After reciting the Tashahhud, Ta’wwuz, and Surah Al-Fatihah, Hazrat Khalifatul Masih V (aba) stated:
I shall continue with the accounts of those Companions of the Holy Prophet (sa), who took part during the Battle of Badr.
One of the Companions, whom I shall mention today is Hazrat ‘Ummarah Bin Hazm. Hazrat Ummarah (ra) is one of the seventy Companions, who participated in the Second Pledge at al-Aqabah. Both of his brothers, Hazrat Amr Bin Hazm and Hazrat Ma’abil Bin Hazm, were also Companions. He joined the Holy Prophet (sa) in all the Battles, including Badr and Uhud. He was holding the flag of the tribe of Malik Bin Najjar in his hands at the occasion of the Victory of Mecca. The Holy Prophet (sa) established a bond of brotherhood between Ummarah and Hazrat Muhriz bin Nazlah. He declared them brothers upon the Migration. Upon the demise of the Holy Prophet (sa), when a fitnah [disorder] arose from among the apostates and they initiated a war against Muslims, he joined Hazrat Khalid Bin Waleed in the battle to overcome the conflict. He attained martyrdom during the Battle of Yamamah. He was appointed by the Holy Prophet (sa) to perform dam for him [special prayer for health and protection] for other companions. He replied, “O Messenger of Allah (sa)! He is about to die!” The Holy Prophet (sa) said, “Take him to Ummarah! When he will perform Dam, God Almighty will cure him.” Certainly, the Holy Prophet (sa) must have taught him that Dam and that prayer. This does not mean that, God forbid, the Holy Prophet (sa) was in need of the Dam by Hazrat Ummarah or that he was unable to do it himself. He had specially appointed some people for certain tasks but it was the Holy Power and the Blessings of the Holy Prophet (sa), which were the force behind it all. He was brave and once ousted the hypocrites who were creating trouble in the Mosque of the Holy Prophet (sa). and after listening to the conversation of the Muslims and departing from
On the occasion of the battle of Tabuk, when the Holy Prophet (sa) was on route to Tabuk, the camel of the Holy Prophet (sa), Qaswa, disappeared from their sight. When companions were searching for the camel, a hypocrite jested by asking in a pretentious manner that does Muhammad (sa) not claim that he is a prophet and that he informs you about the matters unseen? Then, how come, he is unaware of the whereabouts of his own camel? Somehow, this comment reached the Holy Prophet (sa) or God Almighty must have informed him about it. Upon this the Holy Prophet (sa) said, “By God! I do not know of anything, but what God Almighty has informed me of. I do not know the unseen. However, I speak as God Almighty informs me. The Holy Prophet (sa) further said, “indeed, God Almighty has informed me about the exact location of my camel”. The Holy Prophet (sa) then pointed into the direction of the valley and said, “Go and bring it to me.” Hence, the companions went and brought it back. In order to silence the hypocrite, God Almighty then showed the Holy Prophet (sa) the exact location of the camel.
Hazrat Ziad bin Nuaim narrates from Hazrat Ummarah bin Hazm that the Holy Prophet (sa) said that there are four important principles. If a person acts in accordance with these, he becomes a Muslim. However, if he leaves out even one, the other three will be of no avail to him. These are, prayers, Zakat [almsgiving], fasting and Hajj [Islamic pilgrimage to Mecca].
