8. Ramzan Quiz

السلام عليكم ورحمة الله وبركاتة

بِسْمِ ٱللَّٰهِ ٱلرَّحْمَٰنِٱلرَّحِيمِ   

8. Which of the companion of the Prophet ﷺ recited the quran first publicly in front of Kaba after the Prophet ﷺ?

Answer: Abdullah ibn Masud (RA).

Abdullah bin Masud (RA) was slim, short with black complexion. He used to wear fine white clothing and use perfume by which he would be recognized. He belonged to the tribe of Banu Huzail. People called him "Ibn Umm Abd” son of the mother of a slave.

He first met the Prophet ﷺ as a shepherd:

In his youth, he worked as a shepherd for Uqba ibn Abu Muayt.  He first met Prophet Muhammad ﷺ and Abu Bakr {RA} while watching his flock. They both approached him and asked, "Young man, milk one of these sheep for us that we may quench our thirst and recover our strength." He replied, "I cannot, the sheep are not mine. I am only responsible for looking after them." Prophet Muhammad ﷺ was much impressed then asked for an unmated ewe. Ibn Masud stated, “I brought a young sheep to the Prophet ﷺ, he tied its feet together, rubbed his hands on its teats and started to pray until they were filled with milk. Abu Bakr (RA) then brought a bowl, which the Holy Prophet ﷺ filled with its milk and then told Abu Bakr (RA) to drink from it. He drank the milk and then the Prophet ﷺ drank from it. The Prophet ﷺ then rubbed his hands over the teats and said, “Contract” and they began to contract and returned to their previous form. I asked the Prophet ﷺ to teach me the words he had recited. Upon this, the Holy Prophet ﷺ placed his hand on my head and said, ‘You are an intelligent young man.’”

The young man in turn was impressed with the Prophet ﷺ and his companion. He gave up tending sheep in exchange for looking after the needs of the Messenger of Allah ﷺ.

His acceptance of Islam:

Abdullah bin Masud (RA) relates, “I was the sixth person to accept Islam. At that time, there was no other Muslim on the face of the earth apart from the six of us.”

First reciter of Quran in front of Kaba:

Ibn Masud (RA) who had neither a clan nor a tribe nor a powerful family at Makkah to support for anything. Once Muslims were discussing about Quraish - they had not  listened the sweet and beautiful verses of Makkan Surahs yet. They asked, “Who can recite Quran in front of Kaba?” Ibn Masud (RA) volunteered himself to recite the rhythmical surah Ar-Rahaman in front of the Kaba. The other good hearted companions tried to discourage him saying that the Quraish would not hesitate to beat him to death. In spite of their warning, Abdullah ibn Masud (RA) went forward telling them that Allah would protect him and keep me away from their evil. He then went out to the mosque until he reached Maqam Ibrahim. It was dawn and the Quraish were sitting around the Kaba. Abdullah began to recite the mesmerizing words of Surah Rahman. All were thunderstruck and taken by the sweetness of the words. Somebody in the crowd said ‘What  Ibn Umm Abd is reciting? Damn him! He is reciting some of what Muhammad’s preaching." They bounced on him slapped on his face but he continued reciting. When he concluded his recital, his face was covered with welts and blood. Seeing this his friends told him, “This is what we were afraid would happen to you.” But Abdullah ibn Masud (RA) replied boldly, “Wallahi, ‘the enemies of Allah are more uncomfortable than I am at this moment. If you wish, I shall return tomorrow and do the same.” ‘You have done enough,’ they said. ‘You have made them hear what they dislike.’  Thus, he became the first public reciter of the Quran in front of the Kaba, after the Prophet ﷺ.

As a scholar and reciter of the Quran:

With the company of the Prophet ﷺ he eventually became a great scholar. He had an amazing talent of memorizing, reciting and understanding the Quran.

