Once there was a young shepherd who loved animals. He looked after a flock of woolly sheep out in the fields. And do you know his little secret? He kept a soft baby kitten tucked safely in his sleeve, so it could travel with him everywhere he went.
Because he loved that little kitten so much, the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ gave him a sweet and funny name. He called him Abu Huraira (radiyallahu anhu), which means, the father of the little kitten. Abu Huraira loved that name most of all, because the Prophet ﷺ had given it to him.
Abu Huraira came to Madinah to be near the Prophet ﷺ. He did not have much at all. But he loved the Prophet ﷺ so dearly that he wanted to stay near him every single moment, to hear every wise and beautiful thing he said.
He was so poor that sometimes his tummy was empty and rumbly. But instead of going home early like others, he stayed close, listening and learning. He used to say, I stayed near the Prophet ﷺ even when I was hungry, so I could hear what others did not hear.
Now, Abu Huraira loved his mother very much too. But she did not believe in Allah yet, and one day she said some unkind words. It made Abu Huraira so sad that he cried. So he went to the Prophet ﷺ, and instead of being angry, the Prophet ﷺ simply raised his hands and prayed, O Allah, guide the mother of Abu Huraira.
Abu Huraira ran home. When his mother opened the door, the very first thing she said was that she now believed in Allah. Abu Huraira cried again, but this time they were happy tears. Allah had answered the prayer.
Abu Huraira wanted to remember every word the Prophet ﷺ said, but sometimes he worried he might forget. So the Prophet ﷺ made a special prayer for him. And after that, something amazing happened. Abu Huraira never forgot anything he heard, not one single word.
He remembered so many wonderful sayings of the Prophet ﷺ that he shared them with everyone. He would sit and teach, and people would gather around to learn all about the Prophet ﷺ from him.
And even though he became so wise and important, he stayed silly and happy and kind. He played hide and seek with the children of Madinah. He carried his own firewood through the market and called out cheerfully to make everyone laugh.
The Prophet ﷺ taught him five little things to keep his heart happy. Stay away from bad things. Be happy with what Allah gives you. Be good to your neighbour. And love for other people the good things you love for yourself.
Abu Huraira lived a long and gentle life, always loving Allah. Right at the end, he looked up with a smile and said softly, O Allah, I love to meet You.
So cuddle up now, little one. Maybe there is a soft kitten purring somewhere, and a kind Allah who hears every prayer, even the quiet ones. Sleep well, and dream sweet dreams. Goodnight.