Hadith #542

Arabic Text

English Translation

It was narrated from Abu Hurayra (رضي الله عنه) — via 'Abd al-Razzaq, from Ma'mar, from al-Zuhri, from al-A'raj — that Abu Hurayra said: 'You say: "Abu Hurayra narrates too much about the Prophet ﷺ" — and Allah is the One who will judge. You say: "Why do the Muhajirun not narrate these hadiths? And why do the Ansar not narrate them?" My companions among the Muhajirun were kept busy by their trade deals in the markets. My companions among the Ansar were kept busy by their lands and tending to them. But I was a poor man who stayed close — I attended upon the Messenger of Allah ﷺ more than the others. I was present when they were absent, and I memorized when they forgot. One day the Prophet ﷺ said: "Whoever spreads out his garment until I finish my hadith, then gathers it toward himself — he will never forget anything he heard from me." So I spread out my garment — or he said: my cloak [namira] — then gathered it toward myself. By Allah, I never forgot a thing I heard from him. By Allah, were it not for a verse in the Book of Allah, I would never have narrated anything to you." Then he recited: {Indeed, those who conceal what We have revealed of clear proofs and guidance} [2:159] — the complete verse.'