Response to: The Reputation of Abu Huraira was that of a Liar in his Era

The following is a response to SlaveOfAhlubait’s article: “The Reputation of Abu Huraira was that of a Liar in his Era.” The article was published on Wilayat.net on the 4th of February, 2011, and can be found here.

In typical SoA fashion, we find a narration with nothing to explain the narration other than the title. He quotes:

abu rizin said thati saw abu huraira hitting his head with his hand and saying
o people of iraq! you think that i lie upon holy prophet asws so that it gets easy for you; i testify that i heard prophet asws say that when a dog licks a vessel , wash it 7 times
[sahih ibn maja, albani, vol 1, page 129, book of taharat, chapter when dog licks washing the utensil]

SoA makes several false suggestions. We reject that Abu Huraira had such a reputation simply because he uttered these words. Abu Huraira may have simply narrated this narration, then felt doubt, and then repeating the narration and suggested that he was accused of lying. Truly, if someone was accused of lying, he wouldn’t simply say, “I testify,” and assume that such a thing is enough. This is why we maintain that he did not have such a reputation.

Secondly, if the people of Iraq did indeed hold such a view, then this is problematic for the people of Iraq, not for Abu Huraira, due to what has been already established by the main companions of the Prophet (salalahu alaihi wa salam) that he is trustworthy.

It is also important to realize that this is not referring to all the people of Iraq, but a group of unknown Iraqis. So it is simply ridiculous to take the opinion of such people.

Finally, even the prophets of Allah have been accused of lying, and that did nothing to hurt their credibility in the eyes of Allah (subhanahu wa ta’ala).

He said in His Holy book that they called Nuh (alaih al-salam) a liar:

قَالَ الْمَلَأُ الَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا مِنْ قَوْمِهِ إِنَّا لَنَرَاكَ فِي سَفَاهَةٍ وَإِنَّا لَنَظُنُّكَ مِنَ الْكَاذِبِينَ

{Said the eminent ones who disbelieved among his people, “Indeed, we see you in foolishness, and indeed, we think you are of the liars.”}
(Al-A’araf: 66)

Shu’aib (alaih al-salam) was also accused of lying:

وَمَا أَنْتَ إِلَّا بَشَرٌ مِثْلُنَا وَإِنْ نَظُنُّكَ لَمِنَ الْكَاذِبِينَ

{You are but a man like ourselves, and indeed, we think you are among the liars.}
(Al-Shu’ara’a: 186)

Even the people of Quraish held accused Prophet (salalahu alaihi wa salam) of lying:

وَعَجِبُوا أَنْ جَاءَهُمْ مُنْذِرٌ مِنْهُمْ وَقَالَ الْكَافِرُونَ هَذَا سَاحِرٌ كَذَّابٌ

{And they wonder that there has come to them a warner from among themselves. And the disbelievers say, “This is a magician and a liar.}
(Saad: 38)

Now, if this is the case with the prophets of Allah, then why would one suggest that Abu Huraira would be weak if some ignorant unknowns suggested that he is a liar?!