Abd-Aallah Ibn Mas'ood (May Allah be pleased with him)

Abd-Allah ibn Mas'ood was one of the first companions who embraced Islam from those of noble birth. He immigrated to Ethiopia twice in order to escape the persecution of the disbelievers in Mecca and then he immigrated to Medina. He fought alongside the Messenger of Allah peace be upon him in all of the battles including the Battle of Badr and the Battle of Uhud. He was also present at Bay'ah-tu-Al-'Aqaba.

 

Ibn Mas'ood accepted Islam not long after Muhammad peace be upon him was commissioned as Prophet. He said (narrating the story of how he entered Islam): "I was a boy who had reached the age of puberty and I was herding sheep for 'Uqbah ibn Abee Mu'eet when the Prophet peace be upon him and Abu Bakr approached. The Messenger of Allah peace be upon him said: 'Young man, do you have any milk?' I said: 'Yes, however I have been entrusted (with these goats).' The Messenger of Allah peace be upon him said: 'Give me a (female) goat that has never been mated.' So I gave him a young she-goat and the Messenger of Allah peace be upon him took hold of it and began stroking its udder and invoking (Allah) until milk started to come out. Then Abu Bakr gave him a bowl that he used to collect the milk. He (the Messenger of Allah peace be upon him) then said to Abu Bakr: 'Drink.' So Abu Bakr drank, then the Prophet peace be upon him drank after him. He (the Messenger of Allah peace be upon him) then said (addressing the udder): 'Shrink (back to your normal size)!' And it shrank back to its normal size and returned to the way it was before. I then approached and said: 'O Messenger of Allah! Teach me some of these words- or teach me some of the Qur'an.' He the Messenger of Allah peace be upon him rubbed my head and said: 'You (will be) a learned young man.' I learned from him (the Messenger of Allah peace be upon him) seventy chapters of the Qur'an and no one can contest me in those (Suras).'" After Abd-Allah ibn Mas'ood embraced Islam, he became the personal servant of the Messenger of Allah peace be upon him and in an authentic hadith narrated upon the authority of Ibn Mas'ood He peace be upon him said to Ibn Mas'ood:

 

"The sign that you have permission to come in is that the curtain is raised or that you hear me speaking quietly until I forbid you."

 

In another hadith, narrated upon the authority Ibn Mas'ood who said:

 

"The Messenger of Allah peace be upon him said to me: 'Recite (some of the Qur'an) for me.' I said: 'Shall I recite it to you while it has been revealed to you?' He (the Messenger of Allah peace be upon him) replied: 'I like to hear (the Qur'an) from others.' So I recited Sura An-Nisa' until I reached (How (will it be) then, when We bring from each nation a witness and We bring you (O Muhammad peace be upon him) as a witness against these people?) Then he said: 'Stop!' And behold his eyes were overflowing with tears."

 

In another hadith, narrated upon the authority of Hudhaifah who said that the Messenger of Allah peace be upon him said:

 

"Follow the example of two of my companions after me; Abu Bakr and 'Umar, and be guided by (the example and) guidance of 'Ammaar, and hold fast to the knowledge and strict adherence of Ibn Mas'ood."

 

In another hadith, narrated upon the authority of 'Ali ibn Abee Taalib (May Allah be pleased with him) who said that the Messenger of Allah peace be upon him said:

 

"If I were to charge anyone with authority without consultation (with my companions) then I would charge Ibn Umm Abd with authority."

 

In another hadith, narrated upon the authority of 'Ali ibn Abee Taalib (May Allah be pleased with him) who said:

 

"The Prophet peace be upon him commanded Ibn Mas'ood to climb up a tree in order to bring him something from it. The companions (of the Prophet peace be upon him) saw the legs of Ibn Mas'ood when he climbed the tree and they began
to laugh at the skinniness of his legs. The Messenger of Allah peace be upon him said: 'What are you laughing at? The legs of Abd-Allah will weigh more on the scale than mount Uhud on the Day of Judgement.'"

 

And in another hadith, narrated upon the authority of Abd-ur-Rahmaan ibn Yazeed who said:

 

"We asked Hudhaifah to tell us of a person resembling (to some extent) the Prophet peace be upon him in good appearance and straight forward behavior so that we may learn from him (good manners and acceptable conduct). Hudhaifah replied: 'I do not know anybody resembling the Prophet peace be upon him in appearance and good conduct more than Ibn Umm Abd.'