The The The The Classic Classic Classic Classic

Resemblance of Resemblance of Resemblance of Resemblance of

Rasululla Rasululla Rasululla Rasulullah (sallallahu h (sallallahu h (sallallahu h (sallallahu
alaihi wasallam) alaihi wasallam) alaihi wasallam) alaihi wasallam)


Sayyiduna Sayyiduna Sayyiduna Sayyiduna
Abdullah Abdullah Abdullah Abdullah b bb bin Mas in Mas in Mas in Mas ood ood ood ood
(radhiyallahu anhu) (radhiyallahu anhu) (radhiyallahu anhu) (radhiyallahu anhu)






Published by:
Ibnu Masood Institute
o Co!yri"ht (#)
$!en !ermission "ranted for re!rintin" this boo%let !ro&ided it is without
any alterations' A humble a!!eal is directed to the readers to offer
su""estions( corrections( etc' to im!ro&e the )uality of this !ublication in the
future' May Allah Taala reward you for this'
The author( editors( s!onsors and ty!esetters humbly re)uest your duaas for
them( their !arents( families( mashaayi%h and asaati*a'

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8irst 9dition: Sha=baan 1+5+ > ?une .01.












@u*aifah bin Aamaan (radhiyallahu anhu) was as%ed:
B8rom amon" all the com!anions of Rasulullah
(sallallahu alaihi wasallam)( which Sahaabi resembled
Rasulullah (sallallahu alaihi wasallam) the mostCD
@u*aifah (radhiyallahu anhu)( who himself was a
"reat Sahaabi and the confidant of Rasullullah
(sallallahu alaihi wasallam)( re!lied:
).,. ~ ,..,..._...,..-. .,.,_)
Among all the Sahaabah (radhiyallahu anhum) the one who
resembled Rasulullah (sallallahu alaihi wasallam) the most
in his manner of talking, in his manner of walking and in his
general conduct was none other than Abdullah bin Masood
(radhiyallahu anhu). (Saheeh ,u%haari E/064)



i
Contents Contents Contents Contents
Preface Preface Preface Preface '''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''' '''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''' '''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''' '''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''' '''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''' '''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''' ''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''' ''''''''''''''''''''''' ''''''''''''''''''''''' ''''''''''''''''''''''' 1 11 1
Introduction Introduction Introduction Introduction '''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''' '''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''' '''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''' '''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''' '''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''' '''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''' '''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''' '''''''''''''' '''''''''''''' '''''''''''''' . .. .
9arly Fays 9arly Fays 9arly Fays 9arly Fays '''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''' '''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''' '''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''' '''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''' '''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''' '''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''' '''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''' '''''''''''''''''' '''''''''''''''''' '''''''''''''''''' + ++ +
8irst 9-!osure to Islam '''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''' +
8irst Im!ressions are Gastin" Im!ressions ''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''' 2
8irst 9ncounter with Rasulullah (sallallahu alaihi
wasallam) ''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''' /
8aith in Allah Taala ''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''' 6
Abdullah bin Masood (radhiyallahu anhu) and Abdullah bin Masood (radhiyallahu anhu) and Abdullah bin Masood (radhiyallahu anhu) and Abdullah bin Masood (radhiyallahu anhu) and
Rasulullah (sallallahu alaihi wasallam) Rasulullah (sallallahu alaihi wasallam) Rasulullah (sallallahu alaihi wasallam) Rasulullah (sallallahu alaihi wasallam) ''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''' ''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''' ''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''' ''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''' 1. 1. 1. 1.
,ond with Rasulullah (sallallahu alaihi wasallam) ''''''''''''''' 1.
S!ecial Pri&ile"e ''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''' 14
Closeness durin" ,attle ''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''' 14
,attle of ,adr '''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''' 17
,attle of Hhud ''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''' .1
,attle of @unain '''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''' .1
Iee!in" Jood Com!any '''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''' ..
@i"h Position @i"h Position @i"h Position @i"h Position'''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''' '''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''' '''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''' '''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''' '''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''' '''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''' ''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''' ''''''''''' ''''''''''' ''''''''''' .5 .5 .5 .5

ii
Rasulullah (sallallahu alaihi wasallam)=s Go&e and
Confidence '''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''' .5
Praise of the Sahaabah (radhiyallahu anhum) ''''''''''''''''''''' .2
Inowled"e Inowled"e Inowled"e Inowled"e '''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''' '''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''' '''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''' '''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''' '''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''' '''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''' ''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''' ''''''''''''''' ''''''''''''''' ''''''''''''''' .6 .6 .6 .6
Inowled"e of the Kuraan ''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''' 50
Inowled"e of @adeeth and 8i)h '''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''' 5/
9ffect on the Peo!le of Iufah ''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''' 57
Caution in Inowled"e ''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''' +0
8inal Fays 8inal Fays 8inal Fays 8inal Fays '''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''' '''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''' '''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''' '''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''' '''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''' '''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''' ''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''' ''''''''''''''''' ''''''''''''''''' ''''''''''''''''' ++ ++ ++ ++
Fiscussion with Hthmaan (radhiyallahu anhu) '''''''''''''''''''' ++
Jlad Tidin"s '''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''' +4
Femise ''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''' +7
Ad&ice Ad&ice Ad&ice Ad&ice '''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''' '''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''' '''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''' '''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''' '''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''' '''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''' ''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''' ''''''''''''''''''''''' ''''''''''''''''''''''' ''''''''''''''''''''''' +6 +6 +6 +6
Ji&in" Preference to the 9ternal Gife '''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''' +6
Salaah in Con"re"ation ''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''' 20
Remainin" Idle'''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''' 21
Tem!tation will ma%e you Cry ''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''' 2.
The ature of Gife '''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''' 22
Procedure of Ac)uirin" Inowled"e '''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''' 2/


1

Preface Preface Preface Preface

BMy Sahaabah (radhiyallahu anhum) are li%e "uidin" stars(
whoe&er you follow you will be "uided'D (Musnad Abd ibni
@umaid E475)
This is the declaration of Rasulullah (sallallahu alaihi
wasallam)' It is therefore necessary to be well ac)uainted with
the Sahaabah (radhiyallahu anhum) and to then follow in their
footste!s'
In this li"ht( a series of tal%s were conducted on the life of the
"reat Sahaabi( Sayyiduna Abdullah bin Masood (radhiyallahu
anhu)
1
' The boo%let in your hand in an edited transcri!tion of
the tal%s deli&ered'
<hile minor chan"es ha&e been made( the manner and flow
of the tal% has been retained' This will insha:Allah ma%e it a
li"hter read'
May Allah Taala acce!t this effort and ma%e it a means of
"reat benefit for the Hmmah( aameen'

1
Recordin"s of these !ro"rams can be downloaded from our website
(www'ibnumasood'co'*a)'


.
..-...- . _)_._..,)..). .... ... : ,,-a,:_..,,. . ,.
,,-_>.

>

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,..,..._.. : D ,,. .,.,_.-._.),-..,.,_._.._.) C
.,.. . .,.. ),. ,,a. _.,,_.._.,,,,-_.,.,...
..,...-._:_.-:
Introduction Introduction Introduction Introduction
The "reat Sahaabi( Abdullah bin Masood (radhiyallahu anhu)(
can be a!tly introduced in the words of the "reat Muhaddith(
Allamah Shamsuddeen Lahabi (rahimahullah)'
@e writes in his boo% Siyaru Aa=laamin ubalaa (&ol' 1( !"'
+/1):
.),.-,., ,-._.).._. --..,....
.-. ......,..
!e was an "maam, #a$eehul %mmah & the 'urist of this %mmah, he
was from among those Sahaabah (radhiyallahu anhum) who had
acce(ted "slam in the beginning, and who (ossessed great knowledge of
deen. !e had the good fortune of (artici(ating in the battle of )adr and
was (ri*ileged to ha*e migrated twice, once to Abyssinia and then to
Madeenah Munawwarah. !e has great *irtues and accolades to his
+he ,lassic Resemblance of Rasulullah (sallallahu alaihi wasallam)

5
name and he had disseminated a great amount of knowledge to this
%mmah.


+
9arly 9arly 9arly 9arly Fays Fays Fays Fays
8irst 9-!osure to Islam 8irst 9-!osure to Islam 8irst 9-!osure to Islam 8irst 9-!osure to Islam
Abdullah bin Masood (radhiyallahu anhu) describes his first
e-!osure to Islam' @e says: BI had come to Ma%%ah Mu%arramah
accom!anyin" my uncles with the intention of buyin" itr
(!erfume)' <e were directed to the uncle of Rasulullah
(sallallahu alaihi wasallam)( Abbaas (radhiyallahu anhu)( an itr
merchant' <hile seated with him at the well of Lam:Lam(
somethin" suddenly cau"ht my attention
.>.,.._,...,_.-,
A man entered from the door of Safa. !e was fair in com(le-ion with a
tinge of redness.
@is hair was lon" and wa&y( he had a thic% beard( outstandin"
eyes( and his blessed teeth were shinin"' In a nut shell:
.,.,..
!e looked liked a full moon.
Alon"side him was a youn" boy and
,..s,,....,-,..
+he ,lassic Resemblance of Rasulullah (sallallahu alaihi wasallam)

2
#ollowing them two was a woman who had concealed her beauty.
The three of them came (into the @aram)( made tawaaf of the
house of Allah Taala( and then worshi!!ed Allah Taala in a
uni)ue manner' This was the first time we had witnessed such a
manner of worshi!' So we as%ed Abbaas (radhiyallahu anhu): Is
this some new reli"ionC= Abbaas (radhiyallahu anhu) re!lied(
This is my ne!hew Muhammad (sallallahu alaihi wasallam)( the
youn" boy is Ali (radhiyallahu anhu)( and the woman is
IhadeeMah (radhiyallahu anha)' They are the only three !eo!le
on the surface of the earth who are worshi!!in" Allah Taala in
this way'=D (MaMmau* Lawaaid E12./4)
Abdullah bin Masood (radhiyallahu anhu) had thus a &ery
early e-!osure to Islam( when only three !eo!le were in the fold
of Islam'
8irst Im!ressions are Gastin" Im!ressions 8irst Im!ressions are Gastin" Im!ressions 8irst Im!ressions are Gastin" Im!ressions 8irst Im!ressions are Gastin" Im!ressions
The first im!ression that Abdullah bin Masood (radhiyallahu
anhu) had of Islam in those early days was:
....,-,.. ,..s,,
#ollowing them two was a woman who had concealed her beauty.
Islam is a reli"ion that em!hasises u!on a woman to conceal her
beauty' This is what cau"ht the attention Abdullah bin Masood
(radhiyallahu anhu)'
Hnfortunately today( if we loo% at the condition at the
@aram( how difficult it has become for males to ma%e tawaafC
@ow difficult it is to control one=s eyesC The amount of loose
Abdullah bin Masood (radhiyallahu anhu)

