the dawn prayer with us—the Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace—and ascended the pulpit. He then addressed us until the time for the noon prayer arrived. He came down and led us in prayer, then ascended the pulpit and addressed us until the time for the afternoon prayer arrived. He came down and led us in prayer, then ascended the pulpit and addressed us until sunset. He told us what had happened and what was to happen. Thus, the most knowledgeable among us was the one who remembered the most.” (1)

Abū Hurayra embraced Islam in the year of Khaybar, so he accompanied the Prophet—may Allah bless him and grant him peace—for less than four years. That bag contained no religious knowledge: no knowledge concerning faith, commands, or prohibitions. Rather, it contained only reports of future events, such as the tribulations that occurred among the Muslims: the conflict at the Battle of the Camel, Siffīn, the turmoil involving Ibn al-Zubayr, the killing of al-Husayn, and similar events. For this reason, Abū Hurayra was not among those who became involved in these tribulations.

This is also why Ibn ‘Umar said: “Had Abū Hurayra told you that you would kill your caliph and do such-and-such, you would have said, ‘Abū Hurayra has lied.’”

As for the hadith related concerning Hudhayfa—that he was the keeper of a secret known to no one else—al-Bukhārī narrated it from Ibrāhīm al-Nakha‘ī, who said:

“‘Alqama went to Syria. Upon entering the mosque, he said, ‘O Allah, grant me a righteous companion to sit with.’ He then sat beside Abū al-Dardā’, who asked, ‘Where are you from?’

“He replied, ‘I am from Kufa.’

“He said, ‘Is there not someone from among you—or in your midst—whom Allah granted protection through the words of His Prophet—meaning, from