Hadith Studies
Rebuttal of the Attacks on Abu Huraira (r.a) [Part III]
Did 'Umar ibn al-Khattab, r.a., stop Abu Huraira, r.a. from
Narrating Hadith?
by
Kaukab Siddique
[In Part I, the love of the Prophet, pbuh, for Abu Huraira was
pointed out, along with Abu Huraira's participation in
Jihad
both during and after the time of the Prophet, pbuh. In Part II,
the reasons for Abu Huraira's ability to narrate more than 2000
Hadith as well as the respect of the Sahaba (Companions of the Prophet)
for him was documented.]
For most Muslims, the qualities of Abu Huraira, r.a., documented in
the first two parts of this study would be enough to love him. However,
the Shias and the Pervezis find that difficult because it would
demolish the premises of their sectariam theories.
For Shias, it should have been very difficult to attack Abu Huraira,
r.a., because he loved the Ahlul Bait and narrated beautiful Hadith
about the grandsons of the Prophet, pbuh. Shia scholars should
know that Ali, r.a., Hasan, r.a., and Hussain, r.a., did not speak
against Abu Huraira, r.a. There are a few Shia fabrications to this
effect but they are from later times and cannot be traced back to
the three greats of Shia'ism.
However, the Shias work by way of "guilt by association." They try to
make the claim that Ameer Muawiyya and Yazeed were identical in
their behavior, For them, connection with Ameer Muawiyya and Yazeed
is equally bad, and because Abu Huraira, r.a., cooperated with
Ameer Muawiyya they condemn him.
The Shias forget that Imam Hasan, r.a., made peace with Ameer Muawiyya,
and he and Imam Hussain both received respect and copious gifts from
Ameer Muawiyya. Ameer Muawiyya was KATIBE WAHI [writer of the
revelation, the
Qur'an]
and was accepted by the Prophet, pbuh. During his time, there was
general consensus and peace within the Muslim domain, and as a
result Jihad of great significance was carried out against the
oppressive empires in the West.
The attacks of the sect known as munkareene Hadith [deniers of Hadith]
on Abu Huraira, r.a., are much more dishonest than those of the Shia.
These sectarians, following the line of Jewish abusers of Hadith,
like Goldziher and Schacht, resort to outright intellectual
dishonesty. For instance, G.A. Pervez wrote:
"Once Abu Salama asked hazrat Abu Huraira, who is well known for
being prolific in Hadith narration, did you narrate Hadith this way
in the time of Hazrat 'Umar? He replied, if I had done so in his time,
he would have beaten me." [Maqame Hadith, in Urdu language, p.52]
G.A. Pervez gives a reference for this supposed narration but it is
not from a primary book of Hadith but from a secondary scholar named
Tahir bin Salih al-Jazairi.
Thus Pervez, whose entire book is aimed at proving that Hadith is not
to be trusted, tries to use a supposed Hadith narration to oppose
Abu Huraira, r.a., and then does not give a primary source. In
fact, Pervez's study of Hadith was very poor and he had collected
a whole series of quotes from various secondary writers, taken out
of context, to attack Hadith.
Let's see what the original texts on which
Islam
and Islamic history are based, say about the relations between Umar,
'ra., and Abu Huraira, r.a., regarding Hadith :
The context of the personality of 'Umar ibn al-Khattab is that he was
very strict with HIMSELF and with ALL the companions of the Prophet,
pbuh. But when he would hear Abu Huraira, r.a., reciting Hadith,
'Umar, r.a., would take back his own opinion. There is NO evidence
that he wanted to stop Abu Huraira, r.a., from narrating Hadith.
Quite the contrary. Here are specific instances:
"A woman who blew on knots (a form of witchcraft) was brought to
'Umar, r.a. He asked the people (assembled): Have any of you heard
anything from the messenger of Allah, pbuh, regarding blowing on
knots. Abu Huraira, r.a., got up and said: O Commander of the
Faithful! I have heard. 'Umar, r.a., asked: What have you heard?
Abu Huraira replied: He (the Prophet, pbuh) said: O women who
blow on knots, do not do so and and do not ask anyone to blow on
knots. 'Umar, r.a., accepted Abu Huraira's words [in front of the
entire assembly].
[Sahih Bukhari,
vol.2. Urdu translation]
"Once 'Umar, r.a., took Abu Huraira, r.a., with him from
Madinah to Makka
for Hajj. On the way, a storm started blowing. 'Umar, r.a., asked
his Companions, does anyone remember anything from the messenger of
Allah regarding a strong breeze.? No one answered. Abu Huraira, r.a.,
who was trailing behind the caravan learned of the question 'Umar was
asking. He put his mount to the gallop, reached 'Umar, and said: I
learned of the question you were asking. I heard the messenger of
Allah, pbuh, say, the wind is a sign of Allah's mercy."
[Musnad of Ahmad ibn Hanbal. vol. 14]
"Hissan ibn Thabit, r.a., was reciting poetry in the mosque. 'Umar, r.a.,
passed by and forbade Hissan, r.a., from reciting poetry in the mosque.
Hissan replied: I used to recite poetry in the mosque when one better
than you [the Prophet, pbuh] used to be there. Then he turned to Abu
Huraira, r.a., and asked him: O Abu Huraira, I ask you in Allah's name,
didn't you hear the messenger of Allah, pbuh, say about me: "(O Hissan)
answer the unbelievers from my side (in poetry). O Allah support him
(Hissan) with the sacred spirit." Abu Huraira, r.a. replied: "Yes,
I did hear him. (say that)." [Sahih Muslim, vol. 2]
In each case, Abu Huraira's words were accepted by 'Umar, r.a.
There is NO EVIDENCE that 'Umar, r.a., or any other Companion of
the Prophet, pbuh, stopped or tried to stop Abu Huraira, r.a., from
narrating Hadith. Ayesha, r.a., corrected two of his narrations
but did not stop him and did not make any general comment against
his narration of Hadith. In fact he used to sit outside her door
and narrate Hadith, so that in case he was wrong, she could correct him.
It's possible that in later times Abu Huraira, r.a., might have
quipped that if 'Umar, r.a., had heard me reciting so many Hadith,
he would have hit me. Abu Huraira, r.a., was very humble and would
often say things against himself. He even told of the time when he was
an employee of the woman who later became his wife,
and he said, she used to push him like a servant, and he said jokingly,
after she became his wife, I'll now make her work for me!
Once during Muawiyya's Caliphate, Abu Huraira, r.a., sneezed and then
made fun of himself, what a time of wealth has come that the poor
man who used to pass out from starvation in front of 'Ayesha's home
(he himself) cleans his nose in a fancy kerchief. [Sahih Bukhari]
In any case, NO COMPANION of the Prophet, pbuh, EVER claimed that
Abu Huraira, r.a., was narrating too many Hadith.
Only people like G.A. Pervaiz make such false claims against this
beloved servant of the Prophet, pbuh.
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2005-01-24 Mon 18:08ct
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