I have come from Koofah, O Ameer al-­Mu'mineen, and I left behind in it a man who dictates the Mushaf From memory. ‘Umar got exceedingly angry and said: Who is he, woe to you? He said: 'Abdullah bin Mas'ood. ‘Umar began to calm down, and went back to normal, then he said: Woe to you, I do not know of anyone who is more qualified to do that than him, and I will tell you about that. The Messenger of Allah ﷺ used to stay up at night talking with Abu Bakr ؓ discussing some affairs of the Muslims. He stayed up talking with him one night, and I was with him. The Messenger of Allah ﷺ went out, and we went out with him, and we saw a man standing and praying in the mosque. The Messenger of Allah ﷺ listened to his recitation, and as soon as we recognised him the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said: ʿWhoever would like to recite the Qur'an fresh as it was revealed, let him recite it according to the recitation of Ibn Umm 'Abd.ʿ Then the same man sat and offered supplication (du'a') and the Messenger of Allah ﷺ started saying to him: ʿAsk, you will be given;ask, you will be given.” ‘Umar said: By Allah, I shall go to him tomorrow and tell hirm the glad tidings. I went to him the next morning to tell him the glad tidings, and I found that Abu Bakr had beaten me to it and given him the glad tidings. By Allah, I never competed with him to do good but he beat me to it. (Using translation from Aḥmad 175)   

جَاءَ رَجُلٌ إِلَى عُمَرَ وَهُوَ بِعَرَفَةَ فَقَالَ يَا أَمِيرَ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ جِئْتُ مِنَ الْكُوفَةِ وَتَرَكْتُ بِهَا مَنْ يُمْلِي الْمَصَاحِفَ عَنْ ظَهْرِ قَلْبِهِ قَالَ فَغَضِبَ عُمَرُ وَانْتَفَخَ حَتَّى كَادَ يَمْلَأُ مَا بَيْنَ شُعْبَتَيِ الرَّجُلِ ثُمَّ قَالَ وَيْحَكَ مَنْ هُوَ؟ قَالَ عَبْدُ اللَّهِ بْنُ مَسْعُودٍ فَمَا زَالَ يُطْفِئُ وَيُسَرِّي الْغَضَبَ حَتَّى عَادَ إِلَى حَالِهِ الَّتِي كَانَ عَلَيْهَا ثُمَّ قَالَ وَيْحَكَ وَاللَّهِ مَا أَعْلَمُهُ بَقِيَ أَحَدٌ مِنَ الْمُسْلِمِينَ هُوَ أَحَقُّ بِذَلِكَ مِنْهُ سَأُحَدِّثُكَ عَنْ ذَلِكَ كَانَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ لَا يَزَالُ يَسْمُرُ فِي الْأَمْرِ مِنْ أَمْرِ الْمُسْلِمِينَ عِنْدَ أَبِي بَكْرٍ وَأَنَّهُ سَمَرَ عِنْدَهُ ذَاتَ لَيْلَةٍ وَأَنَا مَعَهُ ثُمَّ خَرَجَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ وَخَرَجْنَا نَمْشِي مَعَهُ فَإِذَا رَجُلٌ قَائِمٌ يُصَلِّي فِي الْمَسْجِدِ فَقَامَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ يَسْتَمِعُ قِرَاءَتَهُ فَلَمَّا أَعْيَانَا أَنْ نَعْرِفَ مَنِ الرَّجُلُ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ «مَنْ سَرَّهُ أَنْ يَقْرَأَ الْقُرْآنَ كَمَا أُنْزِلَ فَلْيَقْرَأْهُ عَلَى ابْنِ أُمِّ عَبْدٍ» ثُمَّ جَلَسَ الرَّجُلُ يَدْعُو فَجَعَلَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ يَقُولُ لَهُ «سَلْ تُعْطَهْ» فَقَالَ عُمَرُ فَقُلْتُ «وَاللَّهِ لَأَغْدُوَنَّ إِلَيْهِ فَلَأُبَشِّرَنَّهُ» قَالَ «فَغَدَوْتُ إِلَيْهِ لِأُبَشِّرَهُ فَوَجَدْتُ أَبَا بَكْرٍ قَدْ سَبَقَنِي فَبَشَّرَهُ فَوَاللَّهِ مَا سَابَقْتُهُ إِلَى خَيْرٍ قَطُّ إِلَّا سَبَقَنِي إِلَيْهِ» على شرط البخاري ومسلم  

