Download PDF: [S] Memory of Hadrat Abu Hurayrah (Islamic story)

It is mentioned that besides his immense intelligence and acumen, Allah Almighty had also blessed Hadrat Sayyiduna Abu Hurayrah – may Allah be pleased with him – with amazing memory.

 

It is mentioned that at the beginning, Hadrat Sayyiduna Abu Hurayrah – may Allah be pleased with him used to quickly forget whatever was mentioned by the Holy Prophet – may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him. Obviously, this was a great source of stress and sadness for him.

 

Hadrat Sayyiduna Abu Hurayrah – may Allah be pleased with him – narrates, “One day, I presented myself in front of the Holy Prophet – may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him –and said to him, ‘O Prophet of Allah, I hear many statements from you but (due to my weak memory), I forget some of the statements which you had stated.’ The Holy Prophet – may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him – then asked me to spread my shawl.

 

After I had done this, the Holy Prophet – may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him – then joined his both palms (into a cup) and placed it on the shawl. He asked me to cover myself with this shawl and also press it to my chest.” From that moment onwards, I have never forgotten the statements of the Holy Prophet – may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him.” (Sahih Bukhari Shareef).

 

Hadrat Sayyiduna Abu Bakr Qastalani – may Allah be pleased with him – explains that, “Through the blessed Du’a of the Holy Prophet – may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him – the weakness in memory of Hadrat Sayyiduna Abu Hurayrah – may Allah be pleased with him – no longer remained. (In fact, there is no doubt that to forget is part of human nature) but by the eminent companion not forgetting anything it is actually a miracle or Mo’jizah of the Holy – may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him. Actions of this nature cannot be comprehended by the normal nature of man.

 

Hafiz ibn Katheer in the Al Bidaayah records that, “Once the Holy Prophet – may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him – appeared and said, ‘Whoever spreads his shawl until I finish and then folds it (around himself), he will never forget my words.’”

 

Hadrat Sayyiduna Abu Hurayrah – may Allah be pleased with him – mentions that, “Even before the Holy Prophet – may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him – could complete his blessed words, I had already spread my shawl and then placed it around me. I swear by that Divine Being in Whose Power is my life, from that moment onwards, I had never made a mistake through memory in any statement (or words) of the Holy Prophet – may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him(when mentioning it).” (Al Bidaayah)

 

In fact, it is mentioned that the blessed companion used to treat memorization of the Ahadith as a part of his Ibadah. He was also not satisfied with only listening to it once. He used to also revise it in his mind. Hadrat Sayyiduna Abu Hurayrah – may Allah be pleased with him – himself states that, “I divided the night in three portions. In one part I used to perform Salaah. In one part, I used to rest. And in one part, I used to revise the Ahadith (which I knew through memory).”

 

Because of this behaviour of his, he was considered the greatest Hafiz of Hadith among the blessed Ashaab. His famous student, Hadrat Sayyiduna Abu Saleh As Samaan – may Allah be pleased with him – explains that, “Hadrat Sayyiduna Abu Hurayrah – may Allah be pleased with him – was the greatest Hafiz of Ahadith among the blessed companions. I am not saying that he was the greatest of companions (in status and stature). I mean that in the field of Hifz of Ahadith, he was the greatest.” (Tadkirah Al Huffaz; Al Usaabah)