Abdullah, Son of Masud - Abdullah's Knowledge of Quran

Abdullah's Knowledge of Quran

Abdullah bin Masud was one of the best reciters, of the Qur'an among the companions of Muhammad and understood it better than them all. He was therefore the most knowledgeable on the Shari’ah.

Nothing can illustrate this better than the story of the man who came to Umar Ibn al-Khattab as he was standing on the plain of Arafat and said:

‘I have come, O Amir al-Mumineen, from Kufa where I left a man filling copies of the Qur’aan from memory.’ Umar became very angry and paced up and down beside his camel, fuming.

‘Who is he?’ he asked. ‘Abdullah Ibn Masood,’ replied the man. Umar's anger evaporated and his composure returned.

‘By Allah, I don't know of any person left who is more qualified in this matter than he is,' exclaimed Umar.

"One night the Messenger of Allah was having a very learned discussion with Abdullah Ibn Masood. 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 recognise. The Prophet stood and listened to him, then turned to us and said, "Whoever wants to read the Qur’aan as fresh as when it was revealed, then let him read according to the recitation of Abdullah Ibn Masood."

"I said to myself, I should go to Abdullah Ibn Masood 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 Ahmed had gone before me and conveyed the good news to him already."

In another Hadith, the Prophet said, "Learn the Qur’aan from four people, Abdullah Ibn Masood, Salim Maula Abi Huzaifah, Ubayy Ibn Kaab and Muaz Ibn Jabal." The Prophet has also said, "Read the Qur’aan in the same manner as Abdullah Ibn Masood teaches."

The most popular and widely read Qiraat is that of Imaam Hafs. He relates from Imaam Aasim Kufi and he in turn relates from Abu Abdur Rahman Abdullah Ibn Habib As-Sulmiyi, who relates from Uthman Ibn Affan, Ali Ibn Talib, Abdullah Ibn Masood, Ubayy Ibn Kaab and Zaid Ibn Thaabit. They all, in turn, relate directly from the Prophet.

Abdullah Ibn Masood attained such a knowledge of the Qur'an that he would say, "By Him besides Whom there is no Allah, 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."

Abdullah was not exaggerating in what he said about himself. Once Umar Ibn al-Khattab met a caravan on one of his journeys as caliph. It was pitch dark and the caravan could not be seen properly. Umar ordered someone to hail the caravan. It happened that Abdullah Ibn Masood was in it.

Q: "From where do you come?" asked Umar. "From a deep valley," came the reply from Abdullah Ibn Masood, concealed by the darkness of night. A: "And where are you going?" asked Umar. "To the ancient house," came the reply, (a Qur'anic expression - al-bayt al-atiq.)

"There is a learned person (alim) among them," said Umar Ibn al-Khattab. He commanded that learned questions be asked of this alim, (Abdullah Ibn Masood):

Q: "Which part of the Qur’aan is the greatest?" A: "Allah. There is no Deity except Him, the Living, the Self-subsisting. Neither slumber overtakes Him nor sleep," replied the stranger with the caravan, quoting the Ayat al-Kursi (the verse of the Throne)"

Q: "Which part of the Qur’aan is the most clear on justice?" A: "Allah commands what is just and fair, the feeding of relatives."

Q: "What it the most profound of the Qur’aan?" A: "Whoever does an atoms weight of good shall see it, and whoever does an atom's weight of evil shall see it."

Q: "Which part of the Qur’aan gives believers the greatest hope?" A: "Say, O my servants who have wasted their resources, do not despair of the mercy of Allah. Indeed, Allah forgives all sins. He is the Forgiving, the Compassionate."

Thereupon Umar asked, "Is Abdullah Ibn Masood among you?"

Yes, by Allah, the men in the caravan replied.

The Prophet had always desired to make Ibn Masood a leader of men, as it is clear from the following words of the Prophet, "If I was to make anyone a leader over someone without consulting anyone, I would make Ibn Masood a leader."