It is mentioned in Seeratul Halabiyya that:1 Among criticisms against Uthman were that he imprisoned Abdullah bin Masud and cut off contacts with
him, and did not give the share of Ubayy bin Kaab, and summoned Ubadah bin
Samit from Shaam as Muawiyah had complained against him, and he beat up
Ammar bin Yasir and give twenty lashes to Kaab bin Abda and had him exiled to
some mountains, and said to Abdur Rahman bin Auf: You are a hypocrite.
Allamah Amini says: Perhaps you will not become aware of the causes and
facts behind these blatant acts, without knowing who Ibne Masud is. At that time,
you will be satisfied that such conduct towards him is a great crime, which has no
excuse and justification at all.
1. Muslim and Ibne Majah have narrated through Saad bin Abi Waqqas that:2 The statement of Allah, the Mighty and High:
وَلَا تَطْرُدِ ٱلَّذِينَ يَدْعُونَ رَبَّهُم بِٱلْغَدَوٰةِ وَٱلْعَشِىِّ يُرِيدُونَ وَجْهَهُۥ ۖ مَا عَلَيْكَ مِنْ حِسَابِهِم مِّن شَىْءٍۢ وَمَا مِنْ حِسَابِكَ عَلَيْهِم مِّن شَىْءٍۢ فَتَطْرُدَهُمْ فَتَكُونَ مِنَ ٱلظَّـٰلِمِينَ (٥٢)
“And do not drive away those who call upon their Lord in the
morning and the evening, they desire only His favor; neither are
you answerable for any reckoning of theirs, nor are they
answerable for any reckoning of yours, so that you should drive
them away and thus be of the unjust.”3
…was revealed for six persons, Abdullah bin Masud being one of them.
2. In Tabaqatul Kubra,4 Ibne Saad narrates through Abdullah bin Masud that
the statement of Allah, Mighty and High:
ٱلَّذِينَ ٱسْتَجَابُوا۟ لِلَّهِ وَٱلرَّسُولِ مِنۢ بَعْدِ مَآ أَصَابَهُمُ ٱلْقَرْحُ ۚ لِلَّذِينَ أَحْسَنُوا۟ مِنْهُمْ وَٱتَّقَوْا۟ أَجْرٌ عَظِيمٌ (١٧٢)
“(As for) those who responded (at Uhad) to the call of Allah and
the Apostle after the wound had befallen them, those among
them who do good (to others) and guard (against evil) shall have
a great reward.”5
…was revealed for twelve individuals and Abdullah bin Masud was one of
them.
3. Sharbini and Khazin6 have mentioned that: The words of Allah, the
Mighty and the High:
امَنْ هُوَ قَانِتٌ آنَاءَ الَّيْلِ سَاجِدًا وَقَابِهَا يَحْذَرُ الْآخِرَةَ
“What! he who is obedient during hours of the night,
prostrating himself and standing, takes care of the hereafter.”7
…were revealed about Ibne Masud, Ammar and Salman.
4. It is narrated from Imam Ali (a.s.) directly that: “On Judgment Day,
Abdullah would be heavier than Mt. Uhad.”8
5. In Mustadrak,9 Hakim has narrated through Habba Arani that: Some
people came to Imam Ali (a.s.) and extolled Abdullah bin Masud. Imam (a.s.)
said: “I know regarding him like what they say and better than that; he is one,
who recited the Quran and regarded its lawful as lawful and its unlawful as
unlawful; he has deep knowledge of jurisprudence and is aware of prophetic
Sunnah.”
6. Tirmidhi10 has narrated from Huzaifah bin Yaman through a chain of narrators, all of whose reporters are reliable that: “Indeed, the most resembling
one to Muhammad from the aspect of conduct, tranquility, dignity, appearance, is
Abdullah bin Masud.”
It is mentioned in the report of Bukhari that: “I don’t know of anyone who,
with regard to outward appearance, conduct tranquility, dignity, is more
proximate than Umme Abad to Messenger of Allah (s.a.w.a.).”