[Machine] A man came to Umar and said, "Indeed, I came to you from a man who recites the Quran by heart." Umar became frightened and said, "Woe to you, see what you are saying!" He became angry and said, "I did not come to you except with the truth." Umar asked, "Who is that man?" He replied, "Abdullah ibn Masud." Umar said, "I don't know anyone more deserving of that than him. I will tell you about Abdullah. One night, we stayed in a house near Abu Bakr, during a need of the Prophet ﷺ. Then we went out and the Messenger of Allah ﷺ walked between me and Abu Bakr. When I reached the mosque, I saw a man reciting, so the Prophet ﷺ stood and listened to him. I said, 'O Messenger of Allah, have you approved me?' He gestured to me with his hand to be quiet. Then he recited, performed the bow, prostrated, and sat making supplications and seeking forgiveness. The Prophet ﷺ said, 'Ask, and you shall be given.' Then he said, 'Whoever wishes to recite the Quran moist as it was revealed, let him recite the recitation of Ibn Um Abd.' My companion and I realized that it was Abdullah. So, when morning came, I went to him to give him the good news. He said, 'Abu Bakr beat you to it, and I have not preceded anyone to any goodness except that he has preceded me to it.'"  

جَاءَ رَجُلٌ إِلَى عُمَرَ ؓ فَقَالَ إِنِّي جِئْتُكَ مِنْ عِنْدِ رَجُلٍ يُمْلِي الْمَصَاحِفَ عَنْ ظَهْرِ قَلْبٍ قَالَ فَفَزِعَ عُمَرُ فَقَالَ وَيْحَكَ انْظُرْ مَا تَقُولُ وَغَضِبَ فَقَالَ مَا جِئْتُكَ إِلَّا بِالْحَقِّ قَالَ مَنْ هُوَ؟ قَالَ عَبْدُ اللهِ بْنُ مَسْعُودٍ قَالَ مَا أَعْلَمْ أَحَدًا أَحَقٌّ بِذَلِكَ مِنْهُ وَسَأُحَدِّثُكَ عَنْ عَبْدِ اللهِ إِنَّا سَمَرْنَا لَيْلَةً فِي بَيْتٍ عِنْدَ أَبِي بَكْرٍ ؓ فِي بَعْضِ مَا يَكُونُ مِنْ حَاجَةِ النَّبِيِّ ﷺ ثُمَّ خَرَجْنَا وَرَسُولُ اللهِ ﷺ يَمْشِي بَيْنِي وَبَيْنَ أَبِي بَكْرٍ فَلَمَّا انْتَهَيْتُ إِلَى الْمَسْجِدِ إِذَا رَجُلٌ يَقْرَأُ فَقَامَ النَّبِيُّ ﷺ يَسْتَمِعُ إِلَيْهِ فَقُلْتُ يَا رَسُولَ اللهِ أَعْتَمْتَ فَغَمَزَنِي بِيَدِهِ اسْكُتْ قَالَ فَقَرَأَ وَرَكَعَ وَسَجَدَ وَجَلَسَ يَدْعُو وَيَسْتَغْفِرُ فَقَالَ النَّبِيُّ ﷺ «سَلْ تُعْطَهْ» ثُمَّ قَالَ «مَنْ سَرَّهُ أَنْ يَقْرَأَ الْقُرْآنَ رَطْبًا كَمَا أُنْزِلَ فَلْيَقْرَأْ قِرَاءَةَ ابْنِ أُمِّ عَبْدٍ» فَعَلِمْتُ أَنَا وَصَاحِبِي أَنَّهُ عَبْدُ اللهِ فَلَمَّا أَصْبَحْتُ غَدَوْتُ إِلَيْهِ لِأُبَشِّرَهُ فَقَالَ سَبَقَكَ بِهَا أَبُو بَكْرٍ وَمَا سَابَقْتُهُ إِلَى خَيْرٍ إِلَّا سَبَقَنِي إِلَيْهِ  