The second companion to be mentioned today is Hazrat Abdullah bin Mas’ud. His title is Abd-ur-Rahman and he belonged to the tribe of Banu Huzail. His mother’s name was Umm-e-‘Abd. He passed away in the thirty second year of Hijra [migration of the Holy Prophet (sa) to Medina]. His father’s name was Mas’ud bin Ghafil. Abdullah bin Mas’ud is counted among the early converts to Islam. He accepted Islam at the same time as the sister of Hazrat ‘Umar, Hazrat Fatima bint Khattab and her husband, Hazrat Sa’eed bin Zaid. He accepted Islam before the Holy Prophet (sa) went to Dar-ul-Arqam; the place which was built in Mecca for Muslims to be able to gather. Hazrat ‘Abdullah bin Mas’ud relates, “I was the sixth person to accept Islam. Narrating his acceptance of Islam, Hazrat Abdullah bin Mas’ud says, “When I reached the age of understanding (an age where a person is able to correctly recognise and distinguish between good and bad, the age of maturity), I was grazing the sheep of ‘Uqba bin Mu’ayt one day. The Holy Prophet (sa) approached me and Hazrat Abu Bakr was also alongside him. The Holy Prophet (sa) said to me, ‘Young man! Do you have any milk?’ I replied that I do, but as I have been entrusted with this, I cannot give you any.” He was extremely pious from his very childhood. “The Holy Prophet (sa) then said that bring me a sheep, which is not expecting and nor producing any milk.” He further relates, “I brought a young sheep to the Holy Prophet (sa). Following this, the Holy Prophet (sa) tied its feet together, rubbed his hands on its teats and started to pray until they were filled with milk. Hazrat Abu Bakr then brought a bowl, which the Holy Prophet (sa) filled with its milk and then told Hazrat Abu Bakr to drink from it. Hazrat Abu Bakr drank the milk and following this, the Holy Prophet (sa) drank from it. The Holy Prophet (sa) then rubbed his hands over the teats and said, ‘Contract’ and they began to contract and returned to their previous form. I asked the Holy Prophet (sa) to teach me the words he had recited. Upon this, the Holy Prophet (sa) placed his hand on my head and said, ‘you are an intelligent young man.’” He then states that he memorised seventy chapters of the Holy Qur’an directly from the Holy Prophet (sa).
Hazrat Abdullah bin Mas’ud was a very poor man and used to graze the sheep of Uqba bin Abi Mu’ayt, chief of the Quraish. After accepting Islam, he stayed with the Holy Prophet (sa) and eventually became a great scholar as a result of the company of the Holy Prophet (sa). The Holy Prophet (sa) used to say: “Those of you who wish to learn the Qur’an should learn it from ‘Abdullah bin Mas’ud, Salim Maula Abi Hudhaifa, Mu’adh bin Jabal or Ubayy ibn Ka’b.”
It is mentioned that after the Holy Prophet (sa), Hazrat Abdullah bin Mas’ud was the one to recite the Holy Qur’an in public for the very first time. He was beaten by the Makkans for reciting the Holy Quran in public, but that did not deter him at all. The Holy Prophet (sa) kept Hazrat Abdullah bin Mas’ud with him as his helper after he had accepted Islam. Because of his close proximity with the Holy Propeht(sa), some people thought that he was amongst the Ahle Bait (the family of the Holy Prophet peace be upon him). Hazrat Abdullah Bin Mas’ud participated in both migrations; the migration to Abyssinia and also to Medina. He accompanied the Holy Prophet (sa) in the battle of Badr, Uhud, Khandaq (Battle of the ditch), Bai’at-e-Rizwan and many other occasions. After the demise of the Holy Prophet (sa) he participated in the battle of Yarmuk. He was amongst those companions who were given the glad tiding of paradise by the Holy Prophet (sa) in their lifetimes
Hazrat ibn Mas’ud himself narrates that the Holy Prophet (sa) instructed him to recite Surah Al-Nisaa to him. He is relating his own incident and states, “The Holy Prophet (sa) instructed him to recite Surah Al-Nisa to him. I replied that what can I recite to you since this was revealed to you. The Holy Prophet (sa) replied, ‘I like it when others recite the Holy Quran and I listen to it.’” He then states, “I began to recite it and when I reached the verse: (Arabic) ‘And how will it fare with them when We shall bring a witness from every people, and shall bring thee as a witness against these!’ the eyes of the Holy Prophet (sa) were filled with tears.” It is mentioned in other narrations that the Holy Prophet (sa) instructed him to stop.
