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Abu Hurairah (Arabic: أبو هريرة‎), (also known as `Abd al-Rahman ibn Sakhr Al-Azdi (Arabic: عبدالرحمن بن صخر الأزدي‎), Abu Hurayrah, or Abu Horaira) (603 – 681) was a companion of the Islamic prophet Muhammad and the narrator of Hadith most quoted in the isnad by Sunnis.^{[citation needed]}

Abu Hurairah spent 3 years in the company of the Prophet^[1] and went on expeditions and journeys with him^[2] It is estimated that he narrated around 5,375 ahadith.^[3]

Early life[link]

Abu Hurairah was born in Baha, Yemen into the Banu Daws tribe from the region of Tihamah on the coast of the Red Sea. His father had died, leaving him with only his mother and no other relatives. His name at birth was Abd al-Shams (servant of the sun). However, as a child, he had a cat and became known as "Abu Hurairah" (which literally means "Father of the Kitten" or more idiomatically "Of the kitten").

Another recognized fact^{[citation needed]} is that after embracing Islam Abu Hurairah looked after the mosque and Prophet Muhammad. He made it a regular habit to give the left over food to the wandering cats. Gradually the number of cats around the mosque increased. He loved to caress and play with them. Hence he got the name Abu Hurairah - Father (care taker) of kitten.

As a young man, he worked for Bushra bint Ghazwan.

In speeches and lectures, in Friday khutbahs and seminars, in the books of hadith and sirah, fiqh and ibadah, the name Abu Hurairah is mentioned in this fashion:

"On the authority of Abu Hurairah, may Allah be pleased with him, who said: The Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, said …".

Through this phrase millions of Muslims, from the early history of Islam to the present, have come to be familiar with the name Abu Hurairah.

Conversion[link]

Abu Hurairah embraced Islam through Tufayl ibn Amr the chieftain of his tribe.

Tufayl had returned to his village after meeting Muhammad and become a Muslim in the early years of his mission. Abu Hurairah was one of the first to respond to his call, unlike the majority of Tufayl's tribesmen.

Abu Hurairah accompanied Tufayl to Mecca to meet Muhammad who renamed him Abd al-Rahman (servant of the Merciful, one of the 99 Names of God). Abu Hurairah then returned to his tribe for several years.

Medina and Mecca[link]

In 629 he went to Medina with some others from his tribe. Since Muhammad was absent due to the Battle of Khaybar, he stayed in the masjid.

He had a wife named Bushra; the proof of this is in Fadi'l Aa'mal.

His mother, Maymouna Bint Subaih,^[4] who was still a polytheist, was with him. He prayed for her to become a Muslim, but she refused. Sunni sources report:

One day, he again invited his mother to believe in the One God and His Prophet. She answered with some bad words about the Prophet. Abu Hurairah went to the Prophet with tears in his eyes. “Why are you crying, Abu Hurairah?” asked the Prophet. “I always invite my mother to Islam, and she always refuses,” said Abu Hurairah. “I asked her again today. But she said some things about you that made me sad. Can you pray to Allah for her to turn to Islam?” The Prophet prayed for Abu Hurairah’s mother to accept Islam. When Abu Hurairah went home, he found the door closed. He heard the splashing of water. He tried to enter the house, but his mother said, “Wait a minute. Don’t come in yet.” Then she got dressed and said, “You can come in now.” When Abu Hurairah went inside, his mother said, “I declare that there is no god but Allah and that Muhammad is His Servant and Messenger.” Abu Hurairah again went to the Prophet crying. But this time his tears were tears of joy. “I have good news, Rasul'Allah,” he said. “Allah has answered your prayer and guided my mother to Islam.”

Abu Hurairah, with other Muslims, suffered from hunger when the Muslims were poor in Medina.

When I was afflicted with severe hunger, I would go to a companion of the Prophet and asked him about an ayah of the Qur'an 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 passed by and I asked him about an ayah of the Book of God. I only asked him so that he would invite me but he didn't. Then Umar ibn al-Khattab passed by me and I asked him about an ayah but he also did not invite me. Then the Messenger of Allah passed by and realized that I was hungry and said: "Abu Hurairah!" "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 Hurairah, go to the Ahl as-Suffah and invite them." Abu Hurairah did as he was told and they all drank from the milk. Abu Hurairah then spent one year and ten months with Muhammad in Medina, before the Prophet's death on 8 June 632 in Medina.

Abu Hurairah had an excellent memory which is why he was able to narrate so many hadith.

"Narrated Abu Huraira: I said, ‘O Allah’s Apostle! I hear many narrations from you but I forget them.’ He said, ‘Spread your covering sheet.’ I spread my sheet and he moved both his hands as if scooping something and emptied them in the sheet and said, ‘Wrap it.’ I wrapped it round my body, and since then I have never forgotten a single Hadith." ^[5]

Abu Huraira helped pass and teach the religion of Islam on through narrating the traditions of the Prophet to the early Muslims.

