Abu Hurayra (rad) is one of the sahaba who have spread the and taught the largest number of ahadith. For this week’s spiritual reminder, we take a glimpse at his life.

Abu Hurayrah (R.A.) once travelled to Makkah with At-Tufayl (R.A.). There he had the honour and privilege of meeting the noble Prophet (S.A.W.) who asked him:

“What is your name?”
“Abdu Shams – Servant of a Sun,” Abu Hurayrah (R.A.) replied.
“Instead, let it be Abdur-Rahman – the Servant of the Beneficent Allah ,” said the Prophet (S.A.W.).
“Yes, Abdur-Rahman (it shall be) O Messenger of Allah (S.A.W.),” he replied.
However, he continued to be known as Abu Hurayrah “the father of a kitten” because like the Prophet (S.A.W.), he was fond of cats and since his childhood often had a cat to play with.
Abu Hurayrah (R.A.) stayed in Tihamah for several years and it was only at the beginning of the seventh year of the Hijrah that he arrived in Madinah with others of his tribe. The Prophet (S.A.W.) had gone on a campaign to Khaybar. Being destitute, Abu Hurayrah (R.A.) took up his place in the Masjid with other of the Ahl as- Suffah. He was single, without wife or child. With him however was his mother who was still a mushrik (non-believer). He longed, and prayed, for her to become a Muslim but she adamantly refused.
One day, he invited her to have faith in Allah alone and follow His Prophet (S.A.W.) but she uttered some words about the Prophet (S.A.W.) which saddened him greatly. With tears in his eyes, he went to the Holy Prophet (S.A.W.) who said to him:
“What makes you cry, O Abu Hurayrah?” “I have not let up in inviting my mother to Islam but she has always rebuffed me. Today, I invited her again and I heard words from her which I do not like. Do make supplication to Allah Almighty to make the heart of Abu Hurayrah’s mother incline to Islam.” The Prophet (S.A.W.) responded to Abu Hurayrah’s (R.A.) request and prayed for his mother. Abu Hurayrah said:
“I went home and found the door closed. I heard the splashing of water and when I tried to enter my mother’s room, mother said: “Stay where you are, O Abu Hurayrah.” And after putting on her clothes, she said, “Enter!” I entered and she said: “I testify that there is no god but Allah and I testify that Muhammad is His Servant and His Messenger.” “I returned to the Prophet (S.A.W.) weeping with joy just as an hour before I had gone weeping from sadness and said: “I have good news, O Messenger of Allah. God has responded to your prayer and guided the mother of Abu Hurayrah to Islam.”
Abu Hurayrah loved the Prophet (S.A.W.) a great deal and found favor with him. He was never tired of looking at the Prophet (S.A.W.) whose face appeared to him as having all the radiance of the sun and he was never tired of listening to him.

Abu Hurayrah (R.A.) underwent much hardship and difficulties as a result of his dedicated search for knowledge. He was often hungry and destitute. He said about himself: “When I was afflicted with severe hunger, I would go to a companion of the Prophet (S.A.W.) and asked him about an ayah of the Quran and (stay with him) learning it so that he would take me with him to his house and give food. ” One day, my hunger became so severe that I placed a stone on my stomach. I then sat down in the path of the companions. Abu Bakr (R.A.) assed by and I asked him about an ayah of the Book of Allah. I only asked him so that he would invite me but he didn’t.
“Then Umar ibn al-Khattab (R.A.) passed by me and I asked him about an ayah but he also did not invite me. Then the Messenger of Allah (S.A.W.) passed by and realized that I was hungry and said: “Abu Hurayrah!” “At your command” I replied and followed him until we entered his house. He found a bowl of milk and asked his family: “From where did you get this?” “Someone sent it to you” they replied. He then said to me: “O Abu Hurayrah, go to the Ahl as-Suffah and invite them.” Abu Hurayrah did as he was told and they all drank from the milk.