Umar (RA) states, “One night, Abu Bakr (RA) and I were in the company of the Prophet ﷺ when we passed by Abdullah bin Masud (RA), he was reciting the Holy Quran in his nafil Salath. Prophet ﷺ stood and listened to his recitation. Ibn Masud (RA) then bowed and went into prostration. The Prophet ﷺ said, ‘O Abdullah (RA), whatever you now ask of Allah will be granted to you.’ The Prophet ﷺ then departed saying, ‘Whoever desires to read the Holy Quran with such freshness as though it was just revealed, then he should learn the Holy Quran from Abdullah bin Masud (RA).’” This Hadith and narration is of Musnad Ahmad bin Hanbal.

Another hadhees says, “Learn the Qur'an from (any of these) four persons. `Abdullah bin Masud {RA), Salim the freed slave of Abu Hudhaifa, (RA), Ubai bin Kab (RA), and Muadh bin Jabal (RA).” (Sahih Al-Bukhari, 3760). Abdullah bin Masud (RA) is on the top of this list."

Once Ibn Masud (RA) states, "By Him besides Whom there is no god, no verse of the book of Allah has been revealed without my knowing where it was revealed and the circumstances of its revelation. By Allah, if I know there was anyone who knew more of the Book of Allah, I will do whatever is in my power to be with him." This statement of his is not an exaggeration. He was the mighty legacy of Quran.

Reciting the Quran for the Prophet ﷺ:

Ibn Masud (RA) himself narrates that the Prophet ﷺ instructed him to recite Surah al-Nisa to him. (He is relating his own incident and states,) “The Prophet ﷺ instructed me to recite Surah al-Nisa to him. I replied, ‘What can I recite to you since this was revealed to you?’ The Holy Prophet ﷺ (sa) replied, ‘I like it when others recite the Holy Quran and I listen to it.’” He then states, “I began to recite it and when I reached the verse:

 [.[فَکَیْفَ اِذَا جِئْنَا مِنْ کُلِّ اُمَّۃٍ بِشَہِیْدٍ وَّ جِئْنَا بِکَ عَلٰی ہٰؤُلَآءِ شَہِیْدًا

"And how will it fare with them when We shall bring a witness from every people, and shall bring thee as a witness against these!"’ (Al-Nisa:42) The eyes of the Holy Prophet ﷺ were filled with tears.” The Prophet ﷺ instructed him to stop.

Service to Prophet ﷺ:

Ibn Masud (RA) after accepting Islam, render his complete assistance to the service of Allah’s Messenger ﷺ. He was known as Sahib-ul-Swaaq, prepares the bedding, providing the Miswaaq his teeth, help in arranging the water for ablution and bathing. He was also called as Sahib-ul-Wasaad and Sahib-ul-Na‘layn. He would also repair and carry the Prophet ﷺ’s shoes wherever he goes.

Abu Maleeh narrates, “Abdullah bin Mas‘ud (RA) would provide a covering for the Prophet ﷺ when he would bathe, he would wake the Prophet ﷺ when he would sleep and he would also travel fully armed alongside the Holy Prophet ﷺ.” (Al-Tabqaat-ul-Kubra, Vol. 3, p. 113, Dar-ul-Kutb al-ilimiyya, Beirut, 1990).

Ali (RA) relates that once the Prophet ﷺ instructed Abdullah bin Masud  (RA) for a certain task to climb a tree. Seeing as his calves were apparently thin and weak, the Companions began laughing. The Prophet ﷺ thereupon asked, “Why do you laugh? The virtues of Abdullah bin Mas‘ud (RA) will be heavier in the scales on the Day of Judgement than the Uhud Mountain.” (Usdul Ghaba, Vol. 3, p. 385, Dar-ul-Kutub al-Ilmiyyah, Beirut)

Deep understanding of Islam:

Nothing can illustrate this better than the story of the man who came to Umar ibn Khattab (RA) as he was standing on the plain of Arafat and said: "I have come, O Amir al-Mumineen from Kufah where I left a man filling copies of the Quran from memory." Umar (RA) became very angry and paced up and down beside his camel, fuming. "Who is he?" he asked. "Abdullah ibn Masud (RA)" replied the man. Umar's (RA) anger subsided and he regained his composure. "Woe to you," he said to the man. "By Allah, I don't know of any person left who is more qualified in this matter than he is. Let me tell you about this."

