Hadith #138

Arabic Text

English Translation

It was narrated from Abu Hurayra (رضي الله عنه) — via Sufyan, from al-Zuhri, from 'Abd al-Rahman al-A'raj — that Abu Hurayra said: 'You claim that Abu Hurayra narrates too many hadiths from the Messenger of Allah ﷺ. Allah is the appointed witness [al-maw'id — He will judge between us]. I was a poor man who stayed close to the Messenger of Allah ﷺ for a full belly [of food]. The Muhajirin were occupied with trading in the markets, and the Ansar were occupied with managing their properties. [Once] I attended a gathering of the Prophet ﷺ and he said: "Whoever spreads out his cloak until I finish what I am saying, then gathers it to himself — will never forget anything he heard from me." So I spread out my burdah [cloak] until he finished his words, then gathered it to myself. By the One in Whose hand is my soul, I have not forgotten a single thing I heard from him after that.' [Via another chain — Ishaq ibn 'Isa, from Malik, from al-Zuhri, from al-A'raj, from Abu Hurayra:] 'People say Abu Hurayra narrates too many [hadiths]. By Allah, were it not for two verses in the Book of Allah I would not have narrated a single hadith' — then he recited: {Indeed those who conceal what We have revealed of clear proofs and guidance...} [2:159-160]. [Also via Abu al-Yaman, from Shu'ayb, from al-Zuhri, from Sa'id ibn al-Musayyab and Abu Salama ibn 'Abd al-Rahman, from Abu Hurayra:] 'You say Abu Hurayra narrates too many...' and he mentioned the hadith.'