'Abd Allaah ibn Mas'uud and Ibn 'Abbaas: young scholars

'Abd Allaah ibn Mas'uud: from the flock to the Qur'an Ibn Mas'uud was a young shepherd of Mecca, from a modest family, who looked after a notable's sheep [À VÉRIFIER : récit d'Aḥmad sur sa conversion]. He was among the first Muslims, and then he always stayed close to the Prophet ﷺ, so much so that people took him for a member of his family [À VÉRIFIER : Bukhari 3763, formulation]. The books of siira say that he was the first to recite the Qur'an aloud near the Ka'ba, despite being beaten [À VÉRIFIER : sîra d'Ibn Isḥâq].

"Recite the Qur'an to me" The Prophet ﷺ once said to him: "Recite the Qur'an to me." Ibn Mas'uud answered: "Recite it to you, when it was revealed to you?" He said: "I love to hear it from someone other than myself." Ibn Mas'uud recited Surah An-Nisaa' until the verse: "How will it be when We bring from every community a witness, and We bring you as a witness against these?" (4:41). The Prophet ﷺ said: "That is enough", and Ibn Mas'uud saw that his eyes were shedding tears (Bukhari 5050, Muslim 800).

A master of the Qur'an The Prophet ﷺ said: "Take the Qur'an from four people: 'Abd Allaah ibn Mas'uud, Saalim, Mu'aadh and Ubayy ibn Ka'b", naming Ibn Mas'uud first (Bukhari 3758, Muslim 2464) [À VÉRIFIER : numéros]. Ibn Mas'uud used to say: "By Allah, there is no surah of the Book of Allah of which I do not know where it was revealed, and no verse of which I do not know about what it was revealed" (Bukhari 5002, Muslim 2463).

Thin legs, heavy on the scale It is reported that some Companions once laughed on seeing Ibn Mas'uud's very thin legs when the wind lifted his garment. The Prophet ﷺ said: "They will be heavier on the scale than Mount Uḥud" (Aḥmad) [À VÉRIFIER : source, numéro et degré]. A person's worth is not found in their appearance.

Ibn 'Abbaas: a young man who asked questions 'Abd Allaah ibn 'Abbaas was the Prophet's ﷺ young cousin. He was about thirteen when the Prophet ﷺ died [À VÉRIFIER : âge]. • As a child, he spent a night at the home of his aunt Maymuuna, the Prophet's ﷺ wife, to watch how the Prophet ﷺ prayed at night, and he began to pray beside him (Bukhari 138, Muslim 763) [À VÉRIFIER : numéros]. • One day, he prepared water for the Prophet's ﷺ ablutions without being asked. The Prophet ﷺ asked who had done it, then prayed: "O Allah, give him understanding of the religion" (Bukhari 143). Another time, he hugged him and said: "O Allah, teach him the Book" (Bukhari 75). • It was to him, still young, that the Prophet ﷺ said: "O young boy, I will teach you some words: be mindful of Allah, He will protect you…" (At-Tirmidhi 2516): you studied this hadith in the course "The Forty Hadith".

The youngest on the council As caliph, 'Umar used to bring the young Ibn 'Abbaas in with the elder Companions of Badr, and some were surprised. One day, 'Umar asked them the meaning of Surah An-Naṣr ("When the help of Allah and victory come…"). Some answered that it orders us to praise Allah and ask His forgiveness after victory. Ibn 'Abbaas said: "It is the announcement of the end of the life of the Messenger of Allah ﷺ." 'Umar said: "I know nothing of it other than what you know" (Bukhari 4970).

Seeking knowledge after the Prophet ﷺ It is reported that after the Prophet's ﷺ death, Ibn 'Abbaas went to the Companions to learn the hadiths; he would wait at the door of one of them, with the wind blowing dust in his face, rather than wake him [À VÉRIFIER : Ad-Dârimî, source et degré]. He became "the interpreter of the Qur'an" (turjumaan al-Qur'aan) [À VÉRIFIER : origine du titre].

Understanding the lesson

Explanation Ibn Mas'uud and Ibn 'Abbaas prove that you do not need to wait until you are old to become a scholar. One was a poor shepherd, the other a child of the Prophet's ﷺ family: both became references for the whole community. Their secret is simple: staying close to the source (the Prophet ﷺ), loving the Qur'an, asking questions and serving. Ibn 'Abbaas's gesture of preparing the water for ablutions was rewarded with a supplication that changed his life. The Prophet ﷺ asking Ibn Mas'uud to recite the Qur'an to him also shows great humility and great respect for the knowledge of young people. And the story of the thin legs reminds us that appearance does not count before Allah. 'Umar seating the young Ibn 'Abbaas among the elders shows that in Islam, knowledge and understanding give someone a place, whatever their age.

Lessons to draw from it • Start learning now: a little Qur'an and one hadith every week. • Ask your imam or your teacher questions; curiosity is a quality. • Help without being asked, like Ibn 'Abbaas. • Make the supplication "Rabbi zidni 'ilmaa" ("My Lord, increase me in knowledge", 20:114). • Never mock someone's body, and do not let mockery about your appearance define you.

Key points to remember • Ibn Mas'uud recites An-Nisaa' to the Prophet ﷺ, who weeps at verse 4:41 (Bukhari 5050, Muslim 800). • "Take the Qur'an from four people", including Ibn Mas'uud (Bukhari 3758, Muslim 2464). • Ibn 'Abbaas: "O Allah, give him understanding of the religion" (Bukhari 143); "teach him the Book" (Bukhari 75). • "Be mindful of Allah, He will protect you" (At-Tirmidhi 2516). • The explanation of An-Naṣr before 'Umar (Bukhari 4970).

The main message Ibn Mas'uud and Ibn 'Abbaas show us that youth is the best time to seek knowledge: stay close to the Qur'an, ask questions and serve, and Allah will raise you.

The text: Surah Al-Mujaadala (58), verse 11 [TEXTE ARABE À INSÉRER : sourate 58:11]

The text: Surah An-Nisaa' (4), verse 41 [TEXTE ARABE À INSÉRER : sourate 4:41]

Meaning: 58:11: "O you who believe! When you are told: 'Make room in the gatherings', make room: Allah will make room for you. And when you are told: 'Rise', then rise. Allah raises in degrees those of you who believe and those who have been given knowledge. Allah is fully aware of what you do." 4:41: "How will it be, when We bring from every community a witness, and We bring you as a witness against these?" This is the verse at which the Prophet ﷺ wept while listening to Ibn Mas'uud.

Arabic text: deliberately not typed, to avoid any error; it is to be copied from the centre's mushaf (or a verified source) at the place indicated.