The father of the kitten: A comprehensive portrait of Abu Hurayra

Abu Hurayra, a figure of paramount importance in Islamic history, hailed from the distinguished Daws tribe, a branch of the larger Azd confederation, which is counted among the most noble and ancient lineages of the Arabian Peninsula.

The matter of his original name is a subject upon which scholars have deliberated, with approximately twenty different opinions recorded in classical sources, a testament to the historical depth of inquiry into his persona.

It is widely narrated that in the pre-Islamic era of ignorance (Jahiliyyah), he was known as Abd Shams (Servant of the Sun), a name indicative of the polytheistic practices of the time. Upon the dawn of his Islam, the Messenger of Allah renamed him Abdur-Rahman (Servant of the Most Merciful). Thus, his full name is celebrated as Abdur-Rahman ibn Sakhr al-Dawsi al-Yamani.

His unique and enduring nickname, Abu Hurayra (Father of the Little Kitten), has a heartwarming origin that reflects both his character and the Prophet’s affectionate demeanour. The most beloved narration holds that he found a small kitten (hurayra), which he would gently carry in the sleeve of his garment, tending to it with care.

It is said that the Prophet observed this and playfully called him “O Abu Hurayra,” and the name remained.

Abu Hurayra embraced Islam at the hands of the chieftain al-Tufayl ibn Amr al-Dawsi in his native Yemen. He then migrated to Madinah, arriving in the seventh year after the Hijrah, around the time of the Battle of Khaybar. He performed his first prayer in the city behind Siba’ ibn ‘Urfuta al-Ghifari, whom the Prophet had left as his deputy in Madinah.

Despite his late arrival compared to the early Muhajirun and Ansar, Abu Hurayra dedicated himself wholly to the company of the Prophet. For nearly four years, he became a constant shadow of the Messenger of Allah. He accompanied him on his journeys, attended his battles, and was present in his gatherings by day and by night.

Little is known of his early life before Islam, as he himself narrated, other than that he was an orphan who tended sheep, experiencing a childhood of hardship that prepared him for the endurance he would later show.

Moral and spiritual attributes

Abu Hurayra’s character was a brilliant reflection of the Prophetic teachings he so diligently preserved.

• He was a pillar of devoutness, strictly adhering to the Sunnah. He enjoined good, forbade evil, and was known for respecting the dignity of every individual, irrespective of their worldly status.
• He was profoundly devoted to nightly prayers (Tahajjud), frequent fasting, and the constant remembrance of Allah (dhikr). His fear of Allah was sincere, manifesting equally in public and in private.
• He bore severe poverty with legendary patience, sometimes suffering such intense hunger that he would faint. He would lie on the ground at times, and people would think he was experiencing seizures due to his state of want. Yet, he never complained against divine decree.
• He lived by the advice he gave. A famous example is when his daughter asked for adornments like other girls. He told her to reply to any who taunted her, “My father fears for me the heat of the Flame [of Hell].” He was gentle, lenient, and possessed a compelling, wise demeanour.

His scholarly eminence and preservation of Hadith

Abu Hurayra’s legacy is, above all, that of a preeminent preserver and transmitter of Prophetic Hadith. His relatively short period of companionship was spent with unparalleled focus and dedication to learning.

He developed a meticulous method for memorization, often asking the Prophet to repeat narrations and even enlisting the help of his righteous wife, Aisha, to clarify matters. The Prophet himself acknowledged his dedication, supplicating for him to retain what he learned.

As a result, despite being a companion for only four years, he narrated over 5,300 hadiths, more than any other companion. This was due to his singular mission: to be present at all times, to ask, to listen, and to memorize. The Prophet entrusted him with knowledge and even appointed him as a muezzin and a teacher of jurisprudence during an expedition to Bahrain.

After the Prophet’s passing, during the caliphates of Umar and Uthman, he served as a governor and judge in Madinah, disseminating the knowledge he had preserved.

His passing and legacy

Abu Hurayra passed away in the year 57 or 58 AH (approximately 677-678 CE) in Madinah, at the age of 78. His final illness was a moment of profound spiritual introspection. He wept, and when asked why, he expressed not a longing for this world, but anxiety over “the length of the journey and the scarcity of provisions,” referring to the journey to the Hereafter. He poignantly said, “I have reached the crest of a path that leads down to either Paradise or Hell, and I know not to which I will be hastened.”

His narrations, rigorously verified by generations of hadith scholars, fill the pages of Sahih al-Bukhari, Sahih Muslim, and all other major compilations, ensuring that his companionship with the Prophet continues to enlighten the Muslim Ummah until the end of time.