Umar (RA) continued:  Once I met a caravan of people. It was pitch dark. I sent someone to ask where the group had come from? When he enquired, someone answered “Fajjul Ameeq”, i.e. from a distant track. He then asked “Where are you heading to?’” He answered, “To the Baitul Ateeq (Ancient House)” i.e. to the Kaba. It was the Quranic expression. So I asked, “Is there any scholar among them?” and instructed someone to ask them the following questions and the answer came immediately.

Which verse of the Holy Quran is the loftiest? Ayatul Kursi.

Which is the most encapsulating verse of the Holy Quran? ‘Verily Allah enjoins justice, and the doing of good to others; and giving like kindred.’ (Al-Nahl 91).

Which part of the Quran is the clearest on justice? ‘Indeed, Allah orders justice and good conduct and giving to relatives . . .' came the answer. (Surah Nuh: 16:90)

What is the most comprehensive statement of the Quran? 'Whoever does an atom's weight of good shall see it, and whoever does an atom's weight of evil shall see it.' " (Surah Zalzalah: 99:7-8)

Which part of the Quran gives rise to the greatest hope? ‘Say, "O My servants who have transgressed against themselves [by sinning], do not despair of the mercy of Allah. Indeed, Allah forgives all sins. Indeed, it is He who is the Forgiving, the Merciful.’ (Surah Zumur: 39:53)

Which of the verses of the Holy Quran is the most promising? ‘Say, “O My servants who have committed excesses against their own souls! despair not of the mercy of Allah, surely Allah forgives all sins. Verily He is Most Forgiving, Merciful. (Al-Zumar 54)

Thereupon Umar asked: "Is Abdullah ibn Masud among you?" "Yes, by Allah," the men in the caravan replied.

Lesson to be learnt from his life:

Great lesson learnt can be learnt from his life is “always be with good company.” Allah gave opportunity to be with the Prophet ﷺ, the best man.  By serving voluntarily he has learnt all noble characters, habits, thaqwa, knowledge etc.

A shepherd raised to the status of good living model for the people not only for his time but for the whole Ummah.

His excellent morals, a kindness in teaching, the rights of the bond of brotherhood, looking after the family with love all he obtained from the close company of the Prophet ﷺ.

He was sincere like most of the Sahabas, migrated once to Abyssinia and second time to Madhina, participated in all the Battles during the life time of the Prophet ﷺ, experienced all sorts of difficulties due to Islam. He was amongst those companions who were given the glad tiding of paradise by the Prophet ﷺ in their lifetimes. 

He had the opportunity to kill mighty but wounded Abu Jahl, riding over him and cut the head below chin against his wish to cout at the bottom of neck.

He never cursed anybody because he knew, “whoever is cursed but is innocent, the curse is reverted to the one who cursed.”

Abdullah Bin Mas’ud was a righteous, pious, and worshiping nawafil [voluntary prayers], Tahajjud, the prayer at the time of Chasht [period between morning and noon]. Likewise, he used to observe voluntary fasts every Monday and Thursday.

At his illness he was anxious about his sins, the mercy of my Lord, refused to get stipend from the Calipha, commanded daughters to read Surah Al-Waqiah every night for he had heard the Prophet ﷺ saying, 'Whoever reads Al-Waqiah every night shall not be effected by poverty ever.'"

His death:

Salma bin Tawam says, “A person once met Abdullah bin Masud and related his dream and said, ‘I saw you in my dream last night. I also saw that the Holy Prophet ﷺ was sat on a tall pulpit while you were sat below the pulpit. The Prophet ﷺ then said, “O Ibn Masud! Come close to me for you have become so detached since I have gone.”’ Abdullah bin Masud (RA) then said, ‘Swear by Allah that you really did see this dream.’ He replied that indeed he did. Upon this, he then said, ‘Have you come from Madhina to offer my funeral prayer? As it seems that my time has come.’ A short while later he passed away.” (Usdul Ghaba, Vol. 3, p. 386, Dar-ul-Kutub al-ilmiyyah, Beirut). He was buried in the night at Jannathul Baqi.  

الحمدلله