Rabu, 29 April 2009

Abdullah Ibn Mas'ud

Abdullah Ibn Mas'ud is one of the companions of Prophet Mohammad (PBUH).

When Abdullah Ibn Mas'ud was still a little boy, not yet past the age of puberty, he used to walk in the mountain trails of Makkah far away from people, serving the leaders of Uqbah ibn Muayt. People used to call him Ibn Umm Abd (the son of the mother of a slave).

When he heard about Prophet Mohammad (PBUH), he did not attach any importance to it both because he was still at a young age, and because he was far away from Makkan society most of the time. It was his habit to leave with the people of Uqbah in the early morning and not to return until nightfall.

One day while serving the flocks, Abdullah saw two men, middle-aged and of dignified appearance, walking towards him from a distance. They looked very exhausted, and they were so thirsty and their lips and throat were quite dry. They came up to him, saluted him and said, "Young man, milk one of these sheep for us that we may satisfy our thirst and recover our strength."

"I cannot," replied the young man. "The sheep are not mine. I am only responsible for looking after them."

They did not argue with him. In fact, although they were extremely thirsty, they were very pleased with his honesty.

The two men were the blessed Prophet Mohamed (PBUH) and Abu Bakr el Siddiq. They had gone out on that day to the mountains of Makkah, running away from the violent persecution of the Quraysh.

Abdullah ibn Mas'ud was impressed with the Prophet (PBUH) and his companion and quickly he became quite attached to them.

This event took place not long before Abdullah ibn Mas'ud embraced Islam and offered to be in the service of Prophet Mohamed (PBUH). The Prophet (PBUH) agreed and from that day on the lucky Abdullah ibn Mas'ud gave up tending sheep in exchange for looking after the needs of the blessed Prophet (PBUH).

Abdullah ibn Mas'ud accompanied Prophet Mohammad (PBUH) in all his journeys and expeditions.

He gained a unique experience in the household of Prophet Mohamed (PBUH). He was under the guidance of the Prophet (PBUH), he adopted his manner and followed his every trait until it was said that, "He was the closest to the Prophet in character."

Abdullah was taught in the "school" of Prophet Mohammad (PBUH). He was the best one to recite Qur'an among the companions and he understood it better than anyone else. For this reason he was the most knowledgeable of the Sharia'h (God's Commands). Nothing can show this better than the story of the man who came to Omar ibn al-Khattab while standing on the plain of Arafat and said:

"I came from Kufah where I left a man writing the Qur'an from memory."

On hearing that Omar became very angry and said:

"Who is he?" he asked.

"Abdullah ibn Mas'ud," replied the man.

In a second Omar's anger eased, and he told him:

"Woe to you, By God, I don't know of any person left who is more qualified in this matter than he is. Let me tell you about this." Omar continued:

"One night the Messenger of Allah, peace be upon him, was having a conversation with Abu Bakr about the situation of Muslims. I was with them. When the Prophet left, we left with him also and as we passed through the mosque, there was a man standing in Prayer whom we did not recognize. The Prophet stood and listened to him, then turned to us and said, 'Whoever wants to read the Qur'an as fresh as when it was revealed, then let him read according to the recitation of Ibn Umm Abd (Abdullah Ibn Mas'ud).'

After the Prayer, as Abdullah sat making supplications, Prophet Mohamed (PBUH) said, "Ask and it will be given to you. Ask and it will be given to you."

Omar continued: "I said to myself I shall go to Abdullah Ibn Mas'ud straight away and tell him the good news of the Prophet's ensuring acceptance of his supplications. I went and did so but found that Abu Bakr had gone before me and delivered the good news to him. By God, I have never yet beaten Abu Bakr in the doing of any good."

Abdullah ibn Mas'ud attained such knowledge of the Qur'an that he would say, "By Him besides Whom there is no god, no verse of the book of God has been revealed without my knowing where it was revealed and the circumstances of its revelation. By God, 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."

Reciting the Qur'an was not the only value Abdullah ibn Mas'ud had; he was also a learned man and a fervent worshipper. In addition to that he was a strong and courageous fighter, one who became deadly serious when the occasion demanded it.

The companions of the Prophet (PBUH) gathered together one day in Makkah. They were still few in number, weak and oppressed. They said, "The Quraysh have not yet heard the Qur'an being recited openly and loudly. Who is the man who could recite it for them?"

"I shall recite it for them," volunteered Abdullah ibn Mas'ud.

"We are afraid for you," they said. "We only want someone who has a clan who would protect him from their evil.

"Let me," Abdullah ibn Mas'ud insisted, "Allah shall protect me and keep me safe from their evil." He then went out to the mosque until he reached Maqam Ibrahim (a few meters from the Ka'bah). It was dawn and the Quraysh were sitting around the Ka'bah. Abdullah stopped at the Maqam and began to recite:

" Bism Allah al Rahman al Rahim. ArRahman. Allama al Qur'an. Khalaqa al insan. Allamahu al bayan . . . (In the name of God, the Beneficent, the Merciful. The Merciful God. He has taught the Qur'an. He has created man and taught him the clear truth . . .) "

He went on reciting. The Quraysh looked at him intently and some of them asked:

"What is Ibn Umm Abd saying?"

"Damn him! He is reciting some of what Mohamed brought!" they realized.

They went to him and began beating his face as he continued reciting. When he went back to his companions, the blood was flowing from his face.

"This is what we feared for you," they said.

"By God," replied Abdullah, "the enemies of God are not more comfortable than I am at this moment. If you wish I could go out tomorrow and do the same."

"You have done enough," they said. "You have made them hear what they dislike."

Abdullah ibn Mas'ud lived to the time of Khalifah Uthman. When he was sick and on his deathbed, Uthman came to visit him and said:

"What is your ailment?"

"My sins."

"And what do you desire?"

"The mercy of my Lord."

"Shall I not give you your stipend which you have refused to take for years now?"

"I have no need of it."

"Let it be for your daughters after you."

"Do you fear poverty for my children? I have commanded them to read Surrah Al-Waqi'ah every night for I have heard the Prophet (PBUH) saying, "Whoever reads Al-Waqi'ah every night shall never be effected by poverty."

That night, Abdullah Ibn Mas'ud died, with his thoughts moist with the remembrance of Allah and with the recitation of the verses of His Book.

Source: Ipaki.com
islamonline

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