Companion of the Suffa
Abu Hurayra was of the Yemeni tribe of Daws. He embraced Islam in 7 AH and, in the few years left of the Prophet’s ﷺ life, gave himself wholly to his company among the poor People of the Suffa who lodged in the mosque. He went hungry for days — at times fainting from hunger so that people thought him afflicted — choosing nearness to the Prophet ﷺ over trade or land. 1 Stories of the Sahabah · pp. 170–171 — Zakariyya Kandhlawi — Abu Hurayra embraces Islam in 7 AH and lives in hunger among the People of the Suffa. He explained that while the Muhajirun were busy in the markets and the Ansar in their fields, he stayed by the Prophet ﷺ — and that but for two verses of Surah al-Baqara commanding that knowledge not be hidden, he would have narrated nothing. 2 Hayatus Sahaba · Vol 3 · pp. 205–206 — Kandhlawi — Abu Hurayra explains why he narrated so much; the two verses of al-Baqara on not concealing knowledge.
The Blessed Memory
He once complained to the Prophet ﷺ that he forgot what he heard. The Prophet ﷺ told him to spread out his garment, made a gesture as of pouring into it, and bade him gather it to himself — and after that, Abu Hurayra said, he never forgot a thing. 3 Stories of the Sahabah · pp. 171 — Zakariyya Kandhlawi — the Prophet blesses Abu Hurayra's memory through his spread garment.
Virtues in the Hadith
ابْسُطْ رِدَاءَكَ … فَغَرَفَ بِيَدَيْهِ ثُمَّ قَالَ ضُمَّهُ … فَمَا نَسِيتُ شَيْئًا بَعْدَهُ
“‘Spread your cloak,’ … so he gathered with his hands and said, ‘Wrap it.’ … and I never forgot anything after that.”
Sahih al-Bukhari 119 · Book 3 (Knowledge), Hadith 61 · USC-MSA: Vol. 1, Book 3, Hadith 119 · narrated by Abu Hurayra
Life Timeline
Born in Yemen
Of the tribe of Daws.
Embraces Islam and joins the Prophet ﷺ
Living among the poor of the Suffa.
His memory blessed by the Prophet ﷺ
After which he forgot nothing.
Dies in Madinah
References
- Stories of the Sahabah — Zakariyya Kandhlawi — Abu Hurayra's Islam in 7 AH; the Prophet blesses his memory; his hunger among the Suffa pp. 170–171
- Hayatus Sahaba — Kandhlawi — why Abu Hurayra narrated so much; the two verses of Surah al-Baqara Vol 3 · pp. 205–206
- Sahih al-Bukhari — The garment spread out; after it Abu Hurayra never forgot pp. 119 (Book 3, Hadith 61)