Biography of the companion of Prophet Muhammad : Ibn Mas‘ud
His full name is Abdullah bin Mas’ud bin Ghafil Al-Hudzali. His nickname is Abu Abdurrahman. He often attributed to his mother, since his father died during the time of ignorance, whereas his mother was able to live until the light of Islam shone and she embraced Islam. That is why she was often dubbed “Umm Abd” (mother of Abd), while Ibn Mas’ud was dubbed “Ibn Ummi Abd” (son of Ummu Abd). He was one of the earliest group that embraced Islam at the dawn of its calling, and emigrated twice -to Habasya and Medina-. He also joined the battle of Badr and he was the one that killed Abu Jahl in that battle.
The Prophet -peace and prayer of Allah be upon him- once said about him, at the dawn of the calling to Islam, “You are a knowledgeable youth.” (Narrated by Ahmad, no. 3599; classed valid by Shuhaib Al Arnauth). The Prophet -peace and prayer of Allah be upon him- also said about Ibn Mas’ud, “Whoever wants to recite the Qur’an the way it is originally revealed, then he should recite it as the way of Ibn Ummi Abd recite (Ibn Mas’ud).” (Narrated by Ahmad no. 35; classed valid by Shuhaib Al Arnauth).
Ibn Mas’ud ever said about himself, “Indeed, the companions of the Prophet -peace and prayer of Allah be upon him- have known that I am the most learned about the Qur’an. By Allah, The One that none has the right to be worshipped but He, none of the chapter of the Qur’an was revealed but I know where was it revealed, and about what a verse was revealed. Had I known that there is someone who is more learned about the Qur’an than myself, and his whereabout could be reach by riding a camel, I would have come to him.”
Among his other excellences was that he was one of the companion who always served the Prophet -peace and prayer of Allah be upon him-. He prepared his sandal, water for ablution, and pillow. So was his condition, to the extent that Abu Musa Al-Asy’ari said, “I and my younger brother came from Yemen. Then, (we) came to live with the Prophet -peace and prayer of Allah be upon him-. We thought that Ibn Mas’ud was one of the family of the Prophet -peace and prayer of Allah be upon him-, because he and his mother frequently went in and out of the house of the Prophet -peace and prayer of Allah be upon him-.
Due to the intense frequency of his meeting with the Prophet -peace and prayer of Allah be upon him- in his daily life, it was no wonder that his habit was strongly influenced by the sunnah of the Prophet -peace and prayer of Allah be upon him-, until Hudzaifa said, “I have never seen anyone whose gestures and behavior are more akin to the Prophet -peace and prayer of Allah be upon him- than Ibn Ummi Abd.”
During the caliphate of Umar, he was delegated to Kufah to teach people there about religion. and Umar appointed Ammar Ibn Yasir as the governor of Kufah. Umar instructed the people of Kufah, saying, “Indeed, these two men are the chosen ones among companions of the Prophet -peace and prayer of Allah be upon him-, therefore, take examples from them.” Then. he was withdrawn to Medina and he died in Medina year 32 H, at the age of seventy something years. He was buried at the Baqi cemetery in Medina, (See: Ushul fi Tafsir, hlm. 52–53)
References:
- “Ushul fi Tafsir”. by Muhammad Ibn Shaleh Al Uthaymeen.
- Maktabah As-Sunnah. Egypt. 1419 H.
- “Musnad Imam Ahmad”. by Ahmad Ibn Hambal Asy-Syaibani.
- uassasah Qurthubah.Egypt.