Abdullah bin Mas‘ood (radhiyallahu ‘anhu) First Encounter with Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam)

The first personal encounter that ‘Abdullah bin Mas‘ood (radhiyallahu ‘anhu) had with Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) – which was the turning point in his life – was when two men came along while he was grazing a flock of goats belonging to one of the leaders of the Quraish, ‘Uqbah bin Abi Mu‘ait, on the outskirts of Makkah Mukarramah.

One was Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) and the other was Abu Bakr (radhiyallahu ‘anhu). They asked him:

“O youngster! Do you have any milk to offer us?”

‘Abdullah bin Mas‘ood (radhiyallahu ‘anhu), who was in his teens at that time, replied:

“Yes! I do have, but it has been entrusted to me.” It doesn’t belong to me. I do not have the right to offer it to you.

Here we learn the great lesson of honesty and trustworthiness. Unfortunately this is something that is vanishing from the Ummah today. This is also from among the prophecies of Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) that trustworthiness will be removed from the hearts of the Ummah. Look how honest this youngster was. There was no one to see him. He was in the wilderness, yet he did not dare to breach his trust. It was this quality of honesty and trustworthiness that had allowed him to reach great heights.

Thereafter, Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) asked him:“Do you have a goat which hasn’t mated?”

Obviously such a goat will not give milk. Nevertheless such a goat was brought and Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) passed his blessed hands over the udders, read a few verses, and milk began to flow. His companion, Abu Bakr (radhiyallahu ‘anhu), brought a hollowed rock to fill the milk in it. The two
men then drank and they offered the milk to ‘Abdullah bin Mas‘ood (radhiyallahu ‘anhu) as well. This milk was absolutely permissible. It was from an animal which was not producing milk, hence it did not belong to the owner. It was a pure miracle of Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam).

Thereafter, Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) ordered the udders:“Stop.”
And it immediately dried up.

This entire encounter had captured the heart of ‘Abdullah bin Mas‘ood (radhiyallahu ‘anhu). After a few days he came to Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam), accepted Islam at his hands and requested him:

“Teach me those words that you recited.”
Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) passed his blessed hand on him and said:

“May Allah Ta‘ala have mercy on you. You will have a bright future and you will reach the pinnacle of knowledge.” (Musnad Ahmad #3598)

This was the first close encounter ‘Abdullah bin Mas‘ood (radhiyallahu ‘anhu) had with Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam).

He further says:
“I was the sixth person to accept Islam. There were no other Muslims on the surface of the earth besides us.” (Mustadrak Haakim vol. 3, pg. 313)
This was the turning point in his life.Since that day, this fortunate boy, ‘Abdullah bin Mas‘ood (radhiyallahu ‘anhu) no more grazed goats on the outskirts of Makkah Mukarramah. Instead he saw to the needs of the best of all creation, Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam).

What a privilege! From a shepherd at the outskirts of MakkahMukarramah to the personal attendant of the Master of both the worlds, Muhammadur Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam)!

Abdullah bin Mas‘ood (radhiyallahu ‘anhu) – The Classic Resemblance of Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam)