V. Critical Thinking.

It seems that Muhammad (SAAS) regarded Umm Ayman as a mother figure. The Prophet (SAAS) knew her very well and could see in her many characteristics of the ideal mother.

1. In groups, make a list of what you consider to be the qualities of a good mother.

2. Once you have completed your list, put the qualities in order of importance, from the most important to the least important.

3. One member of each group will report their findings. Be prepared to answer questions about your list of priorities and to ask questions about those of other groups.

4. Discuss the various lists in class and arrive at a list of qualities in order of priority which is acceptable to the whole class.

5. Go through a similar discussion on what you consider to be the qualities of a good father. In what ways are they similar to or different from the qualities of a good mother?

Uhit 17 ABU HURAYRAH (RAA)

1. Pre-Reading Tasks.

Look at the title of this unit and answer the questions.

1. You will read about a man who memorised many hadiths from the Prophet (SAAS). What do you know about this person? What people or events do you think of when you hear this person's name?

2. Work in groups. List your pieces of information about Abu Hurayrah in order of importance.

3. Compare your list with other groups. How are they similar or different?

2. Reading.

As you read, try to find the information you listed above in the text.

Abu Hurayrah (RAA) is well known by all Muslims. He was one of the first people to record the sayings of the Prophet (SAAS). He is the most famous of all the people who related the sayings of the Prophet (SAAS).

He became a Muslim by listening to the chief of the Daws tribe, At-Tufayl bin Amr. However, the majority of the tribe preferred to worship idols. They did not want to become Muslims.

At last, Abu Hurayrah was able to meet the Prophet (SAAS). The Prophet (SAAS) welcomed him to Makkah and changed his name from Abdu Shams, meaning “servant of the sun god” to Abdurrahman, meaning “servant of God, the Merciful”. However, he continued to be known as Abu Hurayrah, meaning “the father of a kitten”. This was because he was fond of cats.

Eventually, Abu Hurayrah went to join the Prophet (SAAS) and the Muslim community in Medina. He brought his mother with him. He tried many times to convert her to Islam but always failed. In desperation, he asked the Prophet (SAAS) to pray to Allah (SWT) to change her mind. When he arrived home, he heard the splash of water. Then he saw his mother. She ran to him and testified that there was no God but Allah (SWT), and Muhammad (SAAS) was his servant.

Abu Hurayrah placed a lot of importance on seeking knowledge. One day, he was in the mosque with two other friends praying. Then the Prophet (SAAS) arrived. They continued to pray. Abu Hurayrah asked Allah (SWT) for knowledge and the ability to remember it always. The Prophet (SAAS) heard him and said, “Ameen”, which was a request to Allah (SWT) to grant the wish.

From that time, Abu Hurayrah had a formidable memory. He set out to memorize every hadith he heard from the Prophet (SAAS). He did not waste time. He stayed with the Prophet (SAAS) in Medina and accompanied him on journeys and expeditions. Many people were amazed at the number of hadiths he had memorized. They consulted him when seeking guidance on how they should behave in different situations.

One day Marwan bin Al-Hakam decided to test Abu Hurayrah’s memory. He sat with him and asked somebody to hide behind a curtain. He asked this person to write down every word spoken by Abu Hurayrah. During the conversation, Abu Hurayrah mentioned a hadith. One year later, Marwan spoke of the hadith to Abu Hurayrah. He asked Abu Hurayrah to tell him the hadith again. Abu Hurayrah then repeated the hadith word for word. He had not forgotten a single word!

Abu Hurayrah was not only concerned with memorising all of the Prophet’s (SAAS) sayings; he was also concerned with teaching the message of Islam. He felt that it was very important, for example, to remember Allah (SWT) at all times, even when we are busy.

One day, he passed through the market and saw people engaged in the business of buying and selling. He told them to go to the mosque to collect their share of the inheritance of the Messenger of Allah (SWT). The people went to the mosque and returned, telling Abu Hurayrah that nothing had been distributed. They said that there was nothing happening there except a few men reading the Quran and discussing what is halal and haram in Islam. Abu Hurayrah replied, “That is the inheritance of Muhammad (SAAS), may Allah (SWT) bless him and grant him peace”.

All Muslims everywhere owe a debt of gratitude to Abu Hurayrah, who preserved the sayings of the Prophet (SAAS). All Muslims have benefited from the wisdom of these sayings and will continue to do so in the future.