While on the road to Makka for pilgrimage the wind blew so hard that ‘Umar asked: “Can anyone narrate to us something [from the Prophet] about the wind?” None of those present could answer. When news of this reached Abû Hurayra, he rode up to ‘Umar and said: “Commander of the Believers! I was told that you asked about the wind, and I myself heard the Prophet say: ‘The wind is a spirit from Allâh. It brings mercy and it brings torment. Therefore, when you experience it, do not curse it but ask Allâh for its goodness and seek refuge in Him from its harm.’”^[6]

Death and legacy[link]

Abu Hurairah died in 681 or 59 AH at the age of 78 and was buried at Al-Baqi'.^[7]

Of the hadith held as authentic by the Sunnis, Abu Hurairah is the most quoted person in men. Next to him come the names of such companions as Abdullah ibn Umar, Anas ibn Malik, Jabir ibn Abdullah, Abu Said al-Khudri and Aisha (the youngest wife of the Prophet) all of whom transmitted over a thousand sayings of Muhammad.

He is quoted saying:

“I grew up as an orphan. I emigrated as a poor person. I used to serve Gazevan’s daughter, Bushra. I served others when they stopped on the road. I drove the camels on the road. Then Allah made it possible for me to marry Bushra. Praise be to Allah who has strengthened His religion and made me an imam (leader).”

His daughter married Said ibn Al-Musayyib.

Sunni view[link]

A majority of the Sunni scholars consider Abu Hurairah to be one of the major trustworthy narrators of Hadith. They believe that he was blessed with an unfailing memory, a miracle from God that was bestowed upon him after Muhammad prayed for him. They depict him as a man living an ascetic and humble life, cherishing knowledge and worship. They also disagree with the Shia belief that he harbored any ill will against the Ahl al-Bayt.

Shi'a view[link]

It has been suggested that this article or section be merged into Shi'a view of the Sahaba. (Discuss) Proposed since August 2010.

Shi'a tradition rejects the authenticity of Abu Hurairah's hadith, seldom accepting only when there are similar hadith narrated by Sahabah (companions) and family of Muhammad who are considered reliable by Shi'a. They consider him an enemy of Imam Ali, Imam Hassan and Imam Hussain, due to having been in favor of Mu'awiya according to Shia sources, and thus hold him in low regard.

See also[link]

• Sunni view of the Sahaba
• Dhikr
• Salat
• Ṣabr
• Quran
• Al-Asr
• Sadaqah

References[link]

External links[link]

• Sunni links
  • In Defense of Abu Huraira (RA) - A Reply to some erroneous claims - islamicweb.com
  • Narrations of Abu Huraira from Sunan Abu Dawud - ahadith.co.uk
  • Narrations cited by Sahih Bukhari
  • Narrations cited by Sahih Muslim
  • ABU HURAYRA THE PARAGON OF THE PROPHETIC SUNNA by Shiekh G. F. Haddad

• Shi'a links
  • Abu Hurayra - al-Islam.org

• Non-Muslim links
  • Mausoleum of Abu Huraira - archnet.org

Abu Darda was one of the companions of the Islamic prophet Muhammad.

Biography[link]

Abu Darda was a trader in Medina and belonged to the al-Ḥārith clan of the Banu Khazraj tribe. He converted to Islam after the Battle of Badr.^[1] He was declared the brother of Salman the Persian^[2] and served as a judge in Syria during the caliph Uthman's reign.

He died in 652 AD (AH 32) in Damascus, where the tombstones of his and his wife Umm al-Dardāʾ may still be seen.

Teaching[link]

An hadith transmitted by him states that Muhammad enjoined to him three things: to fast three days every month, to offer the Witr salat before sleep, and to offer two rakat sunnah of Fajr. From Tabarani and Majma uz-Zuwaid

Abu Darda's own preaching focused on the insignificance of worldly wealth and the minor details of life. According to him, this life was comparable to a loan.

It is said of Abu Darda that once a friend went to visit him at his home. On reaching there, the friend noticed, with grave concern, the appalling condition of Abu Darda's house. According to the friend, Abu Darda's house was shorter than the full height of a standing man. It was also as narrow as it was short, and the household utilities were less than basic. When the friend inquired from Abu Darda why he lived in such dire conditions, Darda's response was: "Do not worry my friend, this is just my temporary shade. I am building a proper house somewhere, slowly putting good things deserving thereof." When, on another occasion, the friend went back and found the same deprived shade, he demanded to know why Abu Darda had not moved to his better house. It was then that Abu Darda revealed to him that the house he referred to was the Kabr (the grave).

He also strongly advocated the acquisition of knowledge, saying, “None of you can be pious unless he is knowledgeable, and he cannot enjoy knowledge unless he applies it practically.” Abu Darda praised scholars of Islam greatly for their knowledge and application of it. He lauded both student and the teacher, saying they would receive equal reward.

Al-Bukhari recorded that Abu Ad-Darda once said "We smile in the face of some people [non-believers] although our hearts curse them."

References[link]

External links[link]

• Sahaba.net: Abu Darda
• Biography of Abu Darda

Delwar Hossain Sayeedi (Bengali: দেলওয়ার হোসেন সাঈদী, pronounced Delowar Hossein Saeedi; born 2 February 1942), is a Bangladeshi Islamic orator and politician. He was a former Member of Parliament in the National Assembly of Bangladesh from 1996 to 2008, and is one of the most prominent leaders of the Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami party.

