Ihyaaud Deen An Effort to Revive Deen in Totality
Hazrat Abdullah ibn Mas’ood (radhiyallahu anhu) was the first person to recite the Qur’aan Majeed aloud in Makkah Mukarramah before the Quraish after the advent of Islam.
One day, the Sahaabah (radhiyallahu anhum) gathered and said, “By Allah, the Quraish have never heard anyone reciting the Qur’aan aloud before them, so which person among us is prepared to go and recite the Qur’aan aloud before them?”
Hazrat Abdullah bin Mas’ood (radhiyallahu ‘anhu) said, “I will go and recite the Qur’aan aloud before them.” The Sahaabah (radhiyallahu anhum) replied, “We fear over your life! We want that such a person should go before them and recite the Qur’aan aloud who has a strong clan to protect him from the people if they intend to harm him.” Hazrat Abdullah bin Mas’ood (radhiyallahu ‘anhu) responded saying, “Let me go, as Allah will protect my life!”
The following day at the time of midmorning, Hazrat Abdullah (radhiyallahu ‘anhu) set out and came to the Maqaam-e-Ebrahim. At that time, the Quraish were seated in their gatherings nearby. He stood by the Maqaam-e-Ebrahim, and began reciting the Qur’aan Majeed in a loud tone. He first recited Bismillah, and then began to recite Surah Rahmaan.
The Quraish listened to his recitation attentively, and then began to ask one another, “What is Ibnu Umm-e-Abd (referring to Hazrat Abdullah bin Mas’ood) reciting?” Some of them replied, “He is reciting some verses which Muhammed has brought to them.” At this, they stood up and began to hit him on his face. However, he continued to recite from the Qur’aan Majeed as much as he was able to recite before them.
After everything was over, Hazrat Abdullah (radhiyallahu ‘anhu) returned to his companions in the condition that his face was wounded due to the beating. Seeing him in this condition, his companions said to him, “We were fearing this over you!” He replied, “The enemies of Allah Ta‘ala are more insignificant in my sight now than before (this incident transpired i.e. I don’t care how they look at me – rather I will still continue to recite the Qur’aan Majeed before them). If you want me to go and recite the Qur’aan again before them, then I am prepared to go tomorrow again and do so.” His companions said to him, “This is enough! We wished that someone make them hear the beautiful recitation, and you have completed this by making them hear it, but unfortunately, they dislike hearing it.” (Usdul Ghaabah 3/381)