/
beha&iour and immorality that is !re&alentN <omen no lon"er
co&er their faces' The actual re)uirement is that a woman should
be obser&in" hiMaab and co&erin" her face at all times' @owe&er(
if they are not !ractisin" this( then the bare minimum will be
that when &isitin" these blessed !laces of Ma%%ah Mu%arramah
and Madeenah Munawwarah they should co&er their faces and
obser&e hiMaab' Insha:Allah throu"h the blessin" of them
res!ectin" these blessed lands( Allah Taala will bless them with
the taufee) (ability) to continue with this e&en when they return
home' Many a woman=s life had chan"ed in this &ery manner and
she thereafter obser&ed hiMaab for the rest of her life'
8irst 9ncounter with Rasulullah (sallallahu 8irst 9ncounter with Rasulullah (sallallahu 8irst 9ncounter with Rasulullah (sallallahu 8irst 9ncounter with Rasulullah (sallallahu
alaihi wasallam) alaihi wasallam) alaihi wasallam) alaihi wasallam)
The first !ersonal encounter that Abdullah bin Masood
(radhiyallahu anhu) had with Rasulullah (sallallahu alaihi
wasallam) : which was the turnin" !oint in his life : was when
two men came alon" while he was "ra*in" a floc% of "oats
belon"in" to one of the leaders of the Kuraish( H)bah bin Abi
Muait( on the outs%irts of Ma%%ah Mu%arramah' $ne was
Rasulullah (sallallahu alaihi wasallam) and the other was Abu
,a%r (radhiyallahu anhu)' They as%ed him:
,). . __.-
. youngster/ 0o you ha*e any milk to offer us1
Abdullah bin Masood (radhiyallahu anhu)( who was in his teens
at that time( re!lied:
+he ,lassic Resemblance of Rasulullah (sallallahu alaihi wasallam)

4
_.,._,.
2es/ " do ha*e, but it has been entrusted to me.
It doesn=t belon" to me' I do not ha&e the ri"ht to offer it to you'
@ere we learn the "reat lesson of honesty and
trustworthiness' Hnfortunately this is somethin" that is
&anishin" from the Hmmah today' This is also from amon" the
!ro!hecies of Rasulullah (sallallahu alaihi wasallam) that
trustworthiness will be remo&ed from the hearts of the Hmmah'
Goo% how honest this youn"ster was' There was no one to see
him' @e was in the wilderness( yet he did not dare to breach his
trust' It was this )uality of honesty and trustworthiness that had
allowed him to reach "reat hei"hts'
Thereafter( Rasulullah (sallallahu alaihi wasallam) as%ed him:
-.,,...,.._.,
0o you ha*e a goat which hasn3t mated1
$b&iously such a "oat will not "i&e mil%' e&ertheless such a
"oat was brou"ht and Rasulullah (sallallahu alaihi wasallam)
!assed his blessed hands o&er the udders( read a few &erses( and
mil% be"an to flow' @is com!anion( Abu ,a%r (radhiyallahu
anhu)( brou"ht a hollowed roc% to fill the mil% in it' The two
men then dran% and they offered the mil% to Abdullah bin
Masood (radhiyallahu anhu) as well' This mil% was absolutely
!ermissible' It was from an animal which was not !roducin"
mil%( hence it did not belon" to the owner' It was a !ure miracle
of Rasulullah (sallallahu alaihi wasallam)'
Thereafter( Rasulullah (sallallahu alaihi wasallam) ordered
the udders:
Abdullah bin Masood (radhiyallahu anhu)

7
_.
Sto(.
And it immediately dried u!'
This entire encounter had ca!tured the heart of Abdullah
bin Masood (radhiyallahu anhu)' After a few days he came to
Rasulullah (sallallahu alaihi wasallam)( acce!ted Islam at his
hands and re)uested him:
.. ,..-_._.
+each me those words that you recited.
Rasulullah (sallallahu alaihi wasallam) !assed his blessed hands
on him and said:
.,> . ,.., ., ,..
May Allah +aala ha*e mercy on you. 2ou will ha*e a bright future and
you will reach the (innacle of knowledge. (Musnad Ahmad E5267)
This was the first close encounter Abdullah bin Masood
(radhiyallahu anhu) had with Rasulullah (sallallahu alaihi
wasallam)'
@e further says:
.. _. . .. . _.. ) ,... .
" was the si-th (erson to acce(t "slam. +here were no other Muslims on
the surface of the earth besides us. (Mustadra% @aa%im &ol' 5( !"'
515)
This was the turnin" !oint in his life'
+he ,lassic Resemblance of Rasulullah (sallallahu alaihi wasallam)

6
,.)_.-.,...-,..._.,..._..,..,as,)...,,,,,...
Since that day, this fortunate boy, Abdullah bin Masood (radhiyallahu
anhu) no more gra4ed goats on the outskirts of Makkah Mukarramah.
"nstead he saw to the needs of the best of all creation, Rasulullah
(sallallahu alaihi wasallam).
<hat a !ri&ile"eN 8rom a she!herd at the outs%irts of Ma%%ah
Mu%arramah to the !ersonal attendant of the Master of both the
worlds( Muhammadur Rasulullah (sallallahu alaihi wasallam)N
8aith in Allah 8aith in Allah 8aith in Allah 8aith in Allah Taala Taala Taala Taala
It was in the early days of Islam( and the Sahaabah (radhiyallahu
anhum) were discussin" that the Iuffaar ha&e not yet heard the
Kuraan MaMeed bein" recited o!enly' So who will ta%e u! the
coura"e and recite the Kuraan in front of themC Abdullah bin
Masood (radhiyallahu anhu) said: BI am ready'D They refused
and said:
,,._.....:.)-.. .
5e want a (erson who has a high social standing in Makkah
Mukarramah, and comes from an influential family so that the
disbelie*ers will think twice if they intend to harm and assault him.
Abdullah bin Masood (radhiyallahu anhu) re!lied:
_...,.._,.
Allow me to go, Allah +aala will (rotect me.
Abdullah bin Masood (radhiyallahu anhu)

10
I don=t need any family or hi"h social standin" to !rotect me(
Allah Taala is sufficient for me' This was the le&el of imaan he
had in Allah Taala'
The ne-t mornin" he set out' The leaders of the Iuffaar were
seated in the @aram' @e went in front of them and be"an
recitin" the &erses of surah BAr RahmaanD' <hen the Iuffaar
reali*ed what he was readin"( they !ounced on him and
assaulted him' <hen he returned to the Sahaabah (radhiyallahu
anhum) they said to him: BThis is the e-act fear that we hadD'
Abdullah bin Masood (radhiyallahu anhu) re!lied:
..,..,,,..,..._.),,.._..,-;....
+he enemies of Allah +aala were ne*er disdained in my eyes as much
as they are today. "f you wish, " will do the *ery same thing tomorrow
morning. (Hsdul Jhaabah &ol' 5( !"' 4+)
This was the le&el of his imaan in Allah Taala( and this was
common amon" all the Sahaabah (radhiyallahu anhum)' 9&ery
Sahaabi (radhiyallahu anhu)=s imaan was firm and unsha%able'
Allah Taala declares the imaan of the Sahaabah (radhiyallahu
anhum) to be the criteria'

.
)ring imaan like how the Sahaabah (radhiyallahu anhum) had brought
imaan. (,a)arah &15)
Today we ha&e !eo!le critici*in" the Sahaabah (radhiyallahu
anhum)' @ow can anyone critici*e them( when Allah Taala
@imself has !raised them and testified to their imaanC
+he ,lassic Resemblance of Rasulullah (sallallahu alaihi wasallam)

11
The !ur!ose of discussin" the li&es of the Sahaabah
(radhiyallahu anhum) is to a!!ly the lessons "leaned from their
li&es and imbibe them within our own li&es' ow how does this
relate to us !ersonallyC
Many a time we are faced with a similar situation' It is the
time for salaah( and we feel embarrassed to offer it in the o!en'
<e suffer from an inferiority com!le- althou"h we ha&e all the
freedom to !erform it' There is no )uestion of someone
assaultin" us or e&en &erbally abusin" us'
At times it may ha!!en that durin" the course of some
business transaction( a woman stretches out her hand to "reet us
and we com!ly thin%in" to oursel&es that what will she thin% of
me' ,ein" a Muslim we ha&e to %ee! the command of Allah
Taala before us all the time and it has to su!ersede e&erythin"'
9&erythin" else is secondary' <e should e-!lain to them that
these are the dictates of my reli"ion and they will understand(
acce!t and res!ect our Islam' $ne Muslim doctor has a notice
!ut u! in his waitin" room: BTo all women( !lease don=t feel
offended if I do not sha%e your hands as this is the re)uirement
of my reli"ionD'
<e should feel honoured to be Muslims and we should not
suffer from an inferiority com!le-'



1.
Abdullah bin Masoo Abdullah bin Masoo Abdullah bin Masoo Abdullah bin Masood d d d
(radhiyallahu anhu) and Rasulullah (radhiyallahu anhu) and Rasulullah (radhiyallahu anhu) and Rasulullah (radhiyallahu anhu) and Rasulullah
(sallallahu alaihi wasallam) (sallallahu alaihi wasallam) (sallallahu alaihi wasallam) (sallallahu alaihi wasallam)
,ond with Rasulullah (sallallahu alaihi ,ond with Rasulullah (sallallahu alaihi ,ond with Rasulullah (sallallahu alaihi ,ond with Rasulullah (sallallahu alaihi
wasallam) wasallam) wasallam) wasallam)
Perha!s the attachment( affinity and bond that Abdullah bin
Masood (radhiyallahu anhu) enMoyed with Rasulullah (sallallahu
alaihi wasallam) cannot be e-!lained in a better way than these
words:
.-:a.).,..,..._...,.,)
!e stuck to Rasulullah (sallallahu alaihi wasallam) 'ust as a (erson3s
shadow is attached to him.
A !erson can ne&er se!arate or esca!e from his shadow' Hnder
all conditions the shadow remains attached to him' Similarly
Abdullah bin Masood (radhiyallahu anhu) remained attached
to Rasulullah (sallallahu alaihi wasallam) under all
circumstances'
+he ,lassic Resemblance of Rasulullah (sallallahu alaihi wasallam)

15
Abu Musa Ashari (radhiyallahu anhu) says in a narration of
Saheeh ,u%hari( second &olume (E+57+):
_.,_._-,.. . ..,-... ,.,-.._.,,,-_.).,..._
,,.
My brother and " came from 2emen. A long (eriod had (assed and we
were under the im(ression that Abdullah bin Masood (radhiyallahu
anhu) and his mother belonged to the household of Rasulullah
(sallallahu alaihi wasallam) because they entered the house of
Rasulullah (sallallahu alaihi wasallam) so fre$uently.
In a narration of Ibnu Asaa%ir (&ol' 55( !"' 72)( Abdullah bin
Masood (radhiyallahu anhu) e-!lains:
,..,.,.,..,..._.._.._.,_.,
My mother used to s(end the night with the wi*es of Rasulullah
(sallallahu alaihi wasallam) seeing to their needs, and " would stick to
Rasulullah (sallallahu alaihi wasallam) during the day.
.,.,.,. ,..,..._.. ...,
" used to *eil Rasulullah (sallallahu alaihi wasallam) using his shawl
when he (sallallahu alaihi wasallam) used to take a bath, allowing him
(ri*acy.
,,a
" would wake Rasulullah (sallallahu alaihi wasallam) from his slee(.
@e used to tend to the different needs of Rasulullah (sallallahu
alaihi wasallam)'
Abdullah bin Masood (radhiyallahu anhu)