Hazrat Alqamah relates that Hazrat Abdullah bin Mas’ud’s behaviour, his good character and his moderation in his practises were similar to those of the Holy Prophet (sa). Hazrat Abdullah bin Masu’d’s son, Ubaidullah relates that he had a habit of waking up for the Tahajjud prayer at night when everyone else was asleep. One night I heard him murmuring like the humming of a bee, i.e. he was murmuring lightly as he prayed and recited [the Holy Quran].
Hazrat Abdullah bin Mas’ud loved his wife and children. When he entered the home he would clear his throat and speak up so that the household members would know [he arrived]. His wife, Hazrat Zainab was once taking an amulet from an elderly woman, at this Abdullah bin Mas’ud broke the amulet and threw it away immediately saying that the family of Abdullah is free from shirk and these are all works of Satan. The prayer of the Holy Prophet (sa) should suffice you that [Arabic] ‘O Lord of mankind! Remove my illness and cure me. Only You can cure and there is no cure except through You. Such a cure which leaves behind no disease.’
Hazrat Abdullah bin Mas’ud was slim, short in height and wheat in complexion. He would wear fine white clothing and use perfume. Hazrat Ali relates that once the Holy Prophet (sa) instructed Abdullah bin Mas’ud for a certain task to climb a tree. Seeing as his calves were apparently thin and weak the Companions began laughing at his thin and weak calves. The Holy Prophet (sa) thereupon asked, why do you laugh. The virtues of Abdullah bin Mas’ud will be heavier in the scales on the Day of Judgement than the Uhud Mountain.
After the demise of the Holy Prophet (sa), Hazrat Umar (ra) appointed him [Hazrat Abdullah bin Mas’ud] as a missionary for the education and moral training of the people of Kufa and at the same time appointed Hazrat Ammar bin Yassir as the governor. Hazrat Umar (ra) then said to the people of Kufa: “Both of these individuals are among the close companions of the Holy Prophet (sa) and have a special standing. They were among the people who took part in the Battle of Badr. You all should follow their example and obey their directives and also listen to what they say. For you, I consider Abdullah bin Mas’ud to be better than me.” Salma bin Tawam says, “A person once met Abdullah bin Mas’ud and related his dream and said, ‘I saw you in my dream last night. I also saw that the Holy Prophet (sa) was sat on a tall pulpit while you were sat below the pulpit. The Holy Prophet (sa) then said, “O Ibn Mas’ud! Come to close to me for you have become so detached since I have gone.”’ Abdullah bin Mas’ud then said, ‘Swear by God that did you really see this dream.’ He replied that indeed he did. Upon this, he then said, ‘Have you come from Medina to offer my funeral prayer? As it seems that my time has come.’ A short while later he passed away.”
However, prior to his demise, when Hazrat Usman (ra) learnt of his illness he called him to leave Kufa and come to Medina. However, the people of Kufa urged him to remain in Kufa and also assured him that they will protect him. It is possible that this incident of Hazrat Usman (ra) calling him to Medina was prior to his illness as it seems as if he was in good health then when this incident took place wherein this man related his dream to him. However, it was after this that Hazrat Usman (ra) called him from Kufa. And, even though the people of Kufa desired for him to remain there and promised to protect him but he said that it was the instruction of the Khalifa of the time and it was incumbent upon him to obey. He also said that very soon certain disorders will emerge, and he did not wish to be the cause of them and after that he left to go the Khalifa of the time. He passed away in 32 AH in Medina. Hazrat Usman (ra) led his funeral prayer and buried him in Janat-ul-Baqi. At the time of his demise, his age was just a little over than 60.
There are many other traditions and account regarding Hazrat Abdullah bin Mas’ud which I will inshAllah relate in the future. May God Almighty enable us to follow the example of these shinning stars.