Silsilat al-Ahadith al-Sahihah

Sayyiduna Abdullah bin Mas'ud (may Allah be pleased with him) says that the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) came to the mosque, while he (peace and blessings be upon him) was between Sayyiduna Abu Bakr (may Allah be pleased with him) and Sayyiduna Umar (may Allah be pleased with him). (He saw that) Ibn Mas'ud was praying, he was reciting Surah An-Nisa, and after reciting one hundred (100) verses, he began to supplicate while still standing in prayer. The Noble Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said: "Ask, you will be given; ask, you will be given." Then he said: "Whoever wishes to recite the Qur'an fresh, as it was revealed, let him recite according to the recitation of Ibn Umm 'Abd (i.e., Ibn Mas'ud)." When morning came, Sayyiduna Abu Bakr (may Allah be pleased with him) went to give glad tidings to Ibn Mas'ud (may Allah be pleased with him) and asked him: "What supplication did you make last night?" He said: "I supplicated: O Allah! I ask You for faith free from apostasy, a blessing that does not end, and companionship with Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him) in the highest place of everlasting Paradise." When Sayyiduna Umar (may Allah be pleased with him) came to give the glad tidings, he was told that Abu Bakr had preceded him. Upon hearing this, he said: "May Allah have mercy on Abu Bakr; whenever I compete with him in goodness, he surpasses me."