[Machine] "O Commander of the faithful, I have left in Iraq a man who recites the Qur'an from the depths of his heart, which angered Umar until his face turned red. Umar said to him, "I know what you are saying repeatedly." The man replied, "I only inform you of the truth." Umar asked, "Who is he?" The man said, "He is the son of Umm Abd." Umar calmed down until his anger subsided, then he said, "No one on the face of the earth is more deserving of that than him." Umar continued, "Let me tell you about this: The Messenger of Allah ﷺ stayed overnight at the house of Abu Bakr due to some need, until he was very late. When he returned between me and Abu Bakr, I reached the mosque and saw a man from the migrants praying. He stood listening to his recitation, and I and my companion did not know who he was. When he stood for an hour, I said, 'O Messenger of Allah, there is a man from the migrants praying, if only you had come back while I was still bald.' He winked at me and the Prophet ﷺ began to listen to his recitation. Then he performed the bowing, and prostrated, then sat and supplicated. The Prophet ﷺ said, 'Ask, and you will be given.' I and my companion did not know who he was, until we heard the Messenger of Allah ﷺ saying, 'Whoever desires to recite the Qur'an as it was revealed, then let him recite it as Ibn Umm Abd recites.' He said, 'That is when I and my companion knew who he was.' He said, 'So I went to Abdullah, I wanted to give him the good news, and he said, 'Abu Bakr has already beaten you, and by the name of Allah, I have not preceded Abu Bakr to anything good except that he has preceded me.'"  

يَا أَمِيرَ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ قَدْ تَرَكْتُ بِالْعِرَاقِ رَجُلًا يُمْلِي الْمَصَاحِفَ عَنْ ظَهْرِ قَلْبٍ فَغَضِبَ عُمَرُ ؓ حَتَّى احْمَرَّ وَجْهُهُ فَقَالَ لَهُ عُمَرُ اعْلَمْ مَا تَقُولُهُ مِرَارًا فَقَالَ مَا أُنَبِّئُكَ إِلَّا بِالْحَقِّ فَقَالَ عُمَرُ ؓ مَنْ هُوَ؟ قَالَ ابْنُ أُمِّ عَبْدٍ قَالَ فَسَكَنَ حَتَّى ذَهَبَ عَنْهُ الْغَضَبُ ثُمَّ قَالَ مَا أَصْبَحَ عَلَى ظَهْرِ الْأَرْضِ أَحَدٌ أَحَقُّ بِذَلِكَ مِنْهُ وَسَأُحَدِّثُكُمْ عَنْ ذَلِكَ إِنَّ رَسُولَ اللهِ ﷺ سَمَرَ فِي بَيْتِ أَبِي بَكْرٍ ؓ ذَاتَ لَيْلَةٍ لِبَعْضِ حَاجَةٍ حَتَّى أَعْتَمَ ثُمَّ رَجَعَ بَيْنِي وَبَيْنَ أَبِي بَكْرٍ حَتَّى انْتَهَيْتُ إِلَى الْمَسْجِدِ إِذَا رَجُلٌ مِنَ الْمُهَاجِرِينَ يُصَلِّي فَقَامَ يَسْتَمِعُ لِقِرَاءَتِهِ مَا أَدْرِي أَنَا وَصَاحِبِي مَنْ هُوَ؟ قَالَ فَلَمَّا قَامَ سَاعَةً قُلْتُ يَا رَسُولَ اللهِ رَجُلٌ مِنَ الْمُهَاجِرِينَ يُصَلِّي لَوْ رَجَعْتَ وَقَدْ أَعْتَمْتَ قَالَ فَغَمَزَنِي وَجَعَلَ النَّبِيُّ ﷺ يَسْتَمِعُ لِقِرَاءَتِهِ قَالَ فَرَكَعَ وَسَجَدَ ثُمَّ قَعَدَ يَدْعُو فَجَعَلَ النَّبِيُّ ﷺ يَقُولُ «سَلْ تُعْطَهْ سَلْ تُعْطَهْ» وَلَا أَدْرِي أَنَا وَصَاحِبِي مَنْ هُوَ حَتَّى سَمِعْنَا رَسُولَ اللهِ ﷺ يَقُولُ «مَنْ سَرَّهُ أَنْ يَقْرَأَ الْقُرْآنَ غَضًّا كَمَا أُنْزِلَ فَلْيَقْرَأْ كَمَا يَقْرَأُ ابْنُ أُمِّ عَبْدٍ» قَالَ «فَذَلِكَ حِينَ عَلِمْتُ أَنَا وَصَاحِبِي مَنْ هُوَ» قَالَ «فَغَدَوْتُ إِلَى عَبْدِ اللهِ لِأُبَشِّرَهُ فَقَالَ قَدْ سَبَقَكَ أَبُو بَكْرٍ وَايْمُ اللهِ مَا سَابَقْتُ أَبَا بَكْرٍ إِلَى خَيْرٍ إِلَّا سَبَقَنِي»  