1+
<hen Rasulullah (sallallahu alaihi wasallam) had to "o out
then Abdullah bin Masood (radhiyallahu anhu) used to ma%e
him wear his shoes' <hen he reached his destination it was
Abdullah bin Masood (radhiyallahu anhu) who would remo&e
and %ee! the shoes of Rasulullah (sallallahu alaihi wasallam)(
and when he would return( he a"ain would ma%e him wear the
shoes' H!on reachin" the home of Rasulullah (sallallahu alaihi
wasallam)( Abdullah bin Masood (radhiyallahu anhu) would
enter the home of Rasulullah (sallallahu alaihi wasallam) before
Rasulullah (sallallahu alaihi wasallam) himself could enter'
(Taree%h Ibni Asaa%ir &ol' 55( !"' 76)
In another narration of Ibnu Asaa%ir (&ol' 55( !"' 6.)(
Abdullah bin Masood (radhiyallahu anhu) says: B$nce
Rasulullah (sallallahu alaihi wasallam) had entered an orchard'
Seein" this( I understood that Rasulullah (sallallahu alaihi
wasallam) was "oin" to relie&e himself and that he would
re)uire some water to ma%e wudhu' So I too% some water and
entered the orchard' Rasulullah (sallallahu alaihi wasallam)
as%ed me:
.,;._.
5ho told you to bring this water13
I re!lied: o one as%ed me to brin" it'=D
This was the le&el of concern he had for the well:bein" of
Rasulullah (sallallahu alaihi wasallam)'
Rasulullah (sallallahu alaihi wasallam) re!lied:
,..-
6-cellent/
+he ,lassic Resemblance of Rasulullah (sallallahu alaihi wasallam)

12
Then Rasulullah (sallallahu alaihi wasallam) "a&e him some "lad
tidin"s:
_,._..-:
+ake the glad tidings of entering 7annah, not only you but the ne-t
three to enter the orchard as well.
It ha!!ened that Abu ,a%r (radhiyallahu anhu)( Hmar
(radhiyallahu anhu) and Ali (radhiyallahu anhu) had thereafter
entered' And all of them were "i&en the "lad tidin"s of ?annah'D
This is how he saw to the needs of Rasulullah (sallallahu
alaihi wasallam)' In fact( amon" the Sahaabah (radhiyallahu
anhum) he was %nown as:
,-. ... ., .,a.
+he one who would kee( the shoes of Rasulullah (sallallahu alaihi
wasallam), the (illow of Rasulullah (sallallahu alaihi wasallam), and
the one who was in charge of the wudhu re$uirements of Rasulullah
(sallallahu alaihi wasallam).
There is a narration which a!!ears re!eatedly in Saheeh
,u%hari( wherein Al)amah (rahimahullah)( a &ery close student
of Abdullah bin Masood (radhiyallahu anhu)( said that he had
come to Syria' @a&in" come to a forei"n land he made duaa:
.,,. -..,.-_
. Allah/ Allow me to sit in the com(any of a (ious (erson.
8rom this we understand the im!ortance of "ood com!any'
Many a time we tra&el to a forei"n land' ow there is no one to
Abdullah bin Masood (radhiyallahu anhu)

1/
watch us' ,ac% home we !ortray oursel&es &ery !ious since
e&eryone %nows us' At this time( what is the le&el of our imaanC
Fo we lea&e e&erythin" aside and "et in&ol&ed in e&ery ty!e of
haraam( or here also we fear Allah Taala' So Al)amah
(rahimahullah) teaches us an easy way to !rotect oursel&es : and
this was the common !ractice amon" the Taabieen : that is( we
ado!t "ood com!any' ot only did he loo% for "ood com!any(
rather he e&en made duaa for the same'
.,,. -..,.-_
. Allah/ Allow me to sit by a (ious (erson.
Thereafter Al)amah (rahimahullah) entered the musMid and sat
amon" a "rou! of !eo!le' Someone came and sat ne-t to him' $n
en)uirin" who the !erson was( he was informed that this is the
"reat Sahaabi of Rasulullah (sallallahu alaihi wasallam)( Abu
Fardaa (radhiyallahu anhu)' <hat a beautiful com!any Allah
Taala blessed him withN @e made duaa for it and he "ot it'
Abu Fardaa (radhiyallahu anhu) as%ed him from where he
had come' Al)amah (rahimahullah) re!lied from Iufah'
Thereafter Abu Fardaa (radhiyallahu anhu) as%ed him:
.,a..,...,-..,.,_,..._,
0oesn3t that great Sahaabi li*e among you, who was in charge of the
shoes, (illow, and wudhu re$uirements of Rasulullah (sallallahu alaihi
wasallam)1 (Saheeh ,u%hari E54+.)
This was how Abdullah bin Masood (radhiyallahu anhu) had
ser&ed Rasulullah (sallallahu alaihi wasallam)( and the affinity
he had with Rasulullah (sallallahu alaihi wasallam)'
+he ,lassic Resemblance of Rasulullah (sallallahu alaihi wasallam)

14
S!ecial Pri&ile"e S!ecial Pri&ile"e S!ecial Pri&ile"e S!ecial Pri&ile"e
In fact Rasulullah (sallallahu alaihi wasallam) had made a s!ecial
!ro&ision for Abdullah bin Masood (radhiyallahu anhu)'
Accordin" to the narration of Saheeh Muslim (E2///)( Rasulullah
(sallallahu alaihi wasallam) said to him:
_..,, ,--_ ._.. ;,_.-_,
"f the curtain at the entrance of my home is o(en, you ha*e com(lete
(ermission to enter and to listen to my con*ersation unless " sto( you.
Closeness durin" ,attle Closeness durin" ,attle Closeness durin" ,attle Closeness durin" ,attle
ot only did Abdullah bin Masood (radhiyallahu anhu) ser&e
Rasulullah (sallallahu alaihi wasallam) and remain with him
whilst in Madeenah Munawwarah( rather he also remained close
to Rasulullah (sallallahu alaihi wasallam) on his Mourneys and
e&en durin" the different battles'
Abdullah bin Masood (radhiyallahu anhu) says:
,..,.-,,.,,,..,..._...,.,-.
" was close to Rasulullah (sallallahu alaihi wasallam) on the occasions
of )adr, %hud and )ayatur Ridhwaan. (Taaree%h Ibni Asaa%ir &ol'
55( !"' 46)
Abdullah bin Masood (radhiyallahu anhu)

17
,attle of ,adr ,attle of ,adr ,attle of ,adr ,attle of ,adr
Towards the end of the ,attle of ,adr( Rasulullah (sallallahu
alaihi wasallam) as%ed:
,-,_...a._.
5ho will see what has ha((ened to Abu 7ahl1
Abdullah bin Masood (radhiyallahu anhu) re!lied( BI will "o'D
@e had to be nearby to say that he will "o' e&ertheless(
Abdullah bin Masood (radhiyallahu anhu) went and saw that
the two sons of Afraa had already wounded Abu ?ahl( and he was
in the throes of death'
Abdullah bin Masood (radhiyallahu anhu) !ut his foot on
the nec% of Abu ?ahl and said:
.;- ...
Allah has disgraced you, . enemy of Allah.
Abu ?ahl re!lied: B<hat dis"race are you tal%in" aboutC Aou
ha&e ne&er %illed anyone as "reat as me'
,.._..,.._,,...
Remember, you were a she(herd on the outskirts of Makkah
Mukarramah. 8ow you are acting high and mighty.
Thereafter( he said:
.,. _..
"f only someone besides a farmer could kill me.
+he ,lassic Resemblance of Rasulullah (sallallahu alaihi wasallam)

16
Some noble !erson from the Kuraish should ha&e %illed me' At
least after I am dead and "one !eo!le will say that a noble
!erson had %illed him'
Pride is such an e&il thin"' @e is bein" %illed in such a
dis"raceful manner' Aet the !ride could not lea&e his heart' 9&en
at this occasion he did not for"et his !ride'
Abdullah bin Masood (radhiyallahu anhu) then remo&ed
the head of Abu ?ahl( too% it to Rasulullah (sallallahu alaihi
wasallam) and said:
,-_....-
+his is the head of the enemy of Allah +aala, Abu 7ahl.
Rasulullah (sallallahu alaihi wasallam) as%ed:
.
)y Allah, is this really the head of Abu 7ahl1
Abdullah bin Masood (radhiyallahu anhu) too% an oath'
Thereafter Rasulullah (sallallahu alaihi wasallam) said:
. . ..-,-),. ..,.....,.._....-
All (raise is due to Allah +aala. !e has fulfilled !is (romise, assisted
!is ser*ant. And !e alone defeated the enemy.
Goo% at the humility of Rasulullah (sallallahu alaihi wasallam)
com!ared to the !ride of Abu ?ahl' Rasulullah (sallallahu alaihi
wasallam) is attributin" e&erythin" to Allah Taala e&en thou"h
he is &ictorious' @owe&er( Abu ?ahl was dyin" but he ne&er
for"ot his !ride'
Abdullah bin Masood (radhiyallahu anhu)

.0
Thereafter Rasulullah (sallallahu alaihi wasallam) said to
Abdullah bin Masood (radhiyallahu anhu): BShow me where he
is lyin"CD @ow ha!!y Rasulullah (sallallahu alaihi wasallam)
must ha&e been with Abdullah bin Masood (radhiyallahu
anhu)N Then Rasulullah (sallallahu alaihi wasallam) went
towards the body of Abu ?ahl and said thrice:
.-,).,._....-
All (raise is due to Allah +aala, 5ho has granted honour to "slam and
the (eo(le of "slam.
A"ain we see the humility of Rasulullah (sallallahu alaihi
wasallam)( that he attributes e&ery !erfection to Allah Taala'
Then Rasulullah (sallallahu alaihi wasallam) said:
.)... ,...
+his is the #iroun of this %mmah.
(These details a!!ear in Saheeh ,u%haari E+0.0( Musnad Ahmad
E+.+4 and 8athul ,aari &ol' 4( !"' 54+)
Scholars write that Abu ?ahl was e&en worse than 8iroun' <hen
8iroun was dyin" and he saw the !unishment of Allah Taala
comin"( he said( BI belie&e in the lord of the ,ani Israaeel'D ,ut
Abu ?ahl e&en at the last moment( !ride ne&er left him' <e can
see how e&il this )uality of !ride is( that e&en till the last
moment it doesn=t lea&e a !erson' Therefore we need to ma%e a
concerted effort to rid oursel&es of this e&il )uality' If we act
!roudly then we will be followin" the way of Abu ?ahl and if we
are humble then we will be followin" the way of Rasulullah
(sallallahu alaihi wasallam)'
+he ,lassic Resemblance of Rasulullah (sallallahu alaihi wasallam)

