Through this phrase millions of Muslims from the early history of Islam to the present have come to be familiar with the name Abu Hurayrah. In speeches and lectures, in Friday Khutbahs and seminars, in the books of Hadith and Seerah, Fiqh and Ibaadah, the name Abu Hurayrah is mentioned.

Through his Prodigious efforts, hundreds of Hadith or sayings of the Prophet Sallallahu Alayhi Wasallam were transmitted to later generations. His is the foremost name in the roll of Hadith transmitters. Abu Hurayrah became a Muslim at the hands of at-Tufayl ibn Amr the chieftain of the Daws tribe to which he belonged. The Daws lived in the region of Tihamah which stretches along the coast of the Red Sea in southern Arabia. When at-Tufayl returned to his village after meeting the Prophet and becoming a Muslim in the early years of his mission, Abu Hurayrah was one of the first to respond to his call. He was unlike the majority of the Daws who remained stubborn in their old beliefs for a long time.

Abu Hurayrah stayed in Tihamah for several years and it was only at the beginning of the seventh year of the Hajra that he arrived in Madinah with others of his tribe. The Prophet had gone on a campaign to Khaibar. Being destitute, Abu Hurayrah took up his place in the Masjid with other of the Ahl as-Suffah.

Abu Hurayrah loved the Prophet a great deal and found favour with him. He was never tired of looking at the Prophet Sallallahu Alayhi Wasallam whose face appeared to him as having all the radiance of the sun and he was never tired of listening to him. Abu Hurayrah RA set out to memorize in the four years that he spent with the Prophet, the gems of wisdom that emanated from his lips. He realized that he had a great gift and he set about to use it to the full in the service of Islam.

He had free time at his disposal. Unlike many of the Muhaajirin he did not busy himself’ in the market-places, with buying and selling. Unlike many of the Ansaar, he had neither land to cultivate nor crops to tend. He stayed with the Prophet in Madinah and went with him on journeys and expeditions. Many companions were amazed at the number of Hadith he had memorized and often questioned him on when he had heard a certain Hadith and under what circumstances.

Abu Hurayrah underwent much hardship and difficulties as a result of his dedicated search for knowledge. He was often hungry and destitute. Much of Abu Hurayrah’s time would be spent in spiritual exercises and devotion to Allah. Qiyam al-Layl staying up for the night in prayer and devotion – was a regular practice of his family including his wife and his daughter. He would stay up for a third of the night, his wife for another third and his daughter for a third. In this way, in the house of Abu Hurayrah no hour of the night would pass without Ibaadah, Dhikr and Salaah.

We owe a debt of gratitude to Abu Hurayrah RA for helping to preserve and transmit the valuable legacy of the Prophet Sallallahu Alayhi Wasallam. He died in the year 59 AH when he was seventy-eight years old.