Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) Praising the Recitation of Hazrat Abdullah bin Mas’ood (radhiyallahu ‘anhu)

Hazrat Umar (radhiyallahu ‘anhu) once narrated the following incident:

Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) would speak to Abu Bakr (radhiyallahu ‘anhu) after Esha and discuss with him the affairs of the Muslims. One night, after Esha, Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) spoke to Abu Bakr (radhiyallahu ‘anhu) (regarding the affairs of the Muslims) and I was also present with them. After discussing, Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) stood up and left the house of Abu Bakr (radhiyallahu ‘anhu) and we also joined him.

As we walked, we passed by the masjid, and we then heard the voice of a person reciting the Quraan Majeed in salaah in the Musjid. Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) stopped to listen to the recitation of that Sahaabi. We were unsure as to who was the person reciting, until Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) said to us,

من سره أن يقرأ القرآن رطبا كما أنزل فليقرأه على قراءة ابن أم عبد

“Whoever wishes to recite the Quraan Majeed in the way it was revealed (from Allah), then he should recite it (the Quraan) like how Abdullah bin Mas’ood is reciting it.”

Thereafter, Hazrat Abdullah bin Mas’ood (radhiyallahu ‘anhu) sat down to complete his salaah, after which he engaged in dua. When he commenced his dua, he first praised Allah Ta’ala, then recited durood upon Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam), and then began to ask Allah Ta’ala for his needs. Hearing the manner in which he made dua (i.e. by first praising Allah Ta’ala and then reciting durood before presenting his need), Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) said twice, “Ask! Whatever you wish, you shall definitely be granted what you asked for.”

Hazrat Abdullah bin Mas’ood (radhiyallahu ‘anhu) did not hear what Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) mentioned regarding his recitation of the Quraan Majeed and his dua being accepted by Allah Ta’ala.

Hazrat Umar (radhiyallahu ‘anhu) said to himself, “I will definitely go to meet him in the morning and give him the glad tidings of what Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) mentioned regarding him.

The next morning, Hazrat Umar (radhiyallahu ‘anhu) went to him to give him the glad tidings, but upon reaching his home, he found that Hazrat Abu Bakr (radhiyallahu ‘anhu) was already leaving the home of Hazrat Abdullah bin Mas’ood (radhiyallahu ‘anhu). Hazrat Umar (radhiyallahu ‘anhu) entered the home of Hazrat Abdullah bin Mas’ood (radhiyallahu ‘anhu) and informed him of the glad tiding, upon which Hazrat Abdullah bin Mas’ood said to him, “Abu Bakr (radhiyallahu ‘anhu) just informed me about it now (before you came).”

Hazrat Umar (radhiyallahu ‘anhu) then mentioned, “May Allah shower His special mercy on Abu Bakr! Whenever I try to compete with him in doing good, he always surpasses me!”

It is reported in some narrations that Hazrat Abu Bakr (radhiyallahu ‘anhu) also asked Hazrat Abdullah bin Mas’ood (radhiyallahu ‘anhu) what was the dua he made at night.

Hazrat Abdullah bin Masood said to him, “The dua I made at night was,

اللهم إني أسألك إيمانًا لا يرتد، ونعيمًا لا ينفد، ومرافقة محمد في أعلى جنة الخلد

O Allah, I beg You to bless me with such Imaan after which there is no turning back, and to bless me with such bounties which will never terminate, and to bless me with the companionship of Nabi Muhammad (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) in the highest stages of Jannah (in the Hereafter), such a Jannah whose life will continue forever.

Hazrat Abdullah bin Mas’ood (radhiyallahu ‘anhu) also mentioned the following dua that he made after performing salaah at night:

اللهم لا إله إلا أنت، وعدك حق، ولقاؤك حق، وكتابك حق، والنبيون حق، ومحمد – صلى الله عليه وسلم – حق، والجنة حق، والنار حق، ورسلك حق

O Allah! There is no deity besides You, Your promise is true, our meeting You (in the Hereafter) is true, Your book (the Quraan Majeed) is true, all the Ambiyaa are true, Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) is true, Jannah is true, Jahannum is true and all Your Rasools (messengers) are true (i.e. we believe all to be a reality).

(Musnad Abi Ya’la #194, Musnad Ahmad #4338, Sunan Tirmizi #593, Majmauz Zawaaid #15551 & 15557)