Some Differences among the Companions & Reasons for these Differences...

 

Examples Of Differences

1) The knowledge of tayummum was with ‘Ammaar and others but not with ‘Umar Ibn Al-Khattaab and Ibn Mas’ood, [Bukhari 1/385), & Muslim 368] and they both said, “There is no tayammum for the junub, even if he does not find water for two months.”

2) The ruling for wiping over the socks was with ‘Ali and Hudhayfah – ‘Aa’ishah did not know of it, nor Ibn ‘Umar, nor Abu Hurayrah, even though they were from Madeenah. [Muslim 276, from ‘Aa’ishah & Bukhari 1/264, from Ibn ‘Umar]

3) The inheritance of one’s grand-daughter along with one’s daughter was with Ibn Mas’ood but it was not with Abu Moosa Al-Ash’ari. [Bukhari 6736]

4) The ruling regarding the permission for the menstruating woman to leave before she does the tawaaf was with Ibn ‘Abbaas and Umm Salamah but it was not known by Ibn ‘Umar and Zayd Ibn Thaabit. [Ash-Shaafi in Al-Umm 2/187]

5) The ruling regarding seeking permission to enter was with Abu Moosa and Ubay, but it was not with ‘Umar Ibn Al-Khattaab. [Bukhari 6245 & Muslim 2153]

 

6) The ruling about the forbiddence of Al-Mut’ah and the domestic donkey was with ‘Ali and others but Ibn ‘Abbaas did not know about it. [Ibid 6961 & Muslim 407, 31]

7) The ruling regarding converting currency was with ‘Umar, Abu Sa’eed and others, but it was not with Talhah, Ibn ‘Abbaas and Ibn ‘Umar. [Ibid 2147 & Muslim 1586, 1594, 100]

8) The ruling about removing the people of dhimmah from the Arab land was with Ibn ‘Abbaas and ‘Umar, then ‘Umar forgot it for two years and he left them until he was reminded and then he expelled them. [Refer to Ahkaam Ahl ul-Dhimmah 1/186 by Ibn Ul-Qayyim]

9) The ruling of putting the hands on the inside of the knee in ruku’ being abrogated was with the companions but Ibn Mas’ood did not know of it. [Muslim 534]

Reasons For Differing

When he (saws) migrated from Makkah to Madeenah, the companions used to gather around him (saws), some of them used to come to him at certain times and others could not. This was because of the lack of time due to having to earn their livelihoods, their having a small amount of provision, traveling for battles, some of them were doing business in the market, other would be on journeys and some of them were involved in farming. They used to sit with him (saws) for part of the day and some of them would attend at night.

So, when the Messenger of Allah (saws) was asked about  an issue or a ruling, or he ordered something, or did something, then whoever was present with him (saws) from amongst the companions was able to retain that.

Whoever was absent would miss out on that knowledge, as is reported by Bukhari 118 And Muslim 2492, from Abu Hurayrah who said:

“Indeed our brothers form the Muhaajireen used to be busy with their transactions in the market and out brothers from the Ansaar used to be doing their business…”

And Abu Hurayrah used to stick to the Messenger of Allah (saws).

He used to be present when others did not be present and he memorized what others did not memorize

Different Levels In Acquiring knowledge

So the companions used to be of different grades in gaining knowledge from the Prophet (saws), some more than others in narrating hadith from the Prophet (saws). Some of them had 500 ahaadith from the knowledge of the Prophet (saws), some of them only had 40 hadith and some of then only had 24.

– Abu Hurayrah reported 5374 hadeeth – He embraced Islam after the hijrah.

– Abu Sa’eed Al-Khudree reported 1170 hadeeth.

– Ibn ‘Umar reported 1630 hadeeth – He embraced Islam in the early period of Makkah.

– Abu Qataadah reported 170 hadith.

– Abu Umaamah Al-Baahilee reported 250 hadeeth – He was the last of the companions to die in Shaam.

– Abu Waaqid Al-Laythee reported 24 hadeeth – He was present in the battle fo Badr.

– Hudhayfah Ibn Al-Yamaan reported around 100 odd hadeeth – He was present in the battle of Uhud.

– Salamah Ibn Al_Muhabbaq reported 12 hadeeth.

– Anas Bin Maalik reported 1286 hadeeth – He was the servant of the Messenger of Allah (saws) from the time he (saw) came to madeenah up until his death.

– Abdul-Samh Iyaad reported 2 hadeeth.

– Asmaa Bint Abee Bakr As-Saqeed reported 56 hadeeth – She embraced Islam in the early days, she was the sister of ‘Aa’ishah who was the wife of the Prophet.

– ‘Aa’ishah reported 2210 hadeeth – She was also younger than her sister Asmaa (who reported 56 hadeeth)

– ‘Uthmaan reported 146 hadeeth – He embraced Islam in the early days of Prophethood.

– ‘Ali reported 586 hadeeth – He embraced Islam in the early days of Prophethood.

– ‘Umar Ibn Al-Khattaab reported 539 hadeeth – He embraced Islam in the early period in Makkah and was present in all the battles.

– Laqeet Ibn Sabrah reported 24 hadeeth.

– Safwaan Ibn ‘Assaal reported 20 hadeeth – He took part in 12 battles with the Prophet (saws).

All the companions were upon this condition in narrating knowledge of the religion from the Prophet (saws) and likewise delegations who used to visit him. Some of them sat with the Prophet (saws) for a month and then traveled back. Others sat for ten days and then went back to their families, and some of them sat for five days and then they returned to their countries.

[Taken from “A History Of The People Of Hadith (Ahlul-Hadith), A Study Of The Saved Sect And That It Is The People Of Hadith”, By Shaykh Ahmad Ibn Muhammad Ad-Dehlawi Al-Madani (Died 1375AH), Pp. 114-118 & 120-121]