People say that Abu Hurairah reports too many hadith, and Allah is the appointed reckoning. They also say, why is it that the Emigrants and the Helpers do not report hadith the way he does? My brothers among the Emigrants were kept busy by their trading in the markets, and my brothers among the Helpers were kept busy managing their property, while I was a poor man who stayed close to the Messenger of Allah ﷺ for the sake of filling my stomach. So I was present when they were absent, and I retained what they forgot.One day the Prophet ﷺ said, "Whoever among you spreads out his garment until I finish these words of mine, then gathers it to his chest, will never forget anything of what I have said."So I spread out my striped cloak, and I had no other garment on me, until the Prophet ﷺ had finished speaking. Then I gathered it to my chest, and by Him who sent him with the truth, I have not forgotten a single thing of what he said that day, right up to this day of mine.By Allah, were it not for two verses in the Book of Allah, I would never have reported anything to you, "Indeed, those who conceal what We have revealed of clear proofs and guidance" up to His words, "the Merciful" [Baqarah 2:159–160].
حدثنا موسى بن إسماعيل حدثنا إبراهيم بن سعد عن ابن شهاب عن الأعرج
يقولون إن أبا هريرة يكثر الحديث والله الموعد ويقولون ما للمهاجرين والأنصار لا يحدثون مثل أحاديثه وإن إخوتي من المهاجرين كان يشغلهم الصفق بالأسواق وإن إخوتي من الأنصار كان يشغلهم عمل أموالهم وكنت امرأ مسكينا ألزم رسول الله ﷺ على ملء بطني فأحضر حين يغيبون وأعي حين ينسون وقال النبي ﷺ يوما لن يبسط أحد منكم ثوبه حتى أقضي مقالتي هذه ثم يجمعه إلى صدره فينسى من مقالتي شيئا أبدا فبسطت نمرة ليس علي ثوب غيرها حتى قضى النبي ﷺ مقالته ثم جمعتها إلى صدري فوالذي بعثه بالحق ما نسيت من مقالته تلك إلى يومي هذا والله لولا آيتان في كتاب الله ما حدثتكم شيئا أبدا {إن الذين يكتمون ما أنزلنا من البينات والهدى} إلى قوله {الرحيم}