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Asalamu Alaikum.
Wa alaikum aslam.
How are you Abu?
I am fine uncle.
Are you going to tell me the story of the companions today?
Yes, Yes.
I have told you the story about Abdullah Ibn Masood(Rali Allahu Anhu)
Inshallah, today I will tell you bit more about him in detail.
Sure uncle.
Like I told you in the previous episode,
Abdullah Ibn Masood (Rali Allahu Anhu)
was a companion of the Prophet Muhammad (Sallallahu alaihi wasallam).
He was born in the tribe of Banu Huzail.
People called him ‘Ibn Umm Abd’.
His real name was Abdullah
and his father’s name was Masood.
When he was a young man,
he had heard the stories of the Prophet Muhammad (Sallallahu alaihi wasallam)
from his own people.
But he never paid any importance to the Prophet,
as he lived far away from Makkah.
It was his habit to leave with the flock of Uqbah early in the morning
and work until nightfall.
He used to spend most of his time with the flock.
One day while he was working,
Abdullah saw two men,
who were middle aged, and with dignified looks walking towards him.
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They looked very thirsty and tired.
They came up to him, greeted him and said:
"Young man, can you give us some milk
so that we may quench our thirst and recover our strength".
He replied:
"I cannot offer you milk.
The sheep are not mine.
I am only looking after them".
The two men did not argue with him.
In fact, despite their thirst, they were extremely pleased at his honest reply.
The two men were none other than the blessed
Prophet Muhammad (Sallallahu alaihi wasallam) himself,
and his companion, Abu Bakr Siddiq (Rali Allahu Anhu).
They were in fact fleeing from their enemies in Makkah.
Abdulla spoke with the Prophet for sometime
and soon he realized that the Prophet was indeed a brilliant man!.
Not long after that incident Abdullah Ibn Masood (Rali Allahu Anhu)
became a Muslim
and decided to follow the Prophet Muhammad (Sallallahu alaihi wasallam).
He asked the Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wasallam) his permission
whether he could stay with him as his companion.
The Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wasallam) agreed and from that day,
Abdullah Ibn Masood (Rali Allahu Anhu)
gave up tending sheep in exchange
for looking after the needs of the blessed Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wasallam).
He was the sixth man to accept Islam.
Abdullah Ibn Masood (Rali Allahu Anhu)
remained closely attached to the Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wasallam).
He would attend to his needs both inside and outside the house.
He would accompany him on long journeys and expeditions.
He would wake him when he slept.
He would shield him when he washed.
He would carry his staff and his Siwak (toothbrush)
and attend to his other personal needs.
It was for these reasons that the Sahabah used to call him Saheb-e-Siwak,
which meant the bearer of the siwak,
Saheb-e-Nalaen meaning the bearer of the slippers,
Saheb-e-Mutahara meaning the bearer of the water,
and also sometimes as Saheb-e-Wisadah,
which meant the bearer of the bedroll.
Abdullah (Rali Allahu Anhu) was the best
at reciting the Holy Quran among the companions.
He understood the Quran better than all others.
He was therefore considered the most knowledgeable person on the Islamic Law.
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It so happened that once a man married a woman.
He passed away before he could set a dowry for his wife.
[----Birds chirping---]
When the issue was placed before the Sahaba,
they advised them to go to Abdullah (Rali Allahu Anhu).
The men appoached Abdullah (Rali Allahu Anhu)
but he tried to avoid them
and asked them to consult with someone else.
However, they kept repeating their request.
Finally he said:
“The woman is entitled to receive Mehr-e-Misal”,
meaning the dowry.
“If my verdict is correct, it came from Allah.
If it is incorrect, then know that it came from Satan and myself.
Neither Allah and the Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wasallam)
are responsible if the verdict I gave is incorrect.”
A Sahaba by the name of Maakal Ibn Al-Ashjai (Rali Allahu Anhu)
was also present and he said,
“I swear by Allah
you have given the same verdict that the Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wasallam)
gave in the favour of another man sometime back.
