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Text and translation
English translation
262. It was narrated that 'Abdur-Rahmân bin Hurmuz Al-A'raj heard Abu Hurairah say: "By Allâh, were it not for two Verses in the Book of Allâh, I would never have narrated anything from him, meaning from the Prophet ﷺ, were it not for the Words of Allâh: Verily, those who conceal what Allâh has sent down of the Book, and purchase a small gain therewith (of worldly things), they eat into their bellies nothing but fire. Allâh will not speak to them on the Day of Resurrection, nor purify them, and theirs will be a painful torment. Those are they who have purchased error at the price of guidance, and torment at the price of forgiveness. So how bold they are (for evil deeds which will push them) to the Fire."[1] (Sahih)
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Footnotes
1
[1] Al-Baqarah 2:174-175.
Commentary
Ahâdith reported in the Books of Hadith from Abu Hurairah ﷺ are more numerous than those reported by any other Companion. Reasons for this are as follows:
1. Emigrant Companions devoted part of their time to trade activities etc, in order to earn sustenance for themselves and their families through legitimate means. Moreover, most of the Helpers were cultivators, a profession which naturally took up a lot of their time. Abu Hurairah, however, belonged to the group known as Ahlus-Suffah (People of the Platform). He was not concerned about earning his bread. Instead, he devoted all his time to the acquisition of knowledge, by which reason oftentimes he even had to go hungry.
2. Abu Hurairah ﷺ did not seek knowledge from the Prophet ﷺ alone. He even turned to other Companions for the knowledge of Ahâdith etc. in times when the Prophet ﷺ was either inside his house or busy with other things.
3. Abu Hurairah ﷺ enjoyed another point of distinction. The Prophet ﷺ had made a special supplication to Allâh to grant him good retentive memory. (Bukhârî 118 & Muslim: 6085). The Verses mentioned in the body of the Hadith speak of the sin of concealing knowledge, and the dire punishment awaiting those guilty of it, especially when it is necessary to reveal it.
