He is a respected companion of Hazrat Abu Hurairaرضی اللہ تعالٰی عنہ before he accepted Islam, he was called Abd Shams meaning the slave of the sun. After his conversion to Islam .The Messenger of Allahصَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) told them .Abd al-Rahmanرضی اللہ تعالٰی عنہ, meaning the slave of Rahman, and gave him the title of Abu Hurairah, meaning the father of the kitten.
There is a humorous reason behind this nickname. Hazrat Abd al-Rahman was known for his kindness to animals and had a kitten that he was kind to.
He used to accompany him everywhere, that is why he was called Abu Hurairaرضی اللہ تعالٰی عنہ. The Messenger of Allah Hazrat Muhammad صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ, may God bless him and grant him peace, used to address him by this title.
Come here, O Abu Hurairah.”
He was born in Daws, a tribe of Arabs .He also brought Islam in the year of the conquest of Khyber in Hijri and after accepting Islam .He used to go with the Messenger of Allah صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ(peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) and used to sit with him for a long time and learn from him.
Abu Huraira رضی اللہ تعالٰی عنہRA) tried many times to invite his mother to Islam, but she refused.
One day Hazrat Abu Huraira (RA) invited his mother to Islam, but she refused
And spoke very badly about Hazrat Muhammadصَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ (peace be upon him).
Hearing this, Hazrat Abu Huraira became very sad and went to Hazrat Muhammad (peace be upon him) crying
And they said, O Messenger of Allahصَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ, I invited my mother to Islam but she refused.
And say things that I hate. O Messenger of Allah, pray to Allah to guide my mother and show her the straight path.
I went with hope because of the prayer of the Messenger of Allah. I approached the door and it was locked from inside.
My mother heard my footsteps and said:
O Abu Huraira, wait “I then heard the sound of water pouring from inside, he bathed
And got dressed”
And she was too quick to raise his head, then she opened the door and said, O Abu Huraira .
“I bear witness that there is none worthy of worship but Allah and that Muhammad is His slave and Messenger of Allahصَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ. “
I came back. I said, O Messenger of Allah Hazrat Muhammad صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ, I am happy because Allah has accepted your dua and brought the mother of Abu Huraira to the secret.
I said, ‘O Messenger of Allah! Supplicate Allah for me and my mother to be loved by His believing slaves and for us to love them too.’ The Messenger of Allah sallallaahu `alayhi wa sallam ( may Allah exalt his mention ) said,
‘O Allah! Make this slave of Yours and his mother (i.e. Abu Hurayrah and his mother) loved by Your believing slaves and make them love Your believing slaves.’ This supplication has been answered by Allah, the Almighty,
so much that any believer who heard about me loved me .” [Imam Muslim]
Hazrat Abu Huraira (RA) loved to fight in the way of Allah. He joined the wars and participated in the scientific meetings and stayed with the Messenger of Allah صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ(may Allah be pleased with him). He was the most attached companion of the Holy Prophet .Compared to the Companions, Abu Huraira (RA) memorized the most Hadith from the Holy Prophetصَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ. A Companion has said about him that Abu Huraira narrated many Hadith.
And the Muhajireen and the Ansar of Madinah endorsed it to the Messenger of Allahصَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ, may God bless him and grant him peace, and did not narrate it to the Companions.
In response to this, he (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) used to say that my Ansar brothers were engaged in farming in their lands.
And the emigrants, my brothers were engaged in trade .I used to serve the Messenger of Allaصَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَh (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) in return for which my stomach was filled.