44/35. Chapter:
Sahih Muslim 2492c — Hadith Preservation
The Virtues Of Abu Hurairah [Ad-Dawsi] (RA)
Why Abu Huraira Narrated Many Hadiths Explained
Sahih Muslim : 2492c
Sahih MuslimHadith Number 2492c
قَالَ ابْنُ شِهَابٍ وَقَالَ ابْنُ الْمُسَيَّبِ إِنَّ أَبَا هُرَيْرَةَ قَالَ يَقُولُونَ إِنَّ أَبَا هُرَيْرَةَ قَدْ أَكْثَرَ وَاللَّهُ الْمَوْعِدُ وَيَقُولُونَ مَا بَالُ الْمُهَاجِرِينَ وَالأَنْصَارِ لاَ يَتَحَدَّثُونَ مِثْلَ أَحَادِيثِهِ وَسَأُخْبِرُكُمْ عَنْ ذَلِكَ إِنَّ إِخْوَانِي مِنَ الأَنْصَارِ كَانَ يَشْغَلُهُمْ عَمَلُ أَرَضِيهِمْ وَإِنَّ إِخْوَانِي مِنَ الْمُهَاجِرِينَ كَانَ يَشْغَلُهُمُ الصَّفْقُ بِالأَسْوَاقِ وَكُنْتُ أَلْزَمُ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم عَلَى مِلْءِ بَطْنِي فَأَشْهَدُ إِذَا غَابُوا وَأَحْفَظُ إِذَا نَسُوا وَلَقَدْ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم يَوْمًا " أَيُّكُمْ يَبْسُطُ ثَوْبَهُ فَيَأْخُذُ مِنْ حَدِيثِي هَذَا ثُمَّ يَجْمَعُهُ إِلَى صَدْرِهِ فَإِنَّهُ لَمْ يَنْسَ شَيْئًا سَمِعَهُ " . فَبَسَطْتُ بُرْدَةً عَلَىَّ حَتَّى فَرَغَ مِنْ حَدِيثِهِ ثُمَّ جَمَعْتُهَا إِلَى صَدْرِي فَمَا نَسِيتُ بَعْدَ ذَلِكَ الْيَوْمِ شَيْئًا حَدَّثَنِي بِهِ وَلَوْلاَ آيَتَانِ أَنْزَلَهُمَا اللَّهُ فِي كِتَابِهِ مَا حَدَّثْتُ شَيْئًا أَبَدًا { إِنَّ الَّذِينَ يَكْتُمُونَ مَا أَنْزَلْنَا مِنَ الْبَيِّنَاتِ وَالْهُدَى} إِلَى آخِرِ الآيَتَيْنِ .
Abu Hurairah Narrated from:
People say that Abu Huraira transmits so many ahadith, whereas Allah is the Reckoner, and they say: How is it with Muhajirs and the Ansar that they do not narrate ahadith like him (like Abu Huraira)? Abu Huraira said: I tell you that my brothers from Ansar remained busy with their lands and my brothers Muhajirs were busy in transactions in the bazars, but I always kept myself attached to Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) with bare subsistence. I remained present (in the company of the Holy Prophet), whereas they had been absent. I retained in my mind (what the Prophet said), whereas they forgot it.One day Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) said: He who amongst you spreads the cloth and listens to my talk and would then press it against his chest would never forget anything heard from me. So I spread my mantle and when he had concluded his talk I then pressed it against my chest and so I never forgot after that day anything that he (the Holy Prophet) said. And if these two verses would not have been revealed in the Book I would have never transmitted anything (to anybody):" Those who conceal the clear evidence and the guidance that We revealed" (ii. 159) tip to the last verse.
[1] Al-Baqarah 2:159,160.Reference : Sahih Muslim 2492cIn-book reference : Book 44, Hadith 230USC-MSA web (English) reference : Book 31, Hadith 6085
Summary of Sahih Muslim Hadith 2492c
This hadith explains why Abu Huraira narrated many ahadith from Allah’s Messenger صلى الله عليه وسلم. He says people questioned why the Muhajirun and Ansar did not narrate like him. He answers that the Ansar were busy with their lands and the Muhajirun were busy with market trade, while he stayed close to the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم for basic food. He was present when others were absent, and he memorized when others forgot. He then mentions the spread cloth incident: the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم told them to spread a cloth, listen, and press it to the chest; after Abu Huraira did so, he did not forget what he heard that day. He also says that if not for verses warning against concealing clear guidance, he would not have narrated anything. The hadith links memory, presence, and the duty to share knowledge.
What we learn from this hadith
- Abu Huraira’s many narrations are explained by his close attendance with the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم.
- Different companions had different daily responsibilities.
- The spread cloth incident is linked to Abu Huraira’s memory.
- He narrated because concealing revealed guidance was a serious matter.
