ibn 'Abd Allah ibn 'Umar, al-Hasan al-Basri, and Ibrahim al-Nakha'ei. And thus we see this opinion among the scholars of the tabi'in in the cities of Makkah, al-Madinah, al-Basra, and al-Kufah.
Moreover, there are incidents which show that Saidatina ‘Aishah RA did not consider Abu Hurairah RA to be a liar even if she corrected him at times. Among which is that Saidatina Aishah RA confirmed a hadith related by Abu Hurairah RA regarding the reward for following a funeral bier which was questioned by Ibn 'Umar. This is reported by al-Bukhari and Muslim. (See al-'Izzee, pp. 234-235)
Al-'Izzee (p. 110) also shows that when ‘Aishah and Hafsah died Abu Hurairah led the funeral prayers and Ibn 'Umar was among the attendees. This is reported by al-Bukharee in his Taareekh as-Saghaar, p. 52. Al-Haakim reports in al-Mustadrak (Vol. 4, p. 6), that Ibn 'Umar was among the people and had no objections.
Al-'Izzee remarks, "We know that the Muslims choose the best among them to lead funeral prayers, how much more so when it is the wife of Rasulullah SAW in this world and the next?"
One may surmize that had 'Umar considered Abu Hurairah RA to be a liar and beat him for that, how would Ibn 'Umar allow (indeed, have no objections) Abu Hurairah RA to lead the funeral prayer for his sister and Rasulullah’s wife, Hafsaa? If ‘Aishah RA considered Abu Hurairah RA to be a liar, would the Muslims permit Abu Hurairah RA to lead the funeral prayers over her?
(5) As for Abu Hanifah's rejecting the narrations of these three companions.
However, what does exists is a principle of Usul al-Fiqh among the Hanafi’s scholars that those narrations of Abu Hurairah RA which are in agreement with analogy (al-qiyaas) are adopted, and what is in disagreement with analogy, one sees if the hadith has been accepted by the ummah, only then it is adopted; otherwise analogy is adopted in preference to hadith. (See Usool al-Sarkhasee, Vol. 1, p. 341)
The source of this principle is the Kufan scholar of the tabi'in, Ibrahim an-Nakha'ee, who would not adopt all the hadith of Abu Hurairah RA . Al-Dhahabi in his Mizaan al-I'tidaal (Vol. 1, p. 35) reports that an-Nakha'ee explained his motivations by arguing that Abu Hurairah was not a scholar of fiqh (faqeeh).
In response, it should be noted: (a.) a number of scholars have objected to al-Nakha'i's position. Among whom ath-Thahabi, Ibn Katheer and Ibn 'Asaakir. (See ath-thahabi, Siyaar A'laam al-Nubalaa', Vol. 2, p. 438 and Ibn Katheer, al-Bidaayah wan-Nihaayah, Vol. 8, pp. 109-110); (b.) Ibn 'Abbas who is recognized as a faqeeh, once in a gathering says to Abu Hurairah, "Give a fatwa O Abu Hurairah RA ;" (c.) For 23 years, after the death of Saidina Uthman RA , Abu Hurairah RA would deliever fatawa in al-Madinah. (See Tabaqaat Ibn Sa'd, Vol. 2, p. 372). There are no objections by anyone to Abu Hurairah's RA knowledge of fiqh. Moreover, most of Abu Hurairah's students among the tabi'in where accomplished scholars and judges. (d.) In comparing, the instances where an-Nakha'ee did not adopt the narration of Abu Hurairah, we find that Abu Hurairah's narration is stronger than the opinion forwarded by an-Nakha'ee. (see al-'Izzee, pp. 237-248)
I hope this response will be satisfying. Again al-'Izzee's defense is the definitive work and it is in 500 pages.
One final note, al-'Izzi also goes under the pen name Ahmad al-Rashid. You might remember a couple of years ago he was arrested in the UAE (his place of residence) after returning from the MAYA conference. Just recently, he was released.