.1
,attle of Hhud ,attle of Hhud ,attle of Hhud ,attle of Hhud
$n the occasion of Hhud( when the Sahaabah (radhiyallahu
anhum) suffered a tem!orary defeat and they were scattered all
o&er( only four Sahaabah (radhiyallahu anhum) remained with
Rasulullah (sallallahu alaihi wasallam)' $ne of them was
Abdullah bin Masood (radhiyallahu anhu)' (MaMmau* Lawaaid
E122/6)
,attle of @unain ,attle of @unain ,attle of @unain ,attle of @unain
At the crucial Munctures( Abdullah bin Masood (radhiyallahu
anhu) was always with Rasulullah (sallallahu alaihi wasallam)'
$n the occasion of @unain a"ain( when the Sahaabah
(radhiyallahu anhum) had suffered a tem!orary defeat(
Abdullah bin Masood (radhiyallahu anhu) was there with
Rasulullah (sallallahu alaihi wasallam)' 8rom an army of 1. 000(
only 70 Sahaabah (radhiyallahu anhum) remained with
Rasulullah (sallallahu alaihi wasallam)'
Abdullah bin Masood (radhiyallahu anhu) said( BI saw
Rasulullah (sallallahu alaihi wasallam) leanin"( and I feared that
Rasulullah (sallallahu alaihi wasallam) would fall off his
con&eyance' So I said( $ abi of Allah (sallallahu alaihi
wasallam)( sit u! strai"ht( what has ha!!enedC=
Rasulullah (sallallahu alaihi wasallam) said to me( Ji&e me a
handful of sand'=D Abdullah bin Masood (radhiyallahu anhu)
!assed a handful of sand to Rasulullah (sallallahu alaihi
wasallam)' Thereafter Rasulullah (sallallahu alaihi wasallam)
read a few words and threw it' Allah Taala made it such that it
Abdullah bin Masood (radhiyallahu anhu)

..
went into the eyes of the enemy' Then Rasulullah (sallallahu
alaihi wasallam) as%ed Abdullah bin Masood (radhiyallahu
anhu):
.)-,._
5here are the Muhaa'ireen, where are the Ansaar1
Call all of them' So Abdullah bin Masood (radhiyallahu anhu)
called the MuhaaMireen and the Ansaar' They all had come and
then Rasulullah (sallallahu alaihi wasallam) and the Sahaabah
(radhiyallahu anhum) defeated the enemy and won the battle'
(Musnad Ahmad E+55/)
Iee!in" Jood Com!any Iee!in" Jood Com!any Iee!in" Jood Com!any Iee!in" Jood Com!any
8rom this attachment that Abdullah bin Masood (radhiyallahu
anhu) had with Rasulullah (sallallahu alaihi wasallam) we learn
a "reat lesson that( we should try to remain in the com!any of
the !ious' Abdullah bin Masood (radhiyallahu anhu) and all the
other Sahaabah (radhiyallahu anhum) remained in the com!any
of Rasulullah (sallallahu alaihi wasallam) as much as they could(
and it was because of the blessin"s of this com!any that they
reached "reat hei"hts' If it wasn=t for this com!any( they
wouldn=t ha&e been Sahaabah'
Allah Taala has blessed us with many !ious Hlama and
elders in our country as well' <e should lin% u! with them(
remain in their com!any( consult with them and then see the
amount of benefit we will achie&e in our li&es'



.5
@i"h Position @i"h Position @i"h Position @i"h Position
Rasulullah (sallallah Rasulullah (sallallah Rasulullah (sallallah Rasulullah (sallallahu alaihi wasallam) u alaihi wasallam) u alaihi wasallam) u alaihi wasallam)=s =s =s =s
Go&e and C Go&e and C Go&e and C Go&e and Confidence onfidence onfidence onfidence
It was ob&ious that when Abdullah bin Masood (radhiyallahu
anhu) had shown such dedication in ser&in" Rasulullah
(sallallahu alaihi wasallam)( then Rasulullah (sallallahu alaihi
wasallam) had also built u! a "reat amount of lo&e( affinity and
confidence in him'
$nce some !eo!le were !raisin" Amr bin Aas (radhiyallahu
anhu)' So he said to them( BAou are !raisin" me' Get me tell you
about two !eo!le for whom Rasulullah (sallallahu alaihi
wasallam) had intense lo&e when he left this world' $ne is
Abdullah bin Masood (radhiyallahu anhu) and the other is
Ammaar bin Aaasir (radhiyallahu anhu). (Musnad Ahmad
E14704)
Ima"ine( Rasulullah (sallallahu alaihi wasallam) ha&in" lo&e
for Abdullah bin Masood (radhiyallahu anhu)N
Rasulullah (sallallahu alaihi wasallam) mentioned many
as!ects re"ardin" Abdullah bin Masood (radhiyallahu anhu)'
$n one e-!edition while the Sahaabah (radhiyallahu anhum)
were out in the !ath of Allah Taala( Rasulullah (sallallahu alaihi
Abdullah bin Masood (radhiyallahu anhu)

.+
wasallam) re)uired a miswaa%' Abdullah bin Masood
(radhiyallahu anhu) climbed a tree( to brea% a miswaa% for
Rasulullah (sallallahu alaihi wasallam)' This was his wor%( to be
in the ser&ice of Rasulullah (sallallahu alaihi wasallam)' As he
climbed u!( the Sahaabah (radhiyallahu anhum) saw his shin
and this caused them to smile( since Abdullah bin Masood
(radhiyallahu anhu) was a &ery short and thin !erson'
Rasulullah (sallallahu alaihi wasallam) as%ed them:
,-,.
5hy are you smiling1
So they re!lied:
,._.
5e are smiling because his shins are so thin.
Rasulullah (sallallahu alaihi wasallam) said:
.-_.,......,_.._.
" take an oath on the being who is in control of my life, these shins of
Abdullah bin Masood will be weightier on the scales (on the 0ay of
7udgement) than the (*ast) mountain range of %hud. (Musnad
Ahmad E5661)
Rasulullah (sallallahu alaihi wasallam) also mentioned(
.. ,..._.,.,
!old firm to the teachings of Abdullah bin Masood (radhiyallahu
anhu). (Sunan Tirmi*i E5702)
+he ,lassic Resemblance of Rasulullah (sallallahu alaihi wasallam)

.2
In another hadeeth Rasulullah (sallallahu alaihi wasallam) said:
.,.,_,.).,:.._..-.,.,.,
"f " had to take a unilateral decision in a((ointing anyone as a leader,
then " would a((oint Abdullah bin Masood (radhiyallahu anhu).
(Sunan Tirmi*i E5706)
There is no need for me to as% or consult anyone re"ardin" this
Sahaabi' I ha&e such confidence in him that I can ta%e a
unilateral decision re"ardin" a!!ointin" him'
<hat "reater testimony can there be re"ardin" anyone than
the fact that Rasulullah (sallallahu alaihi wasallam) says(
.,.,_.-._.),-.,.,_._.._.),,.
" like for my %mmah what Abdullah bin Masood (radhiyallahu anhu)
likes for them, and " dislike for them what he dislikes for them.
(MaMmau* Lawaaid E122/7)
This was the confidence Rasulullah (sallallahu alaihi wasallam)
had in Abdullah bin Masood (radhiyallahu anhu)'
Praise of the Praise of the Praise of the Praise of the Sahaabah (radhiyallahu Sahaabah (radhiyallahu Sahaabah (radhiyallahu Sahaabah (radhiyallahu
anhum) anhum) anhum) anhum)
If this was the le&el of confidence that Rasulullah (sallallahu
alaihi wasallam) had in Abdullah bin Masood (radhiyallahu
anhu) then most certainly the Sahaabah (radhiyallahu anhum)
had a "reat amount of confidence in him as well'
Abdullah bin Masood (radhiyallahu anhu)

./
$nce Hmar (radhiyallahu anhu) was sittin" with his
com!anions and from a distance Abdullah bin Masood
(radhiyallahu anhu) a!!roached' Abdullah bin Masood
(radhiyallahu anhu) was short and thin( and Hmar
(radhiyallahu anhu) had com!anions seated in front of him' So
it was difficult for Hmar (radhiyallahu anhu) to see him'
e&ertheless the two met and had a li"ht:hearted con&ersation
and then Abdullah bin Masood (radhiyallahu anhu) turned
away and de!arted' Thereafter Hmar (radhiyallahu anhu)
addressed his com!anions sayin" to them:
.....,. ,.
Abdullah bin Masood (radhiyallahu anhu) may be small in si4e, but
he is like a small utensil that is brimming and o*erflowing with the
knowledge and the understanding of deen. (Siyaru Aa=laamin
ubalaa &ol' 1( !"' +61 O Taree%h Ibni Asaa%ir &ol' 55( !"' 1+2)'
As we say( BFynamites come in small !ac%a"in"'D @e was really a
dynamite'
Ali (radhiyallahu anhu) had come to Iufah after Abdullah bin
Masood (radhiyallahu anhu) had left' So he be"an as%in" the
students of Abdullah bin Masood (radhiyallahu anhu)
re"ardin" him' They felt that Ali (radhiyallahu anhu) was
tryin" to test them or he had some other moti&es' e&ertheless(
when Ali (radhiyallahu anhu) heard what they had to say( he
said to them:
,_...,,
" ha*e the e$ual amount of res(ect and regard for him, nay e*en more
than what they ha*e.
+he ,lassic Resemblance of Rasulullah (sallallahu alaihi wasallam)

.4
Thereafter Ali (radhiyallahu anhu) said:
,..-,-)--. ..,._.
Abdullah bin Masood (radhiyallahu anhu) had recited the 9uraan,
(ractised on the 9uraan, regarded its lawful as lawful and its unlawful
as unlawful, he was a true 'urist of deen and he had dee( understanding
of the sunnah of Rasulullah (sallallahu alaihi wasallam). (Taaree%h
Ibni Asaa%ir &ol' 55( !"' 120)
Abu Moosa Ashari (radhiyallahu anhu)( another "reat Sahaabi
of Rasulullah (sallallahu alaihi wasallam) was once )uestioned
re"ardin" a rulin"' So he "a&e his o!inion' Then he as%ed them
to "o to Abdullah bin Masood (radhiyallahu anhu) as well( since
he felt that Abdullah bin Masood (radhiyallahu anhu) will
a!!ro&e of his rulin"' <hen they came to Abdullah bin Masood
(radhiyallahu anhu) and mentioned to him the answer of Abu
Moosa Ashari (radhiyallahu anhu)( Abdullah bin Masood
(radhiyallahu anhu) said( BI cannot a"ree to this rulin"'D So he
!assed another rulin"( accordin" to what he felt was correct'
<hen these !eo!le came bac% to Abu Moosa Ashari
(radhiyallahu anhu)( he told them:
,,-.-,._,.)
As long as this great giant of knowledge is among you, do not e*en ask
me any ruling of deen. (Saheeh ,u%hari E/45/)
@ere we understand the clarity of the hearts of the Sahaabah
(radhiyallahu anhum)' Their hearts were so !ure' It did not
become an issue that he is a Sahaabi and I am also a Sahaabi'
Thus I ha&e the ri"ht to issue my own rulin"' Rather they
Abdullah bin Masood (radhiyallahu anhu)

