People say that I have narrated many Hadiths (The Prophet's narration). Had it not been for two verses in the Qur'an, I would not have narrated a single Hadith, and the verses are: "Verily those who conceal the clear sign and the guidance which We have sent down . . . (up to) Most Merciful." (2:159-160). And no doubt our Muhajir (emigrant) brothers used to be busy in the market with their business (bargains) and our Ansari brothers used to be busy with their property (agriculture). But I (Abu Huraira) used to stick to Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) contented with what will fill my stomach and I used to attend that which they used not to attend and I used to memorize that which they used not to memorize.
The Excellence of Spreading Knowledge
This narration from Sahih al-Bukhari (118) reveals Abu Huraira's profound motivation for preserving and transmitting Prophetic traditions. The two Qur'anic verses (2:159-160) served as his primary impetus, warning against concealing divine guidance. This demonstrates the obligatory nature of disseminating religious knowledge when one possesses it.
Abu Huraira's Unique Position
Unlike the Muhajireen engaged in commerce and Ansar occupied with agriculture, Abu Huraira maintained constant proximity to the Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ). His contentedness with minimal sustenance allowed undivided dedication to learning, enabling him to preserve numerous traditions others might have missed.
Scholarly Insights on Knowledge Preservation
Classical commentators note that this hadith establishes the virtue of prioritizing knowledge acquisition over worldly pursuits. It highlights the importance of having dedicated students of religion who can serve as reliable transmitters of divine guidance for future generations.
The narration also illustrates how divine providence arranged for different companions to specialize in various aspects of preservation - some in Qur'an, others in hadith, and some in jurisprudence - ensuring comprehensive protection of Islamic teachings.