49/47. Chapter:
Jami at-Tirmidhi 3840 — Why Abu Hurairah Was Named
The Virtues Of Abu Hurairah, May Allah Be Pleased With Him
Hadith About Why Abu Hurairah Was Called Abu Hurairah
Jami at-Tirmidhi : 3840
Jami at-TirmidhiHadith Number 3840
حَدَّثَنَا أَحْمَدُ بْنُ سَعِيدٍ الْمُرَابِطِيُّ، قَالَ حَدَّثَنَا رَوْحُ بْنُ عُبَادَةَ، قَالَ حَدَّثَنَا أُسَامَةُ بْنُ زَيْدٍ، عَنْ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ رَافِعٍ، قَالَ قُلْتُ لأَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ لِمَ كُنِّيتَ أَبَا هُرَيْرَةَ قَالَ أَمَا تَفْرَقُ مِنِّي قُلْتُ بَلَى وَاللَّهِ إِنِّي لأَهَابُكَ . قَالَ كُنْتُ أَرْعَى غَنَمَ أَهْلِي فَكَانَتْ لِي هُرَيْرَةٌ صَغِيرَةٌ فَكُنْتُ أَضَعُهَا بِاللَّيْلِ فِي شَجَرَةٍ فَإِذَا كَانَ النَّهَارُ ذَهَبْتُ بِهَا مَعِي فَلَعِبْتُ بِهَا فَكَنَّوْنِي أَبَا هُرَيْرَةَ . هَذَا حَدِيثٌ حَسَنٌ غَرِيبٌ .
'Abdullah bin Rafi' Narrated from:
I Said To Abu Hurairah: 'Why Were You Given The Kunyah Abu Hurairah?' He Said: 'Do You Not Fear Me?'" He Said: "Indeed, I Am In Awe Of You.' He Said: 'I Used To Tend The Sheep Of My People, And I Had A Small Kitten; So I Used To Place It In A Tree At Night, And During The Day I Would Take It With Me And Play With It. So They Named Me Abu Hurairah.'"
Reference : Jami` at-Tirmidhi 3840In-book reference : Book 49, Hadith 240English translation : Vol. 1, Book 46, Hadith 3840
Summary of Jami at-Tirmidhi Hadith 3840
This hadith about why Abu Hurairah was called Abu Hurairah gives his own explanation of the kunyah. Abdullah bin Rafi asked him why he was given that name. Abu Hurairah said he used to tend his family’s sheep and had a small kitten. At night, he would place it in a tree. During the day, he would take it with him and play with it. Because of that, people gave him the kunyah Abu Hurairah. The report is simple and personal. It does not give a broad ruling about animals or names. It records the origin of a well-known companion’s kunyah through a small detail from his daily life.
What we learn from this hadith
- Abu Hurairah explained the origin of his own kunyah.
- The name was linked to a small kitten he cared for and played with.
- Personal names can come from simple moments in daily life.