.7
ac%nowled"ed the ne-t Sahaabi to be more )ualified in a certain
field of %nowled"e and accordin"ly they referred others to him
for their )ueries'
@ere we find a common !roblemP in fact there is no
com!arison' $ur condition today is such that des!ite us ha&in"
little or no %nowled"e re"ardin" a certain matter of deen( we are
so )uic% to obMect to the Hlama( who are )ualified in that field'
<e wish to "i&e our own o!inions des!ite ha&in" no authority to
do so' Hnfortunately( this is also done on !ublic forums' $n the
other hand we find Abu Moosa Ashari (radhiyallahu anhu)
o!tin" to remain silent in the !resence of Abdullah bin Masood
(radhiyallahu anhu)' Such a "reat Sahaabi( but he ne&er found
the need to s!ea%' <ho are weC o %nowled"e( but at times we
e&en "o to the e-tent of sayin"( BImaam Abu @aneefah
(rahimahullah) said such and such a thin"( but I don=t a"reeN My
o!inion is that it should be li%e this'D <ho are we in front of
these "reat "iants of %nowled"eC <hat ri"ht do we ha&e to
s!ea%( and o!!ose their teachin"s which were based !urely on
the Kuraan and sunnahC


.6
Inowled"e Inowled"e Inowled"e Inowled"e
Pre&iously we had discussed the affinity and closeness that
Abdullah bin Masood (radhiyallahu anhu) enMoyed with
Rasulullah (sallallahu alaihi wasallam)' $ne of the "reat benefits
of this association was that Allah Taala had blessed him with
!rofound %nowled"e and "reat understandin" in e&ery
de!artment of deen'
<e had mentioned in the be"innin" that Rasulullah
(sallallahu alaihi wasallam) himself had !ro!hesised( BAou will
ha&e a bri"ht future in %nowled"e'D Then Hmar (radhiyallahu
anhu) also mentioned:
.....,. ,.
Abdullah bin Masood (radhiyallahu anhu) is like a small utensil that
is brimming and o*erflowing with the knowledge and the
understanding of deen. (Siyaru Aa=laamin ubalaa &ol' 1( !"' +61 O
Taree%h Ibni Asaa%ir &ol' 55( !"' 1+2)'
Masroo) (rahimahullah)( a "reat Taabiee said:
..s,-.,. ,..,..._..
" had dee(ly studied the li*es of the com(anions of Rasulullah
(sallallahu alaihi wasallam)
Abdullah bin Masood (radhiyallahu anhu)

50
and I found that si- Sahaabah (radhiyallahu anhum) !ossessed
the Moint %nowled"e of all the Sahaabah (radhiyallahu anhum)'
And the %nowled"e of these was !ossessed by two Sahaabah' $ne
was Abdullah bin Masood (radhiyallahu anhu) and the other
was Ali (radhiyallahu anhu)'D (Taaree%h Ibni Asaa%ir &ol' 55(
!"' 125)
This e-!lains to us what &ast %nowled"e Abdullah bin
Masood (radhiyallahu anhu) had !ossessed' @e was well &ersed
in e&ery field of %nowled"e( be it the Kuraan( hadeeth or fi)h
(Muris!rudence)'
Inowled"e of Inowled"e of Inowled"e of Inowled"e of the the the the Kuraan Kuraan Kuraan Kuraan
As far as the %nowled"e of the Kuraan MaMeed is concerned( he
was well &ersed in both the recitation and the meanin"'
<hen it comes to the recitation( then Abdullah bin Amr
(radhiyallahu anhuma) mentioned : in a narration of Saheeh
,u%haari( first &olume (E5427) :( that e&er since I had heard one
hadeeth of Rasulullah (sallallahu alaihi wasallam)( I be"an to
ha&e e-cessi&e lo&e for Abdullah bin Masood (radhiyallahu
anhu)'
This once a"ain hi"hli"hts the clarity and !urity of the hearts
of the Sahaabah (radhiyallahu anhum) where they did not find
it difficult to !raise their contem!oraries' 8or"et !raisin" our
contem!oraries( if someone has to !raise our contem!orary(
then we will find some way to run him down' 8or e-am!le: If
someone s!ea%s about a !articular doctor who is our
contem!orary( then we will say( BAah( he is a "ood doctor( but
sometimes he rushes and doesn=t chec% !ro!erly'D $r if he is in
+he ,lassic Resemblance of Rasulullah (sallallahu alaihi wasallam)

51
the same business as us and he is !raised( then we will say( B?ust
watch out( sometimes he sells e-!ired "oods'D So somehow we
will loo% for a reason to run the !erson down( but the Sahaabah
(radhiyallahu anhum) were com!letely o!!osite'
e&ertheless( the hadeeth that Abdullah bin Amr
(radhiyallahu anhuma) heard from Rasulullah (sallallahu alaihi
wasallam) was:
._..,...
:earn the 9uraan from four (eo(le.
And the first name that Rasulullah (sallallahu alaihi wasallam)
mentioned was that of Abdullah bin Masood (radhiyallahu
anhu)'
$nce while Hmar (radhiyallahu anhu) was in Arafah( on the
occasion of haMM( a !erson from Iufah came to him and said( B$
Hmar (radhiyallahu anhu)N I ha&e some &ery bad news' There is
one !erson in Iufah who is teachin" the Kuraan from memory(
and !eo!le are writin" it down'D
<e should %ee! in mind that at times a !erson=s memory
may err( and if the Kuraan is incorrectly written down( it will
then be related incorrectly from "eneration to "eneration'
Therefore Hmar (radhiyallahu anhu) became e-tremely
an"ry( but before he could react he as%ed( BTell me( who is that
!ersonCD @e re!lied that it was Abdullah bin Masood
(radhiyallahu anhu)'
The an"er of Hmar (radhiyallahu anhu) subsided( and he
said:
,
Abdullah bin Masood (radhiyallahu anhu)

5.
5oe be to you/
<hy did you not tell me earlier who the !erson wasC Really( on
this entire earth there is only one !erson who has the ca!ability
and the authority to do this( and that is Abdullah bin Masood
(radhiyallahu anhu)' ow let me tell you why I am sayin" this'
$ne ni"ht( Rasulullah (sallallahu alaihi wasallam)( Abu ,a%r
(radhiyallahu anhu) and I came out of the house of Abu ,a%r
(radhiyallahu anhu) and !assed by the musMid' <e heard the
sound of the Kuraan bein" recited' So we sto!!ed to hear the
recitationC ,efore we could e&en wor% out as to who the reciter
was( Rasulullah (sallallahu alaihi wasallam) said to us:
.,.,_._....,..,...._.
5hoe*er wishes to recite the 9uraan as it was re*ealed, should recite in
the manner of Abdullah bin Masood (radhiyallahu anhu).3
After Abdullah bin Masood (radhiyallahu anhu) com!leted his
salaah( not %nowin" that Rasulullah (sallallahu alaihi wasallam)
is listenin" to him( he be"an to ma%e duaa' Rasulullah (sallallahu
alaihi wasallam) said(
a..
Ask/ 5hate*er you ask shall be gi*en to you.3 (MaMmau* Lawaaid
E12221)
ow( what was the duaa that Abdullah bin Masood
(radhiyallahu anhu) was as%in" at that blessed timeC
The narration of Musnad Ahmad (E+.22) mentions this duaa:
+he ,lassic Resemblance of Rasulullah (sallallahu alaihi wasallam)

55
.),._,,. . ...).,. . ..s,,,.. ,..,..._.. _..
.- ..-
. Allah/ )less me with such imaan which always increases and
(rogresses (there must be no turning (oint or decrease to this imaan of
mine), and bless me with such comforts which will ne*er terminate, and
bless me with the com(anionshi( of Rasulullah (sallallahu alaihi
wasallam) in the highest stages of 7annah.
The thin" that Abdullah bin Masood (radhiyallahu anhu) li&ed
for and died for was( to ser&e Rasulullah (sallallahu alaihi
wasallam)( and at this o!!ortune moment this was the duaa that
he was ma%in" that( $ Allah Must as I was blessed in this world to
ser&e Aour abi (sallallahu alaihi wasallam)( in ?annah also bless
me to be in his ser&ice' Rasulullah (sallallahu alaihi wasallam)
said aameen to this duaa'
Hmar (radhiyallahu anhu) said that this was such a "reat
"lad tidin" where Rasulullah (sallallahu alaihi wasallam)
e-!ressed such confidence in Abdullah bin Masood
(radhiyallahu anhu) that I made u! my mind to "i&e this "lad
tidin" to Abdullah bin Masood (radhiyallahu anhu) the ne-t
mornin"'
A"ain this was the !urity of the hearts of the Sahaabah
(radhiyallahu anhum)( where they e-!ressed Moy at the "ood
fortune of their brother' Hmar (radhiyallahu anhu) says by the
time I reached Abdullah bin Masood (radhiyallahu anhu) then
as usual Abu ,a%r (radhiyallahu anhu) had already beat me in
con&eyin" the "lad tidin"'
The narration of Ibnu Asaa%ir (&ol' 55( !"' 6/) e-!lains that
Abdullah bin Masood (radhiyallahu anhu) mentioned to Hmar
Abdullah bin Masood (radhiyallahu anhu)

5+
(radhiyallahu anhu) that this is always his duaa after e&ery
salaah that he !erforms( be it a fardh salaah or a nafl salaah' Get
us try and learn this duaa as well( if not the Arabic then at least
the 9n"lish'
To"ether with ha&in" a mastery o&er the recitation of the
Kuraan( Abdullah bin Masood (radhiyallahu anhu) also had
!rofound understandin" of the Kuraan'
In a narration of Saheeh ,u%haari( second &olume (E2000)(
Abdullah bin Masood (radhiyallahu anhu) himself says:
.,..,..,..,..._...,._.,.-..
" had learnt a((ro-imately se*enty surahs of the 9uraan directly from
Rasulullah (sallallahu alaihi wasallam).
The narration of Hsdul Jhaabah (&ol' 5( !"' 4+) says:
:,,_..
8o one else was there when " learnt this from Rasulullah (sallallahu
alaihi wasallam).
If he had directly learnt from Rasulullah (sallallahu alaihi
wasallam)( what must ha&e been his understandin" of the
KuraanC
@e further says:
,..,..._.._.,-.,..... .,.,,..._._ . ,-.
+he Sahaabah (radhiyallahu anhum) of 8abi (sallallahu alaihi
wasallam) know fully well that from amongst them " ha*e the greatest
amount of knowledge regarding the 9uraan, but at the same time " am
not saying that " am the best of them.
+he ,lassic Resemblance of Rasulullah (sallallahu alaihi wasallam)

