Ḥammād ibn Salamah reported—through Thābit—from Abū Rāfiʿ:

Marwān would sometimes appoint Abū Hurayrah as acting governor of Madinah. Abū Hurayrah would then mount a donkey, and when he met someone he would announce, “The emir has arrived,” meaning himself. He would also pass by the boys who, at night, were playing the Bedouins’ game; although he was the emir, they would not notice him until he suddenly threw himself in among them, kicking his legs about as though he were mad—[he only meant to make them laugh] (1). The children would be startled, scatter in every direction, and run off laughing (2).

Abū Rāfiʿ went on: “More than once Abū Hurayrah invited me to supper and would say, ‘Save the ʿurāq for the emir’—that is, the morsels of meat. I would look and find nothing but tharīd soaked in oil (3).”

Ibn Wahb said: ʿAmr ibn al-Ḥārith related to me, from Yazīd ibn Ziyād al-Quraẓī, that Thaʿlabah ibn Abī Mālik told him:

Abū Hurayrah once came through the marketplace carrying a bundle of firewood while he was, that day, Marwān’s deputy. [He called out, “Make room for the emir, O son of Abī Mālik!” I said, “May Allah set you right—this is enough.” He replied, “Make room for the emir even though the bundle is still on his back.”] (4) This incident has already been cited, and similar reports come through several other chains.

Abū al-Zayzaʿah—the scribe of Marwān—said:

Marwān sent Abū Hurayrah one hundred dinars, but the next day he sent word: “I blundered; they were not meant for you but for someone else.” Abū Hurayrah replied, “I have already put them to use; when my stipend arrives, take that amount from it.” He had in fact given the money away in charity; Marwān had only wanted to test him (5).

Imām Aḥmad said: ʿAlāʾ (6) ibn ʿAbd al-Jabbār told us, Ḥammād ibn Salamah told us, from Yaḥyā ibn Saʿīd [from Saʿīd] (7) ibn al-Musayyab, who said: “Whenever Muʿāwiyah gave something to Abū Hurayrah, he kept silent; but if he withheld from him, Abū Hurayrah would speak up” (8).

More than one transmitter relates that a young man once came to Abū Hurayrah and said, “O Abū Hurayrah, I began this morning fasting. I visited my father, who brought me bread and meat, and I ate, forgetting that I was fasting.” Abū Hurayrah replied, “A provision Allah has given you—no blame on you.” The young man continued, “I then went into my family’s house, and they brought milk from a she-camel; I drank it, forgetting.” He said, “No blame on you.” The young man added, “Later I slept, and when I awoke I drank water”—and in another version, “and I had marital relations, forgetting.” Abū Hurayrah said, “My nephew, you have not infringed your fast” (9).