Background[link]

Delwar Sayeedi was born February 2, 1940, in a village located in Indurkani, Pirojpur (Barisal Division). His father, Yusuf Sayedee was an Islamic orater. He received his first primary religious education at his local village madrassa which was built by his father.^[1]

Later in life he studied further on Islamic education by attending, the Sarsina Alia Madrasah in 1962, and then the Khulna Alia Madrasah.^[1] He completed his religious education at the Jamia Uloom-ul-Islamia (Binoria Town Madrassa) in Karachi, Pakistan. Sayeedi after completing his religious studies then focused on studying politics. He is fluent in Urdu, Bengali, Arabic, Punjabi and has basic knowledge of English.

Political career[link]

Sayeedi started his political activities with Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami in 1973, according to his statement in the national parliament in 1996.

He became a prominent leader of Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami and a Member of Parliament in the Jatiyo Sangshad representing Jamaat, for the constituency of Pirojpur-1.

Sayeedi is one a prominent religious telepreachers in Bangladesh, and has held talks and tafseer's across the country.

Controversies[link]

Allegation of War Crimes[link]

Allegedly, Sayeedi took part in the killing of sub-divisional police officer (SDPO) Faizur Rahman, father of Humayun Ahmed, a famous writer and a former professor of chemistry at the University of Dhaka.^[2]

A People's Enquiry Commission published in March 1994 identified Sayeedi as collaborator in the Al-Badr brutality.^[3] On August 12, 2009 Manik Poshari filed a war crime case in Pirojpur against Sayeedi and four others.^[4]

A further case was filed with Pirojpur senior judicial magistrate's court against Sayeedi by a freedom fighter Mahbubul Alam Howladar, member and deputy commander of freedom fighters association called Zianagor upazila Muktijoddha Sangsad ^[5] in Zianagar.^[6]

Though his trial currently is going on(date:23rd May,2012) in 'special war crime tribunal no:01', but many questions already arisen regarding the disputable way and the fairness of the trial which is not similar to internationally recognized system.Beside this, Many important listed witness of complainant side informed to some tv channels that they did not know anything about Sayeedi's war crimes during the liberation war of 1971,And also they yet haven't been brought to the tribunal by the govt prosecutor to give their statement.[1]</ref>

Foreign travel[link]

Mr. Sayeedi has travelled to many countries of Asia, Europe, Africa & America continent to make publicity about the ideology of Islam. During his travelling to many countries,sometime he faced obstacle by the anti-group of his ideology. In July 2006 Sayeedi travelled to the UK to address rallies in London and Luton after the foreign office cleared his entry.^[7] His entry was controversial with British MP's. In leaked emails reported by The Times, an adviser, Eric Taylor said that Sayeedi’s "previous visits to the UK have been reportedly marred by violence caused by his supporters."^[8] On 13 July 2006, a British journalist Martin Bright created a documentary called Who Speaks For Muslims? where it features Sayeedi, claiming to have extreme views.^[9] Sayeedi has a large following within the British Bangladeshi community, he was invited to speak at the East London Mosque on 14 July 2006, the then secretary general of the Muslim Council of Britain, Muhammad Abdul Bari supported his invite.^[10]

On July 24, 2009, Sayeedi was prevented from going abroad by the immigration officials at Zia International Airport. Later, he Challenged the Government's restriction on his foreign travel by filing a writ petition with the High Court on July 27. The Attorney General stated before the Chamber Judge that Maulana Sayeedi was against the independence of Bangladesh in 1971 and argued that if Sayeedi is not barred to go abroad he might conduct propaganda against government moves to sue war criminals.^[11]

Accusations of Extremism[link]

Sayeedi proclaimed that Courts won’t be allowed to control Fatwas (religious edicts), instead Fatwas would control the Court.^[12][13]

Sayeedi threatened the local correspondents (in Pirojpur) of the leading newspapers and asked them to leave Pirojpur as they wrote about Sayeedi’s role in 1971.^[14]

By announcing the blasphemy law, he asked the government to ban the book Pak Sar Jameen Saad Baad written by eminent writer and Professor (at University of Dhaka) Humayun Azad. His call to ban the book was followed by a brutal attack on the professor by a group of young men.^[15]

Apprehension[link]

Police arrested Mr. Sayeedi on June 29, 2010 after a magistrate court issued arrest warrants against him including three other political leaders as they did not appear before the court to face a charge accusing them of hurting religious sentiments of Muslims. The case was filed by Syed Rezaul Haque Chandpuri, secretary general of Bangladesh Tariqat Federation On March 21, 2010.^[16][17]

References[link]

External links[link]

• Article on controversy over Sayeedi's visa and trip to UK

Delwar Hossain is a first class and List A cricketer from Bangladesh. He made his debut for Rajshahi Division in 2006/07 and played 1 first class and 2 list A one day games in that season. He scored an unbeaten 51 on his first class debut against Barisal Division and got figures of 3-46 in the one day clash against Dhaka Division.

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