52
Allah Taala has blessed me with this %nowled"e of the Kuraan
MaMeed' It is @is fa&our' I am only e-!ressin" this fa&our of @is
and I am not sayin" that I am su!erior to the rest of the
Sahaabah (radhiyallahu anhum)'
In another narration of Saheeh ,u%haari (E200.)( Abdullah
bin Masood (radhiyallahu anhu) said:
,_,..).,._..,.,...)_.. . .,._.,)
,.,,..)
" take an oath on that being besides whom there is no one else worthy
of worshi(, that there is no surah in the 9uraan but that " ha*e full
knowledge regarding the (lace of its re*elation, and there is no *erse of
the 9uraan but that " am aware of the circumstances of its re*elation.
Abdullah bin Masood (radhiyallahu anhu) "oes on to say:
,,,,..,.,._.,...-,..,
"f " know of any (erson more knowledgeable regarding the 9uraan
than me, in any corner of the world where my con*eyance can reach,
then " am (re(ared to tra*el u( to that (erson and learn from him.
8rom this we understand the thirst that Sahaabah (radhiyallahu
anhum) had for %nowled"e' They ne&er felt that they %new
enou"h' Many a time today we feel <e %now it all=' <e can ma%e
our own research and come u! with our own conclusions' o
one must tell us anythin"' This was not the case with the
Sahaabah (radhiyallahu anhum)'
Abdullah bin Masood (radhiyallahu anhu)

5/
Inowled"e of @adeeth and 8i)h Inowled"e of @adeeth and 8i)h Inowled"e of @adeeth and 8i)h Inowled"e of @adeeth and 8i)h
As far as the %nowled"e of hadeeth was concerned( Abdullah bin
Masood (radhiyallahu anhu) narrated 7+7 ahaadeeth from
Rasulullah (sallallahu alaihi wasallam)'
Many as!ects re"ardin" his %nowled"e of fi)h
(Muris!rudence) ha&e already been mentioned' To further
understand his e-!ertise in this field we need to loo% at the
incident of Abdullah bin Masood (radhiyallahu anhu)=s comin"
to Iufah and his residin" there'
After the demise of Abu ,a%r (radhiyallahu anhu)( durin" the
%hilaafah of Hmar (radhiyallahu anhu) there was a need for
some Sahaabah (radhiyallahu anhum) to "o to Iufah as it was a
newly con)uered land' The narration of @aa%im (&ol' 5 !"' 577)
mentions that Hmar (radhiyallahu anhu) sent two Sahaabah
(radhiyallahu anhuma) to Iufah' @e also sent a letter addressin"
the !eo!le of Iufah:
....,..._..,..._..,,,..._ . _.,-._..-
-. ..s, ,..,..._.. .-_.
" ha*e sent Ammaar bin 2aasir (radhiyallahu anhuma) as your
leader and Abdullah bin Masood (radhiyallahu anhu) as your teacher
and as an ad*isor. +hey are from amongst the elite Sahaabah
(radhiyallahu anhum) of Rasulullah (sallallahu alaihi wasallam) who
had (artici(ated in the battle of )adr.
.,...,..,....,.~
:isten to them, learn from them and follow them.
+he ,lassic Resemblance of Rasulullah (sallallahu alaihi wasallam)

54
These are the words of Hmar (radhiyallahu anhu) re"ardin"
whom Rasulullah (sallallahu alaihi wasallam) said: BIf there had
to be a abi after me( it would ha&e been Hmar (radhiyallahu
anhu)'D This calibre of a !erson is instructin" the !eo!le of
Iufah to listen to the two Sahaabah (radhiyallahu anhuma)( to
learn the %nowled"e of deen from them and to follow them'
@e did not tell them to follow the Kuraan and hadeeth
directly( rather he instructed them to follow these two Sahaabah
(radhiyallahu anhuma)( because they had a far better
understandin" of the Kuraan and hadeeth than others could
e&en dream of' So by followin" them they would actually be
followin" the Kuraan and hadeeth'
This is the &ery same answer that we "i&e to those who
obMect and say: B<hy do we need to follow the four ImaamsC
<hy must we follow Imaam Abu @aneefah (rahimahullah)C <hy
can=t we follow the Kuraan and hadeeth directlyCD
The answer is the same that we do not !ossess the %nowled"e
and understandin" of the Kuraan and hadeeth that these
Imaams !ossessed' Thus if we follow them( in actual fact we are
followin" the Kuraan and hadeeth' There would ha&e only been
a !roblem if these Imaams hadn=t followed the Kuraan and
hadeeth' ,ut this wasn=t the case'
@ow can we e&er com!are oursel&es with these "reat
ImaamsC Imaam Ahmad bin @ambal (rahimahullah) %new one
million ahaadeeth' <e cannot e&en learn 100 ahaadeeth( yet we
wish to com!are and e)uate oursel&es with these "reat Imaams'
This conce!t of directly followin" the Kuraan and hadeeth
outwardly seems &ery interestin" and attracti&e( but in reality
there is no substance to it' The true s!irit of deen will only be
ac)uired by followin" one of these "reat luminaries' Therefore
Abdullah bin Masood (radhiyallahu anhu)

57
Hmar (radhiyallahu anhu) instructed the !eo!le of Iufah to
follow Ammaar bin Aaasir (radhiyallahu anhuma) and Abdullah
bin Masood (radhiyallahu anhu)'
Thereafter he stated in his letter:
_.._....,.,.
(Really " re$uire Abdullah bin Masood (radhiyallahu anhu) to be at
my side, to hel( me in the running of the entire Muslim state but) " ha*e
gi*en (reference to you o*er myself.
<hat a "reat &irtue of Abdullah bin Masood (radhiyallahu
anhu)N A "iant li%e Hmar (radhiyallahu anhu) e&en confirmed
that he is in need of him'
Another lesson learnt from this incident is the lesson of
"i&in" !reference to others o&er oursel&es'
9 99 9ffect on th ffect on th ffect on th ffect on the P e P e P e Peo!le of Iufah eo!le of Iufah eo!le of Iufah eo!le of Iufah
Abdullah bin Masood (radhiyallahu anhu) had come to Iufah
and the !eo!le too% the ad&ice of Hmar (radhiyallahu anhu) to
heart( to such an e-tent that Ibnu Asaa%ir (rahimahullah)
mentioned:
,- ,,....,-,. . .,.,.,-.._,
!e was the 'urist of the (eo(le of ;ufah and their teacher. +hey had
such regard for him that they held on to e*ery teaching of his and they
would not look at anyone else3s o(inion (as they always ga*e (reference
to the ruling of Abdullah bin Masood radhiyallahu anhu). (Taaree%h
Ibni Asaa%ir &ol' 55( !"' 2+)
+he ,lassic Resemblance of Rasulullah (sallallahu alaihi wasallam)

56
8rom this we learn that there is nothin" wron" in "i&in"
!reference to the &iews of one of the Imaams of fi)h and blindly
following3 him( since the !eo!le of Iufah who were Taabieen had
blindly followed3 Abdullah bin Masood (radhiyallahu anhu)'
Abdullah bin Masood (radhiyallahu anhu) did such sterlin"
wor% amon" the !eo!le of Iufah that when Ali (radhiyallahu
anhu) entered Iufah he commented:
.,.,_.,- . ....-.-..
May Allah +aala ha*e mercy on Abdullah bin Masood (radhiyallahu
anhu), he has filled this entire city with the knowledge of deen.
In one narration Ali (radhiyallahu anhu) said:
,-. .-.-.,..._
+he students of Abdullah bin Masood (radhiyallahu anhu) are the
lam(s of this city.
H! to +000 students are re!orted to ha&e ac)uired %nowled"e
from Abdullah bin Masood (radhiyallahu anhu) either directly
or throu"h his students' (8i)hu Ahlil Ira) wa @adeethuhum !"'
2.)
This is an indication of the le&el of %nowled"e he had( in the
field of fi)h'
Iufah thereafter became the head)uarters and the ca!ital of
the Islamic em!ire' After Abdullah bin Masood (radhiyallahu
anhu)=s demises his student Al)amah (rahimahullah) too% o&er
his !osition' After Al)amah (rahimahullah)=s demise his student
9brahim a%haee (rahimahullah)( and then his student
@ammaad (rahimahullah) had ta%en o&er that !osition'
Abdullah bin Masood (radhiyallahu anhu)

+0
Thereafter our "reat Imaam( Imaam Abu @aneefah
(rahimahullah)( too% o&er and occu!ied that same !osition(
which was occu!ied by Abdullah bin Masood (radhiyallahu
anhu) and he became the Murist of Iufah'
Imaam Abu @aneefah (rahimahullah) ne&er too% out his
o!inions from his own (ocket3' Rather he sim!ly con&eyed to us
the teachin"s of Rasulullah (sallallahu alaihi wasallam) which
were con&eyed to him &ia the illustrious chain of scholars( i'e' his
teacher @ammaad (rahimahullah) from 9brahim a%haee
(rahimahullah) from Al)amah (rahimahullah) from the "reat
Murist of this Hmmah( Abdullah bin Masood (radhiyallahu anhu)
from Rasulullah (sallallahu alaihi wasallam)'
Caution in Inowled"e Caution in Inowled"e Caution in Inowled"e Caution in Inowled"e
Fes!ite !ossessin" such "reat %nowled"e( Abdullah bin Masood
(radhiyallahu anhu) was &ery cautious when it came to
%nowled"e and more s!ecifically the ahaadeeth of Rasulullah
(sallallahu alaihi wasallam)'
In a narration of Saheeh ,u%haari (E+44+)( Masroo)
(rahimahullah) mentioned( that there was a !erson in the musMid
who was !resentin" his !ersonal o!inion re"ardin" a certain
&erse of the Kuraan'
Hnfortunately this has become a common !roblem today
where e&eryone wishes to "i&e their own inter!retation when it
comes to the &erses of the Kuraan( and they feel that they ha&e
the ri"ht to "i&e their !ersonal o!inion in deen'
+he ,lassic Resemblance of Rasulullah (sallallahu alaihi wasallam)

+1
e&ertheless( this news reached Abdullah bin Masood
(radhiyallahu anhu) while he was lyin" down' At once he wo%e
u! all annoyed and said:
,..),..).,.,.._.,....,.,..,_..,.,.._.
+hat (erson should s(eak who has dee( knowledge of deen, and when a
(erson does not ha*e knowledge of deen, he should say Allah +aala
knows best,3 since (art of knowledge is that when you are unaware of
something you say " don3t know3.
@e should not !retend to %now( since Allah Taala has informed
us re"ardin" Rasulullah (sallallahu alaihi wasallam) that:

-

.

