Salim bin Hayyan said:

I heard Abu Hurairah say: “I grew up an orphan, and I emigrated as a poor man, and I was hired by the daughter of Ghazwan in return for food and a turn riding the camel. I would gather firewood for them when they stopped to camp and urge their camels along for them by singing when they rode. Praise is to Allah (SWT) who has caused His religion to prevail and has made Abu Hurairah an Imam.”

حَدَّثَنَا أَبُو عُمَرَ، حَفْصُ بْنُ عَمْرٍو حَدَّثَنَا عَبْدُ الرَّحْمَنِ بْنُ مَهْدِيٍّ، حَدَّثَنَا سَلِيمُ بْنُ حَيَّانَ، سَمِعْتُ أَبِي يَقُولُ، سَمِعْتُ أَبَا هُرَيْرَةَ، يَقُولُ نَشَأْتُ يَتِيمًا وَهَاجَرْتُ مِسْكِينًا وَكُنْتُ أَجِيرًا لاِبْنَةِ غَزْوَانَ بِطَعَامِ بَطْنِي وَعُقْبَةِ رِجْلِي أَحْطِبْ لَهُمْ إِذَا نَزَلُوا وَأَحْدُو لَهُمْ إِذَا رَكِبُوا فَالْحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ الَّذِي جَعَلَ الدِّينَ قِوَامًا وَجَعَلَ أَبَا هُرَيْرَةَ إِمَامًا ‏.‏