Hadhrat Ibn Mas'ood's (Radhiyallaho anho) Cautiousness About Hadith

Hadhrat Abdullah bin Mas'ood (Radhiyallaho anho) is one of those eminent Sahabah who were entrusted with the task of issuing Fatwa, even during the Prophet's (Sallallaho alaihe wasallam) time. He had been in the fold of Islam since its advent and was one of the emigrants to Abyssinia. He accompanied the Prophet (Sallallaho alaihe wasallam) in all his campaigns and worked as his attendant. He carried the shoes of the Prophet (Sallallaho alaihe wasallam), provided him with a pillow when he needed one, and brought him water for his Wudhu. He was therefore called "The Keeper of the shoes", "The Keeper of Pillow" and "The Manager for Wudhu". The Prophet (Sallallaho alaihe wasallam) once said:

"Abdullah bin Mas'ood (Radhiyallaho anho) is the only person whom I can safely appoint as an Amir without consulting anybody."

He was permitted by the Prophet (Sallallaho alaihe wasal-lam) to visit him at all times. The Prophet (Sallallaho alaihe wasallam) is reported to have said:

(1)    "If you want to recite the Qur'an as it was revealed to me, then copy the recitation of Abdullah bin Mas'ood."

(2)    "Believe in what Abdullah bin Mas'ood (Radhiyal-laho anho) narrates about me."

Hadhrat Abu Moosa Ash'ari (Radhiyallaho anho) says:

"Abdullah bin Masood (Radhiyallaho anho) and his mother visited the Prophet's (Sallallaho alaihe wasallam) house so often and were so at home there that the people of Yemen, who had come to see the Prophet (Sallallaho alaihe wasallam), took him as one of the Ahlul Bait (family member.)" Though he was so near to the Prophet (Sallallaho alaihe wasallam), yet he was very cautious about narrating the words of the Prophet (Sallallaho alaihe wasallam). Hadhrat Abu 'Amir Shai-bani (Radhiyallaho anho) says:

"I stayed with Abdullah bin Mas'ood (Radhiyallaho anho) for one year. I never heard him attributing any words direct to the Prophet (Sallallaho alaihe wasal-lam). Whenever he intended doing so, he would shiver with fear."

Hadhrat 'Amr bin Maimoon (Radhiyallaho anho) says:

"I have been visiting Abdullah bin Mas'ood (Radhiyal-laho anho) every Thursday for one year: I never heard him attributing any words direct to the Prophet (Sallallaho alaihe wasallam). Once he was narrrating Hadith. When he uttered the words 'The Prophet (Sallallaho alaihe wasallam) said so,' then his body began to shiver, his eyes became full of tears, his forehead sweated, his veins swelled and he said 'Insha-Allah' the Prophet said so, or something like that, it might be something less or something more."

Look at the Sahabah's caution and care about Hadith.

The Prophet (Sallallaho alaihe wasallam) said:

"A person who attributes anything to me, which I have not said, is making his abode in the Hell."

This is why the Sahabah, though speaking and doing everything according to the instructions and example of the Prophet (Sallallaho alaihe wasallam), were afraid of attributing any words to the Prophet (Sallallaho alaihe wasallam), lest they should be different from what the Prophet (Sallallaho alaihe wasallam) had actually uttered. On the other hand, we go on quoting Ahadith without being sure of their authenticity and fear not the serious consequences of attributing wrongly anything to the Prophet (Sallallaho alaihe wasallam). It may be mentioned that the Fiqah Hanifiyah is based mostly on the Ahadith narrated by Hadhrat Abdullah bin Mas`ood (Radhiyallaho anho).