'

1
" am not from among those who (retend. (Saad &7/)
It is sim!le( if we do not %now we should refer to those who
%now'

2
3

5
+

&

Ask the (eo(le of understanding if you do not know. (An:ahl &+5)

<e should not !retend to be the "reatest scholar of the time'
?ust as we will not attem!t to "i&e our o!inion in the medical
field or any other field that we are not ac)uainted with( e&en
more im!ortant is the as!ect of deen' <e cannot "i&e our own
o!inions re"ardin" deen'
Another as!ect re"ardin" the caution of Abdullah bin
Masood (radhiyallahu anhu) is that he ne&er directly attributed
anythin" to Rasulullah (sallallahu alaihi wasallam)' @is student
Amr bin Maimoon (rahimahullah) re!orts that he stayed with
Abdullah bin Masood (radhiyallahu anhu)

+.
him (Abdullah bin Masood) for one year( but durin" that entire
duration Abdullah bin Masood (radhiyallahu anhu) ne&er
directly attributed anythin" to Rasulullah (sallallahu alaihi
wasallam)' $ne day by mista%e it sli!!ed from his ton"ue:
BRasulullah (sallallahu alaihi wasallam) saidD' This made him
e-tremely worried' @e bro%e out into !ers!iration and his entire
e-!ression chan"ed' Then he said:
.. . ;,,,. . ;,_.,. . ;,.
6ither Rasulullah (sallallahu alaihi wasallam) said these words, or
these were the a((ro-imate words of Rasulullah (sallallahu alaihi
wasallam). (Taba)aat Ibni Sa=d &ol' 5( !"' 11/)
This was the de"ree of caution he had e-ercised in attributin"
anythin" to Rasulullah (sallallahu alaihi wasallam)'
Imaam Muslim (rahimahullah) has mentioned the narration
in the introduction of his Saheeh (E1+)( that Abdullah bin
Masood (radhiyallahu anhu) said:
..,,.,),.,....,)..-.,.-,,.
"f you are e-(laining some (as(ect of deen or e*en a) hadeeth of
Rasulullah (sallallahu alaihi wasallam) and your audience does not
ha*e the ability to fully understand and gras( it, then this will be a
means of fitnah (e*il and mischief) for them.
Instead of them drawin" closer to Allah Taala they will mo&e
further away from deen'
8rom this we learn that we need to ha&e a certain le&el of
%nowled"e and understandin" in order to understand the
+he ,lassic Resemblance of Rasulullah (sallallahu alaihi wasallam)

+5
Kuraan and hadeeth' It is not for all and sundry to directly access
the Kuraan and hadeeth'


++
8inal Fays 8inal Fays 8inal Fays 8inal Fays
Towards the end of his life( Abdullah bin Masood (radhiyallahu
anhu) left Iufah and returned to Madeenah Munawwarah'
Fiscussion with Hthmaan (ra Fiscussion with Hthmaan (ra Fiscussion with Hthmaan (ra Fiscussion with Hthmaan (radhiyallahu dhiyallahu dhiyallahu dhiyallahu
anhu) anhu) anhu) anhu)
Prior to him !assin" away( while he was sic%( Hthmaan
(radhiyallahu anhu) who was the %haleefah at that time had
come to &isit him( and a &ery interestin" discussion had ta%en
!lace between them'
Hthmaan (radhiyallahu anhu) as%ed him:
_.:.
5hat sickness are you suffering from1
@e re!lied:
_,,
My greatest concern is my sins.
This was the feature in the Sahaabah (radhiyallahu anhum) that
des!ite the hei"hts they had reached( they always felt
+he ,lassic Resemblance of Rasulullah (sallallahu alaihi wasallam)

+2
themsel&es to be insi"nificant and their concern was how will
they stand in front of Allah TaalaC
Hthmaan (radhiyallahu anhu) then as%ed him:
_,.:.
0o you ha*e any wish or desire1
@e re!lied:
_>
+he only desire " ha*e is the mercy of my Rabb, Allah +aala.
Thereafter Hthmaan (radhiyallahu anhu) as%ed him:
,,,a,.)
Should " not call for a doctor1
@e re!lied:
_..,,,a
+he true doctor and gi*er of cure who is Allah +aala has (laced me in
this sickness.
So why should I turn to any other doctor'
8rom this we should not "et the incorrect messa"e of not
seein" a doctor( as this was based on his le&el of imaan( and
Abdullah bin Masood (radhiyallahu anhu) !robably realised
that this was now the end of his life and there was no need to see
a doctor'
Hthmaan (radhiyallahu anhu) thereafter as%ed:
Abdullah bin Masood (radhiyallahu anhu)

+/
) . , a.
Should " not sti(ulate for you a salary from the (ublic treasury1
@e re!lied:
,_--)
" don3t need a salary (since " am lea*ing this world).
Hthmaan (radhiyallahu anhu) says that you ha&e dau"hters( and
this salary would ta%e care of their needs after you ha&e
de!arted from this world'
This is the concern of e&ery indi&idual( B<hat=s "oin" to
ha!!en to my children( es!ecially to my dau"htersCD The same
concern is bein" !resented to Abdullah bin Masood
(radhiyallahu anhu)' Today our concern for our dau"hters=
futures has e&en dri&en us to sendin" them to ac)uire de"rees at
uni&ersities at the e-!ense of them losin" all their shame' <e
feel that it is im!ortant for them to ha&e a !rofession( in the
e&ent their marria"es do not wor% out and they return home(
who is "oin" to su!!ort themC <e are !re!arin" for a brea%
down in their marria"e( e&en before the marria"e can ta%e !lace'
<e are not educatin" them to ma%e a home( rather we are
educatin" them to brea% a home' Thus many a time it ends u!
li%e that' Allah Taala treats us as we e-!ect from Allah Taala'
e&ertheless( Abdullah bin Masood (radhiyallahu anhu)
re!lied:
.._._.._:
0o you fear (o*erty to afflict my daughters1
+he ,lassic Resemblance of Rasulullah (sallallahu alaihi wasallam)

+4
This is not a concern( as I ha&e heard from Rasulullah (sallallahu
alaihi wasallam) and I ha&e tau"ht this to my dau"hters that the
!erson who recites Surah <aa)iah e&ery ni"ht( Allah Taala will
ne&er allow !o&erty to come to such a !erson'D (Hsdul Jhaabah
&ol' 5( !"' 44)
This was the solution that Abdullah bin Masood
(radhiyallahu anhu) found for the concern of his dau"hters( and
not the <estern solutions that we are ado!tin"'
<e should ta%e this as a lesson for us all' The financial
instability and recession of the world is e&eryone=s concern' Get
us secure our li&es and the li&es of our children by recitin" Surah
<aa)iah e&ery ni"ht' <e wor% the entire day to !rotect
oursel&es from !o&erty' ,ut this is a !rescri!tion of Rasulullah
(sallallahu alaihi wasallam)' Get us ta%e out a few minutes to
recite this surah as a "uaranteed means of !rotection from
!o&erty'
Jlad Tidin"s Jlad Tidin"s Jlad Tidin"s Jlad Tidin"s
Furin" the last few days of Abdullah bin Masood (radhiyallahu
anhu)( a man met him and informed him: BI saw a dream( in
which Rasulullah (sallallahu alaihi wasallam) was standin" on a
mimbar (!ul!it) and you were standin" below him' Rasulullah
(sallallahu alaihi wasallam) was sayin" to you( $ Ibnu Masood(
hurry to me since you ha&e under"one many difficulties in life
after my demise'=D After as%in" the man to ta%e an oath that he
had really seen this dream( Abdullah bin Masood (radhiyallahu
anhu) re)uested him not to lea&e Madeenah Munawwarah until
he offers the Manaa*ah salaah on him'
Abdullah bin Masood (radhiyallahu anhu)

+7
Femise Femise Femise Femise
<ithin a few days Abdullah bin Masood (radhiyallahu anhu)
!assed away( in the year 5. A'@' when he was a!!ro-imately /5
years of a"e( and was buried in ?annatul ,a)ee=( the blessed
"ra&eyard of Madeenah Munawwarah'


+6
Ad&ice Ad&ice Ad&ice Ad&ice
Ji&in" Preference to the 9ternal Gife Ji&in" Preference to the 9ternal Gife Ji&in" Preference to the 9ternal Gife Ji&in" Preference to the 9ternal Gife
Amon" the ad&ice which Abdullah bin Masood (radhiyallahu
anhu) had "i&en was:
.-).,._.
+hat (erson who makes his (rimary ob'ecti*e this maternal world, he
has to com(romise with his deen and his hereafter.
@is deen and hereafter has to suffer the conse)uence'
,...-)_.
And the one who makes the hereafter his (rimary goal and ob'ecti*e in
life, he will ha*e to com(romise on his material world and certain
lu-uries and im(ermissible desires.
_,._..,,
. (eo(le/ <i*e (reference to that which is eternal o*er that which will
(erish and come to an end in a few days. (Siyaru Aa=laamin ubalaa
&ol' 1( !"' +6/)
Abdullah bin Masood (radhiyallahu anhu)

20
Salaah in Con"re"ation Salaah in Con"re"ation Salaah in Con"re"ation Salaah in Con"re"ation
Another ad&ice of Abdullah bin Masood (radhiyallahu anhu)
was:
._...._. . ...... _..-,. ),- _,.,,-,,..
+he one who wishes to meet Allah +aala tomorrow on the 0ay of
9iyaamah as a Muslim should be (unctual with (erforming his fi*e
daily salaah in congregation.
9&ery one of us desires to meet Allah Taala in the state of imaan'
This illustrious Sahaabi of abi (sallallahu alaihi wasallam) is
"uaranteein" this to us !ro&ided we offer our fi&e daily salaah in
con"re"ation'
@e further says:
,,,... ,..,..._.. .._.. . .._.._._,
Allah +aala has ordained for your 8abi (sallallahu alaihi wasallam)
the (aths of guidance, and this is from among those (aths.
.,.-...-_...,,,,.,..,, ,,,..,., . ,,,..,.,
,...
And if you had to (erform salaah at home, you would be lea*ing the
way of your 8abi (sallallahu alaihi wasallam) and mo*ing towards
misguidance.
-_.. .-..-.-_..-.....,,,a_.-,,a. .,.) .,a-
..--,a .,.,..;-,.
+he ,lassic Resemblance of Rasulullah (sallallahu alaihi wasallam)

21
#or e*ery ste( a (erson takes to the mus'id after (erforming wudhu at
home, he will be recei*e one reward, one rank of his will be raised and
one sin will be forgi*en.
..... ,..,,..._..),...-.
+he only (erson in the time of Rasulullah (sallallahu alaihi wasallam)
who would not come to the mus'id was an o(en hy(ocrite.
The hy!ocrite whose hy!ocrisy was concealed would still come
for salaah' Ima"ine what rulin" the Sahaabah (radhiyallahu
anhum) would ha&e !assed re"ardin" usN
.,._.-.-,_,-..
"f a man was sick and was unable to walk to the mus'id, then he was
assisted by two others and brought in this manner. (Saheeh Muslim
E1+77)
$nce a blind Sahaabi( Abdullah bin Hmmi Ma%toom
(radhiyallahu anhu) as%ed Rasulullah (sallallahu alaihi
wasallam) if he was e-cused from comin" to the musMid'
Rasulullah (sallallahu alaihi wasallam) mentioned to him that as
lon" as you can hear the a*aan( you ha&e no e-cuse for not
!erformin" your salaah in the musMid'
Remainin" Idle Remainin" Idle Remainin" Idle Remainin" Idle
Abdullah bin Masood (radhiyallahu anhu) would also say:
.-)..),...).-.)_
Abdullah bin Masood (radhiyallahu anhu)

