Sayyiduna Safinah (may Allah be pleased with him) was asked about his name, and he said: My name was Qays, but the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) named me "Safinah" (ship). He was asked: Why did he (peace and blessings be upon him) name you Safinah? He said: The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) set out on a journey together with his Companions, and their luggage became heavy for them. He (peace and blessings be upon him) said to me: "Spread out your cloak." I spread out the cloak, and he (peace and blessings be upon him) put all their luggage in it, then loaded it onto me and said: "Carry it; you are nothing but a ship (safinah)." Safinah (may Allah be pleased with him) said: After that day, even if the load of one, two, or five or six camels had been placed on me, it would not have been heavy for me. This hadith has a sahih (authentic) chain, but the two Shaykhs (Bukhari and Muslim) did not record it.

It is narrated from Sayyiduna Safinah Abu Abd al-Rahman (may Allah be pleased with him) that Sayyidah Umm Salamah (may Allah be pleased with her) freed me on the condition that I would serve the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) for as long as he (peace and blessings be upon him) lived.