FAJR REMINDER: *WITHIN JUST THREE YEARS

 FAJR REMINDER: *WITHIN JUST THREE YEARS*

By: Umm Affān 

Jumādā al-’Ūlā 14, 1446 (16-November-2024

Some individuals harbor resentment towards him, particularly due to his narration of numerous Aḥadīth. However, in response to his request for him and his mother, the Prophet (ﷺ) prayed: *“O Allāh, make this servant of Yours and his mother beloved to Your believing slaves and make the believers beloved to them both.”* [Musnad Aḥmad 2/219-220]

Allāh granted this supplication so profoundly that Muslims have continued to hold him in love. Therefore, one must ask: Is there not a fear of disbelief or hypocrisy for those who harbor hatred towards him? Can a true Muslim dislike him or even his mother, who embraced Islām through another supplication of the Prophet (ﷺ)? Truly, those who hate him need to reconsider their stance.

When the Prophet (ﷺ) inquired about his name, he replied, “Abdush-Shams (servant of the sun).” The Prophet (ﷺ) responded, “Instead, let it be AbdurRaḥmān (the Servant of the Beneficent Lord).” He agreed with, “Yes! AbdurRaḥmān.” Nonetheless, he is widely recognized by his Kunyah, Abū Hurayrah (father of a kitten). He is known as Al-Imām, Al-Faqīh, Al-Mujtahid, Al-Ḥāfiẓ, Abū Hurayrah Ad-Dawsi, Al-Yamāni (Raḍiyallāhu Anhu).

By Allāh! My love for Abū Hurayrah is immense. He accepted Islām through At-Tufayl Ibn ‘Amr (Raḍiyallāhu ‘Anhu) just three years before the Prophet’s (ﷺ) passing. Despite this brief time, he became the Ḥāfiẓ (Memorizer) of this Ummah, leading among the narrators of Ḥadīth with a remarkable collection of 5,374 Aḥadīth. This achievement is a testament to his dedication, bolstered by the Du’ā’ (supplication) of the Prophet (ﷺ).

Abū Hurayrah mentioned: *“You people claim that I narrate many narrations from Allāh's Messenger (ﷺ). I was a poor man and used to accompany Allāh's Messenger upon (the little) that would fill my stomach. One day, he addressed us and said: ‘Whoever will spread his garment till I have finished my speech and then told it, (i.e., wraps it over his body), he will never forget anything he has heard from me.’ So I did as he said. (I swear) by Him Who sent him (the Prophet) with the Truth, I never forget anything I heard from him.”* [Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī 1/190, Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim 2294]

This is Abū Hurayrah; despite only spending three years in the company of the Prophet (ﷺ), he made an extraordinary impact in Islām. He became a beacon of knowledge and piety, embodying the true spirit of Islām and serving as a testament to the transformative power of faith. What about each of us? What contributions are we making? Let us strive for good deeds in pursuit of good recompense.

I beseech Allāh to continually extend His Mercy to Abū Hurayrah. Aameen.