About Abu Hurayrah

[Basharat]

A book prescribed for Isiamic studies In our country's secondary schools praises Abu
Hurayrah that he was a constant companion oi the Prophet (s.a.w.a.) and had a sharp
memory which enabled him to remember and transmit thousands and thousands of
prophetic traditions. I would like you to explain the reality to me.

A. Abu Hurayrah had accepted Islam at the end of the 7th year of hijrah—after the
conquest of Khayber which was on the 24th or 25th of Rajab of 7A.H. The Prophet (s.a.w.a)
died at the end of the 2nd or the beginning of the 3rd month of 11 A.H. Thus the total period
Abu Hurairah could be with the Prophet (s.a.w.a.) was about 3½ years. Such a man
should not be called as one who was constantly with the Prophet (s.a.w.a.).
In such a short period, he claimed to hear so many ahadith from the Prophet (s.a.w.a)
which exceed by far all the ahadith narrated in the Sunni books from the four Caliphs, Bibi
Fatimah, all wives of the Prophet (s.a.w.a.) (including 'A'ishah) and Imam Hassan and
Imam Husayn.
Traditionists have found that there are 5,374 traditions narrated by Abu Hurayrah. Now
look at the ahadith of some of the above-mentioned personalities recorded in Sunni books:

"Abu Bakar -142" ahadith
'Umar -537 “
'Uthman -146 “
'Ali -586 “
Total- 1,411

These four Caliphs had jointly spent a total of about 86 years with the Prophet (s.a.w.a.).
Now compare 1,411 ahadith In 86 years with 5,374 ahadith In 3½ years!!
People In early days of Islam knew that Abu Hurayrah was an inveterate liar. 'Ali (a.s.)
called him, “the greatest liar”; 'Umar flogged him and forbade, him transmission of hadith.
It was during Mo'awiyah's reign that Abu Hurayrah's “wonderful memory” came to the fore.
Mo'awiyah established a department of propaganda in which alfew companions like Abu
Hurayrah and some of the companions' disciples, like 'Urwah Ibn az-Zubayr, were
employed. They flooded the Islamic world with their “traditions” belittling the family
members of the Prophet (s.a.w.a.) and extolling their enemies. In the process the holy
name of the Prophet was besmeared too. It is such “traditions” which serve as the armory
for the enemies of Islam
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