Did 'Umar ibn al-Khattab, may Allah be pleased with him, appoint Abu Hurairah, may Allah be pleased with him, over Bahrain and then dismiss him for taking what was unlawful for him, and are there superstitions and weaknesses in Abu Hurairah's narrations from the Prophet, may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him, as some claim, relying on Ibn al-Athir?

The enemies of Islam have frequently slandered Abu Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with him) in order to undermine the religion. However, scholars have countered their claims. Among these refutations is what Ibn Khuzaymah said: "Indeed, those who speak against Abu Hurayrah, aiming to reject his narrations, are those whose hearts Allah has blinded, so they do not comprehend the meanings of the narrations. They are either Jahmite Mu'attilahs who, upon hearing his narrations which contradict their doctrine — which is disbelief — revile Abu Hurayrah and accuse him of things from which Allah has cleared him, thereby deceiving the ignorant masses and the lowborn into believing that his narrations do not establish proof. Or they are Kharijites or Qadaris who have abandoned Islam and its people. Or they are ignorant individuals who dabble in and seek jurisprudence from unconventional sources. When such a person hears Abu Hurayrah's narrations which contradict the doctrine of those they imitate, they speak ill of Abu Hurayrah and reject his narrations."

Regarding his governorship of Bahrain and his dismissal by Umar, he arrived with wealth, and Umar held him accountable. He found no sin in his earnings, yet Abu Hurayrah refused to take up the position again, saying: "I fear I might speak without knowledge and judge without forbearance." More than eight hundred men, from among the Companions and the Tabi'in, narrated from Abu Hurayrah.