[Machine] They said, "The Messenger of Allah ﷺ and Abu Bakr and Umar and the caliphs used to enforce it." He said, "What do you say, Abu Qilabah?" He said, "With you are the leaders of the armies and the nobles of the Arabs." A man from the people of Homs testified against a man from the people of Damascus that he had stolen and they did not witness him, would you cut him?" He said, "No." He said, "Four men from the people of Damascus testified against a man from the people of Homs that he committed adultery and they did not witness him, would you stone him?" He said, "No." He said, "So this is similar. By Allah, we never knew the Messenger of Allah ﷺ to kill anyone except that he would kill a man in return. Anbasa bin Sa'id said, "So where is the Hadith of the Qur'anists?" Abu Qilabah said, "I heard Anas bin Malik narrating from Anas bin Malik that a people from 'Ukl or 'Urainah came to the Messenger of Allah ﷺ and settled in the city. The Messenger of Allah ﷺ commanded them to drink the milk and urine of their camels. So they set out, but when they recovered, they killed the shepherd of the Messenger of Allah ﷺ and stole the camels. The news of their actions reached the Messenger of Allah ﷺ from early in the morning. So he sent men after them and it was not long before they were brought to him. The Messenger of Allah ﷺ ordered that their hands and feet be cut off and that their eyes be branded and they were thrown in the sun. They remained thirsty until they died. These are people who killed, stole, and disbelieved after their belief." Anbasa said, "How perfect is Allah!" Abu Qilabah said, "Are you accusing me, O Anbasa?" He said, "No, but this army will continue to be in good as long as Allah keeps you among them."  

قَالُوا أَقَادَ بِهَا رَسُولُ اللهِ ﷺ وَأَبُو بَكْرٍ وَعُمَرُ وَالْخُلَفَاءُ ؓ قَالَ مَا تَقُولُ يَا أَبَا قِلَابَةَ؟ قَالَ عِنْدَكَ رُءُوسُ الْأَجْنَادِ وَأَشْرَافُ الْعَرَبِ شَهِدَ رَجُلٌ مِنْ أَهْلِ حِمْصٍ عَلَى رَجُلٍ مِنْ أَهْلِ دِمَشْقَ أَنَّهُ سَرَقَ وَلَمْ يَرَوْهُ أَكُنْتَ تَقْطَعُهُ؟ قَالَ لَا قَالَ شَهِدَ أَرْبَعَةٌ مِنْ أَهْلِ دِمَشْقَ عَلَى رَجُلٍ مِنْ أَهْلِ حِمْصٍ أَنَّهُ زَنَى وَلَمْ يَرَوْهُ أَكُنْتَ تَرْجُمُهُ؟ قَالَ لَا قَالَ فَهَذَا أَشْبَهُ وَاللهِ مَا عَلِمْنَا رَسُولَ اللهِ ﷺ قَتَلَ أَحَدًا إِلَّا أَنْ يَقْتُلَ رَجُلًا فَيُقْتَلَ بِهِ قَالَ عَنْبَسَةُ بْنُ سَعِيدٍ فَأَيْنَ حَدِيثُ الْعُرَنِيِّينَ؟ فَقَالَ أَبُو قِلَابَةَ إِيَّايَ حَدَّثَهُ أَنَسُ بْنُ مَالِكٍ حَدَّثَنَا أَنَسُ بْنُ مَالِكٍ أَنَّ قَوْمًا مِنْ عُكْلٍ أَوْ عُرَيْنَةَ قَدِمُوا عَلَى رَسُولِ اللهِ ﷺ فَاجْتَوَوَا الْمَدِينَةَ فَأَمَرَ لَهُمْ رَسُولُ اللهِ ﷺ بِلِقَاحٍ وَأَمَرَهُمْ أَنْ يَشْرَبُوا مِنْ أَلْبَانِهَا وَأَبْوَالِهَا فَانْطَلَقُوا فَلَمَّا صَحُّوا قَتَلُوا رَاعِيَ رَسُولِ اللهِ ﷺ وَاسْتَاقُوا النَّعَمَ فَبَلَغَ رَسُولَ اللهِ ﷺ خَبَرُهُمْ مِنْ أَوَّلِ النَّهَارِ فَبَعَثَ فِي آثَارِهِمْ فَمَا ارْتَفَعَ النَّهَارُ حَتَّى أُتِيَ بِهِمْ فَأَمَرَ بِهِمْ رَسُولُ اللهِ ﷺ فَقُطِعَتْ أَيْدِيهِمْ وَأَرْجُلُهُمْ وَسُمِرَتْ أَعْيُنُهُمْ وَأُلْقُوا فِي الْحَرَّةِ يَسْتَسْقُونَ فَلَا يُسْقَوْنَ حَتَّى مَاتُوا فَهَؤُلَاءِ قَوْمٌ قَتَلُوا وَسَرَقُوا وَكَفَرُوا بَعْدَ إِيمَانَهِمْ فَقَالَ عَنْبَسَةُ سُبْحَانَ اللهِ فَقَالَ أَبُو قِلَابَةَ أَتَتَّهِمُنِي يَا عَنْبَسَةُ؟ قَالَ لَا وَلَكِنَّ هَذَا الْجُنْدَ لَا يَزَالُ بِخَيْرٍ مَا أَبْقَاكَ اللهُ بَيْنَ أَظْهُرِهِمْ  

