Abdullah ibn Masud

He became Muslim as a young man after seeing a miracle of Muhammad,

upon him be peace, while tending the sheep of Uqba ibn Abi Mu’iyt. It is said
that he was the 6th person to embrace Islam and Allah knows best.
He describes the incident:
I was at the time a youth just grown into manhood when one day the Prophet
and Abu Bakr passed by. The Prophet asked me if I had any milk to give them
to drink. I replied that the flocks were not mine but entrusted to my care and I
could not give them to drink. The Prophet said: ‘Hast thou a young ewe that
no ram hath ever leaped? I said I had, and brought her to them. Having
tethered her, the Prophet put his hand to her udder and prayed whereupon
the udder swelled with milk, and Abu Bakr brought a boulder which was
hollowed like a cup. The Prophet milked her into it and we all drank. Then he
said to the udder: ‘Dry,’ and it dried.’1
He made Hijra to Ethiopia and later to Madina.
He offered to be a servant to the Messenger, upon him be peace, looking
after his personal affairs and was called ������ �� ���� ‘keeper of the secret
of the Messenger’ and ������ ���� ‘keeper of the shoes’.
It was said of him that he was the closest to the Messenger in mannerism.
He was the first to read the Quran in public and was badly beaten as a result.
Abdullah was responsible for killing Abu Jahl in the battle of Badr.
He was affectionately referred to as ibn Umm Abd, son of the mother of a
slave. Muhammad, upon him be peace, gave him glad tidings of entering the
Garden.
The Messenger said about him:
��� �� ��� ��� ��� �� ���� ����
I am content for my nation about whatever ibn Umm Abd is content for it
(al-Hakim)
��� �� ��� ����� ���� ���� ����� ��� �� ���� ���� ��� ����� ��� ��
If I were to appoint anyone over my nation without consultation, I would have
appointed ibn Umm Abd
(Ahmed, Tirmidhi and al-Hakim)
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��� �
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1
Muhammad by Martin Lings, Islamic Text Society: London, 1983 p48.
‘One night the Messenger heard Abdullah ibn Masud read Quran and with him
was Abu Bakr and Umar. They stood for long and then he said ‘whoever
wishes to read Quran as it was revealed should read with the recitation of ibn
Umm Abd.’
(Ahmed, Nisai, Tirmidhi and Ibn Majah)
He was a judge in Kufa during the time of Umar and part of Uthman’s rule
before he returned to Madina where he died in 32H, aged approximately 60.
On his death bed, Uthman offered him some money to ensure his daughters
were not left to poverty but he refused it saying he has left them with surah al-
waqiah which will be sufficient.
He related 848 hadith.
There are many wise sayings and pieces of advice attributed to him.
After having money stolen from him in the market place he said, ‘O Allah, if
the one who took the money was in need, then give him blessed increase
��� �� ���� and if he is one who is often commits this sin, then make it his last
sin.’
He said, ‘knowledge is not from the narration of masses (of information) but it
is through fear of God ( ������ ).
He said, ‘the Jamaat (group) is having lots of people rather the one who is
with the truth is the true Jamaat.
May Allah be pleased with him and all the companions.