2.
" don3t like to see a man idle, not in*ol*ed in any deeni work, nor in any
worldly work. (@ilyatul Awliyaa &ol' 1( !"' 147)
<e all %now the famous ada"e: BAn idle mind is the de&il=s
wor%sho!'D o one is sayin" that we must !erform salaah or
read tasbeeh the entire day' If it=s not some deeni wor%( then let
us in&ol&e oursel&es in some !ermissible worldly acti&ity' Some
scholars mention that a !erson should rather !lant !otatoes if
he doesn=t ha&e any wor% to do( since some benefit will still
come out of it'
<e all %now in today=s time of technolo"y how detrimental it
is to remain idle' If a !erson is idle he has the whole world at his
fin"er ti!s and he can "et in&ol&ed in so many ty!es of wron"s
and &ices'
<e need to also ensure that our children are occu!ied with
some acti&ity' Today the child has a car( all the money in his
hand( and is free to do as he !leases' Thus he e-!eriments with
the wron" thin"s and "ets in&ol&ed in wron" habits' Get us "et
them in&ol&ed in somethin"( e&en if it be some business( so that
they will be occu!ied'
Tem!tation will ma%e you Cry Tem!tation will ma%e you Cry Tem!tation will ma%e you Cry Tem!tation will ma%e you Cry
Abdullah bin Masood (radhiyallahu anhu) said:
_.,._-
+ruth seems difficult, but it is en'oyable.
Practisin" on deen mi"ht seem difficult( howe&er it is absolutely
easy and enMoyable' <e need to try it to %now how enMoyable it
+he ,lassic Resemblance of Rasulullah (sallallahu alaihi wasallam)

25
is' It=s li%e when someone ne&er tasted somethin" and he says
it=s not nice' As% those !eo!le who ha&e chan"ed their li&es'
<hat enMoyment they are e-!eriencin" in the obedience of Allah
TaalaN
_,.-,
6*il and falsehood seems en'oyable, but it is (oisonous.
A life of sin and disobedience may seem so nice and cool=' Ji&in"
in to one=s tem!tations may seem so enMoyable( howe&er it is
!oisonous' It is full of misery and difficulty( as he e-!lains
further:
),-,.,,.,
!ow many times falling (rey to one3s desires and tem(tations result in
eternal misery and distress. (@ilyatul Awliyaa &ol' 1( !"' 175)
This ad&ice of Abdullah bin Masood (radhiyallahu anhu) could
be e-!lained best throu"h a few lines of !oetry that @a*rat
Moulana Aunus Patel (rahimahullah) would re!eatedly )uote'
The "ist of which is as follows:
" acce(t that there is some en'oyment in committing sins.
In ma%in" *ina or watchin" filth( there is some enMoyment'
@owe&er( that enMoyment is not real enMoyment' Rather it is li%e
a criminal=s enMoyment' 8or e-am!le( a criminal steals a 8errari
and is dri&in" at 500 %m>h' The enMoyment he recei&es in those
few minutes of dri&in" is not true enMoyment( because he %nows
he will soon "et cau"ht( and all his enMoyment will be o&er'
Abdullah bin Masood (radhiyallahu anhu)

2+
Similarly( by brea%in" the commands of Allah Taala( we will "et
a little enMoyment( but it is not real enMoyment'
!owe*er, what ty(e of a rebellion it is against that )eing who is
nourishing us and taking care of us.
9&en when we are in&ol&ed in that sin( all the faculties that we
use are "i&en to us by Allah Taala' The eye that we use to see the
haraam( the ear that we use to listen to the haraam( the ton"ue
that we use to s!ea% to that stran"e woman( are all @is fa&ours'
<hat a rebellion this is a"ainst @imN
A few minutes of en'oyment results in a lifetime of regret and shame.
@ow many incidents we hear of( where a !erson "a&e in to his
tem!tation for a short while( and it cost him e&erythin"' @e "ot
entan"led in a haraam relationshi!( with his secretary or with
the re!( and his business suffered( his family abandoned him(
and it resulted in untold misery and !roblems' At times !eo!le
were forced to e&en lea&e their towns and relocate'
The !oet "oes on to say:
5hat kind of foolishness is this that you remo*e the 'ana4ah of your
honour from your home1
9&ery !erson is "i&en some form of honour and some le&el of
res!ect' ,y sinnin" we are tearin" down this res!ect and honour'
Today it is so easy to blac%mail' 9&eryone is a mo&in"
cameraman' So there is no )uestion of I can hide and commit
the sin' o one will see me'= Peo!le may be re"ardin" us as !ious(
with a %urta and beard' ,ut this !erson sna!!ed us while we
+he ,lassic Resemblance of Rasulullah (sallallahu alaihi wasallam)

22
were doin" somethin" wron"' This is the end of all that honour
and res!ect'
There are so many reasons for us to stay away from haraam'
The most im!ortant of which is to attain the !leasure of Allah
Taala'
The ature of Gife The ature of Gife The ature of Gife The ature of Gife
Abdullah bin Masood (radhiyallahu anhu) e-!lained the nature
of life and man=s Mourney in a beautiful manner' @e said:
.._,,..,.s...,...-,.,.,
As the days and nights are (assing (and the second3s needle is ticking
on the clock), your life is getting shorter, your deeds are being recorded,
and death will come all of a sudden.
The an"el of death doesn=t ma%e any announcements or final
boardin" calls='
,...,.,-_. . ....,.,._.
+he one who (lants good will rea( with ha((iness, and the one who
(lants e*il will rea( with regret. (@ilyatul Awliyaa &ol' 1( !"' 175)
@e e-!lains the nature of this world and the hereafter throu"h
the e-am!le of a farmer' If the farmer sows the ri"ht seeds at the
ri"ht time( i'e' he !lanted that which was in demand( then he
will ma%e a %illin"= at the time of har&est' ,ut in the same
manner( if he sows the wron" seeds( i'e' he !lants somethin"
with which the mar%et is flooded( then he will re"ret and suffer
"reat losses at the time of har&est'
Abdullah bin Masood (radhiyallahu anhu)

2/
This is e-actly the situation with re"ards to the @ereafter'
The one who does "ood actions in this world is li%e the farmer
who sows the ri"ht seeds' @e will be o&erMoyed at har&est time(
which is the Fay of Kiyaamah( and he will announce:

<

>?

6
,ome to read my book of deeds.
,ut the one who does bad actions is li%e the farmer who sows the
wron" seeds' @e will re"ret so "reatly on the Fay of Kiyaamah
that he will say:

BC DE BC

'

G DH G

.h, "f only " didn3t recei*e my book of deeds, and " didn3t come to know
my account/ .h, "f only death could be the end/
Procedure of Ac)uirin" Inowled"e Procedure of Ac)uirin" Inowled"e Procedure of Ac)uirin" Inowled"e Procedure of Ac)uirin" Inowled"e
<e will conclude on one ad&ice of Abdullah bin Masood
(radhiyallahu anhu)( which is &ery a!t to our times and the
situation we face'
@is student Aai*ullah bin Idrees Al:Ihawlaani
(rahimahullah) said: BI can &ery clearly !icture that occasion and
that scene' It was a Thursday when Abdullah bin Masood
(radhiyallahu anhu) was standin" on the staircase' @e addressed
the !eo!le and said:
,..,,..., , -._,.._._
. (eo(le/ Ac$uire knowledge before it is taken away, as it is taken away
by the (assing away of the learned scholars of deen.
+he ,lassic Resemblance of Rasulullah (sallallahu alaihi wasallam)

24
@ere( Abdullah bin Masood (radhiyallahu anhu) e-!lains to us
the manner in which %nowled"e will be remo&ed( i'e' by the
!assin" away of the learned and !ious !eo!le' So ac)uire
%nowled"e from them before they !ass away'
In this ad&ice we are shown the !rocedure of ac)uirin" the
%nowled"e of deen' It is to be ac)uired from the learned men of
%nowled"e' The fear of Abdullah bin Masood (radhiyallahu
anhu) was not the loss of boo%s( as they will always remain' In
fact there is always an increase in the number of boo%s and
wor%s that are bein" !ublished' The actual fear he had was the
loss of the men of %nowled"e and understandin"( the loss of
those men who can understand and e-!lain to others the
content matter that is found in boo%s' <ithout them we will all
fail to understand and ac)uire the true %nowled"e of deen' It can
ne&er be ac)uired by us "oin" directly to boo%s and ado!tin" the
self:study a!!roach' <e re)uire the "uidance and the
understandin" of the men of %nowled"e'
Thereafter( Abdullah bin Masood (radhiyallahu anhu) "a&e
some !re:cautionary measures and some im!ortant ad&ice
re"ardin" the ac)uisition of %nowled"e' @e said:
, .,. _a.. ,,.. _,..
Stay away from newly inno*ated methods and from del*ing too dee(
beyond your reach, and hold firm onto the old, orthodo-, traditional
methodology and school of thought.
Get !eo!le label us as comin" from the camel a"e( as bein" non:
!ro"ressi&e( but the ad&ice he "i&es us is to hold firm onto the
old ways( the ways of our !ious !redecessors'
Abdullah bin Masood (radhiyallahu anhu)

27
@e further warned us: BStay away from all these new
methods'D Many a time we find new ways( some new attracti&e
seminars and courses that are bein" offered( or some new online
courses bein" ad&ertised( but these thin"s ha&e not been
sanctioned by senior and e-!erienced learned !eo!le'
Thereafter Abdullah bin Masood (radhiyallahu anhu) said:
,. ,,...,..,.,..,,,..,,.)... -,,.
Remember/ ,lose to 9iyaamah you will find (eo(le claiming to be
following the 9uraan and hadeeth, but in reality they ha*e thrown the
teachings of the 9uraan and hadeeth behind their backs (and ha*en3t
e*en smelt the true understanding of the 9uraan and hadeeth).
(Taaree%h Ibni Asaa%ir &ol' 55( !"' 2.)
This is e-actly the scenario today( where !eo!le are only
followin" their whims and fancies( and tryin" to use the Kuraan
and hadeeth to su!!ort their desires' If they wish to s!ea% to
women o!enly they will use the Kuraan and hadeeth to try to
bac% it u!( com!letely misunderstandin" and mis)uotin" &erses
and incidents out of conte-t'

May Allah Taala "uide us to follow in the footste!s of the
illustrious Sahaabah (radhiyallahu anhum) and our !ious
!redecessors( to imbibe within oursel&es the lessons that are
contained in their li&es and to understand deen as they had
understood it( aameen'
..,...-,.-