[Machine] A man came to Umar ibn al-Khattab while he was at Arafah and said, "O Commander of the Faithful, I have come from Kufa and left a man there who recites the Quran by heart." Umar became angry and his face turned red. He said, "Who is he?" The man replied, "Abdullah ibn Mas'ud." Umar's anger subsided and he returned to his normal state. Then he said, "By Allah, I do not know of anyone more deserving of this than him. Let me tell you a story. The Messenger of Allah, ﷺ , used to consult Abu Bakr in the matters concerning the Muslims. One night, the Prophet, ﷺ , stayed up late with Abu Bakr and I was with them. The Prophet, ﷺ , then left and we went with him. We saw a man standing and praying in the mosque. The Prophet, ﷺ , stood and listened to his recitation. When we could not recognize the man, the Prophet, ﷺ , said, "Whoever wants to recite the Quran with the same melody it was revealed with, let him read it in the recitation of Ibn Umm Abd, then the man started supplicating and the Prophet, ﷺ , said to him, 'Ask, and you shall be given.'" Umar then said, "I said to myself, I will go to the man tomorrow and give him the glad tidings." So I went to him to give him the news, but I found that Abu Bakr had already preceded me and informed him. By Allah, I have never been able to surpass Abu Bakr in goodness, except that he always precedes me in it."  