Your verdict is in accordance with the Prophet(Sallallahu alaihi wasallam)”.
When Abdullah heard this,
he was very happy and he praised the Lord.
Abdullah Ibn Masood (Rali Allahu Anhu)
did Hijrat three times,
twice to Ethiopia and once to Madinah.
He participated in every Gazwah.
It was he who encountered Abu Jahl in Badr.
It was to him that the Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wasallam)
presented Abu Jahl’s sword as a gift.
Once, the Caliph Umar(Rali Allahu Anhu) sent Abdullah (Rali Allahu Anhu) to Kufa
to educate the people and to take charge of the Bayt al-mal
When Umar fixed salaries for the Sahabah,
he offered to pay Abdullah a salary too.
[---No dialogue---]
However, Abdullah refused and asked:
‘Why are you trying to attach me to the world”
[---Birds chirping---]
On another occasion,
the Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wasallam) once called Abdullah (Rali Allahu Anhu)
and asked him to recite verses from the Holy Quran.
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Abdullah asked the Prophet respectfully,
"How can I recite to you when it was revealed to you?"
The Prophet (Sallahu alaihi wasallam) answered
He wanted to hear the Quran recited by others.
[----No audio---]
Abdullah then started reading a part of Surat An-Nisa till he reached the verse:
‘How will it be then,
when We bring from each nation a witness
and we bring you as a witness against those people.
On that day those who disbelieved
and disobeyed the Messenger
will wish that they were buried in the earth,
but they will never be able to hide
a single fact from Allah’
[----No audio----]
Upon hearing this
the Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wasallam)’s eyes flooded with tears
and he waved to him saying:
‘Enough, enough, lbn Masood.’
The Prophet was really moved that day.
Abdullah (Rali Allahu Anhu)
never missed the company of the Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wasallam)
even when he was traveling or if he was at home.
He participated in all the battles,
and on the Day of Badr his role was significant.
The Prophet (Sallallahu alaihu wasallam)'s caliphs were also fully aware of his contributions
The Commander of the Faithful Umar lbn Al-Khattab (Rali Allahu Anhu)
appointed him as director of the treasury (Bayt al-mal) in Kufa.
[---No dialogue---]
Abdullah (Rali Allahu Anhu) lived till time of Khalifah Usman(Rali Allahu Anhu)
When he was sick and on his death-bed,
Usman(Rali Allahu Anhu) came to visit him.
Usman(Rali Allahu Anhu) was very sad to see him in his death bed.
[---No dialogue---]
He asked him:
“What is your illness?”
He said:
“My sins.”
Usman(Rali Allahu Anhu) again asked him:
“Do you have any final desires?”
He said:
“To have the mercy of my Lord.”
Usman(Rali Allahu Anhu) then offered him some money
but Abdullah (Rali Allahu Anhu) refused it.
He said that he is not worried about the poverty in his life.
[---No dialogue---]
Abdullah Ibn Masood (Rali Allahu Anhu) was hardly seen in the crowd of life.
He was too humble
when compared with those who possessed wealth, power, and social status.
Financially, he was poor.
Physically, he was feeble,
and socially, he was nobody.
However, Islam compensated him for his poverty
with a large share of treasures of Khosrau and Caesar.
Islam also compensated him for his physical weakness with a strong will,
that conquered the oppressors,
and helped to change the whole historical course of events.
Again, Islam compensated his humble social status through knowledge,
and honors that gave him an eminent place
among the most prominent of historical figures.
He was a noble soul,
and a man of strong faith.
He was guided by Allah,
educated by the Prophet Muhammad (Sallallahu alaihi wasallam),
and enlightened by the Holy Quran.
There are many other stories from the life of Abdullah Ibn Masood (Rali Allahu Anhu).
I will tell those stories on another day.
Sure uncle..Ma-as-salam.
Ma-as-salama Abu.