Jami at-Tirmidhi 3840
Jami at-Tirmidhi · Book 49: Chapters on Virtues · The Virtues Of Abu Hurairah, May Allah Be Pleased With Him
Narrated 'Abdullah bin Rafi':
حَدَّثَنَا أَحْمَدُ بْنُ سَعِيدٍ الْمُرَابِطِيُّ ، قَالَ حَدَّثَنَا رَوْحُ بْنُ عُبَادَةَ ، قَالَ حَدَّثَنَا أُسَامَةُ بْنُ زَيْدٍ ، عَنْ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ رَافِعٍ ، قَالَ قُلْتُ لأَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ لِمَ كُنِّيتَ أَبَا هُرَيْرَةَ قَالَ أَمَا تَفْرَقُ مِنِّي قُلْتُ بَلَى وَاللَّهِ إِنِّي لأَهَابُكَ . قَالَ كُنْتُ أَرْعَى غَنَمَ أَهْلِي فَكَانَتْ لِي هُرَيْرَةٌ صَغِيرَةٌ فَكُنْتُ أَضَعُهَا بِاللَّيْلِ فِي شَجَرَةٍ فَإِذَا كَانَ النَّهَارُ ذَهَبْتُ بِهَا مَعِي فَلَعِبْتُ بِهَا فَكَنَّوْنِي أَبَا هُرَيْرَةَ . هَذَا حَدِيثٌ حَسَنٌ غَرِيبٌ .
"I said to Abu Hurairah: 'Why were you given the Kunyah Abu Hurairah?' He said: 'Do you not fear me?'" He said: "Indeed, I am in awe of you.' He said: 'I used to tend the sheep of my people, and I had a small kitten; so I used to place it in a tree at night, and during the day I would take it with me and play with it. So they named me Abu Hurairah.'"
Grade: Hasan (Darussalam)