جَاءَ رَجُلٌ إِلَى عُمَرَ ؓ وَهُوَ بِعَرَفَةَ فَقَالَ يَا أَمِيرَ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ جِئْتُ مِنَ الْكُوفَةِ وَتَرَكْتُ بِهَا رَجُلًا يُمْلِي الْمَصَاحِفَ عَنْ ظَهْرِ قَلْبِهِ قَالَ فَغَضِبَ عُمَرُ وَانْتَفَخَ حَتَّى كَادَ يَمْلَأُ مَا بَيْنَ شُعْبَتَيِ الرَّجُلِ ثُمَّ قَالَ وَيْحَكَ مَنْ هُوَ؟ قَالَ عَبْدُ اللهِ بْنُ مَسْعُودٍ فَمَا زَالَ يُطْفَأُ وَيَسِيرُ الْغَضَبُ حَتَّى عَادَ إِلَى حَالِهِ الَّتِي كَانَ عَلَيْهَا ثُمَّ قَالَ وَيْحَكَ وَاللهِ مَا أَعْلَمُ بَقِيَ أَحَدٌ مِنَ الْمُسْلِمِينَ هُوَ أَحَقُّ بِذَلِكَ مِنْهُ سَأُحَدِّثُكَ عَنْ ذَلِكَ كَانَ رَسُولُ اللهِ ﷺ لَا يَزَالُ يَسْمُرُ فِي الْأَمْرِ مِنْ أَمْرِ الْمُسْلِمِينَ عِنْدَ أَبِي بَكْرٍ وَأَنَّهُ سَمَرَ عِنْدَهُ ذَاتَ لَيْلَةٍ وَأَنَا مَعَهُ ثُمَّ خَرَجَ رَسُولُ اللهِ ﷺ وَخَرَجْنَا نَمْشِي مَعَهُ فَإِذَا رَجُلٌ قَائِمٌ يُصَلِّي فِي الْمَسْجِدِ فَقَامَ رَسُولُ اللهِ ﷺ يَسْتَمِعُ قِرَاءَتَهُ فَلَمَّا أَعْيَانَا أَنْ نَعْرِفَ مَنِ الرَّجُلُ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللهِ ﷺ مَنْ سَرَّهُ أَنْ يَقْرَأَ الْقُرْآنَ غَضًّا كَمَا أُنْزِلَ فَلْيَقْرَأْهُ عَلَى قِرَاءَةِ ابْنِ أُمِّ عَبْدٍ ثُمَّ جَلَسَ الرَّجُلُ يَدْعُو فَجَعَلَ رَسُولُ اللهِ ﷺ يَقُولُ لَهُ سَلَ تُعْطَهْ قَالَ فَقَالَ عُمَرُ فَقُلْتُ لَأَغْدُوَنَّ إِلَيْهِ فَلَأُبَشِّرَنَّهُ قَالَ فَغَدَوْتُ إِلَيْهِ لِأُبَشِّرَهُ فَوَجَدْتُ أَبَا بَكْرٍ قَدْ سَبَقَنِي إِلَيْهِ فَبَشَّرَهُ فَوَاللهِ مَا سَابَقْتُهُ إِلَى خَيْرِ قَطُّ إِلَّا سَبَقَنِي إِلَيْهِ هَكَذَا  

"عن قيس بن مروان أنه أتى عمرَ فقال: جئتُ يا أميرَ المؤمنين من الكُوفةِ وتركت بها رَجلًا يُمْلى المَصَاحِف عَنْ ظهرِ قلبهِ، فَغَضِب وانتفخَ حتى كادَ يملأُ مَا بَيْنَ شُعْبَتَى الرَّحْل، فقال: مَنْ هُو وَيْحَكَ؟ ! قال عبدُ الله بن مسعودٍ، فما يزالُ يُطْفَأُ وَيُسَرِّي عنه الغضبُ حتى عادَ إلى حالهِ التي كانَ عَلَيْها، ثم قال: وَيْحَكَ! وَالله مَا أعْلَمُه بَقى من الناسِ أحدٌ هو أحقُّ بِذلِك مِنْه، وَسَأُحَدِّثُك عن ذَلِكَ: كان رسول الله ﷺ لَا يَزَال يَسْمُرُ عند أبي بكرٍ الليلةَ كذاك في الأمرِ من أمر المسلمين وَإِنَّه سمَر عِنْدَهُ ذات ليلةٍ وأنا مَعَه، فَخَرجَ رسولُ الله ﷺ وخرجنا مَعَه، فَإِذَا رجلٌ قَائِمٌ يُصَلِي في المسجد، فقامَ رسولُ الله ﷺ يسْتَمِعُ قراءته، فلما كدنا أن نعرفه قال رسول الله ﷺ : "من سرَّه أن يقرأ القرآن رطبا كما أُنزل فليقرأه على قراءة ابن أم عبد" ثم جلسَ الرجلُ يدعو، فجعل رسول

الله ﷺ يقول: "سل تُعْطه" قلتُ: والله لأغدونَّ إليه فلأبشرنه، فغدوت إليه لأبشره، فوجدتُ أبا بكر قد سبقني إليه فبشَّرَه، والله ما سابقته إلى خيرٍ قط إلَا سَبَقَنِي إِليه".