It is narrated from Sayyiduna Abdullah bin Mas’ud (may Allah be pleased with him) that he was performing prayer at night when the Noble Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) came to him accompanied by Sayyiduna Abu Bakr (may Allah be pleased with him) and Sayyiduna Umar (may Allah be pleased with him). He began reciting Surah An-Nisa and completed its recitation. The Noble Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said: Whoever wishes to recite the Qur’an as it was revealed, let him recite according to the recitation of Ibn Umm ‘Abd, i.e., Ibn Mas’ud (may Allah be pleased with him). Then he moved forward and Sayyiduna Abdullah (may Allah be pleased with him) began to ask, and the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said: Ask Allah, you will be given; ask Allah, you will be given; ask Allah, you will be given. So among his supplications, he also made this supplication: “O Allah! I ask You for faith that does not turn back, for blessings that never end, and for the companionship of Your Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him) in the highest eternal Paradise.” After this, Sayyiduna Umar (may Allah be pleased with him) came to give him glad tidings, but he saw that Sayyiduna Abu Bakr (may Allah be pleased with him) had already preceded him in this matter. So Sayyiduna Umar (may Allah be pleased with him) said: Even though you have done this, the situation is that you always precede me in every good deed.
Hadith Referenceالفتح الربانی / أبواب فى فضائل بعض الصحابة الكرام / 11825
Hadith Gradingمحدثین:صحیح
Hadith Takhrij«حديث صحيح بشواهده، اخرجه ابن ماجه: 138، (انظر مسند أحمد ترقيم الرسالة: 4255 ترقیم بيت الأفكار الدولية: 4255»
Brief Explanation
Benefits: … For the preference of the recitation (qira’ah) of Sayyiduna Abdullah ibn Mas‘ud radi Allahu anhu, see hadith numbers (8449, 8378). The noble Companions (Sahabah) were very eager to give glad tidings to one another and to bring happiness to each other. Great Companions such as Sayyiduna Abu Bakr and Sayyiduna Umar radi Allahu anhuma sought to please Sayyiduna Abdullah ibn Mas‘ud radi Allahu anhu. This is what Islamic relations and religious love demand.