The name of Abu Hurayrah, may Allaah be pleased with him, before and after accepting Islam

25-6-2007 | IslamWeb

Question:

What was Abu Hurayrah's name before Islam and what was his name after Islam? Why is his name Abu Hurayrah?
Answer:

All perfect praise be to Allaah, The Lord of the Worlds. I testify that there is none worthy of worship except Allaah, and that Muhammad, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, is His slave and Messenger.

 

The scholars may Allaah have mercy upon them differed in opinion about the name of Abu Hurayrah may Allaah be pleased with him before Islam and after he became a Muslim. The well-known opinion of the scholars may Allaah have mercy upon them is that his name was 'Abd Shams in the pre-Islamic era of ignorance, and his name after he became a Muslim was Abdur-Rahmaan. He was nicknamed Abu Hurayrah may Allaah be pleased with him because he was seen carrying a cat with him. It is also said that it was the Prophet, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, who gave him this nickname. However, a narration reported by At-Tirmithi may Allaah have mercy upon him states that it was his family who gave him this name.

Allaah Knows best.

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