As a young boy, Sayyiduna ‘Abdullah bin Mas‘ood (radhiyallahu ‘anhu) used to graze goats belonging to one of the leaders of the Quraish, ‘Uqbah bin Abi Mu‘ait.
Once, during the early days of Islam, while grazing a flock of goats, Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) and Sayyiduna Abu Bakr (radhiyallahu ‘anhu) passed by and asked him: “O youngster! Do you have any milk to offer us?” Sayyiduna ‘Abdullah bin Mas‘ood (radhiyallahu ‘anhu) replied: “Yes! (I do have,) but it has been entrusted to me, and I cannot offer (it to) the two of you.”
Thereafter, Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) asked him: “Do you have a young she goat which has not mated?” Although this goat would be unable to give milk, Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) passed his blessed hands over its udders whilst making du‘aa, and miraculously milk began to flow instantaneously.
Sayyiduna Abu Bakr (radhiyallahu ‘anhu) brought a hollowed rock to fill the milk in it. They two then drank and they offered some milk to Sayyiduna ‘Abdullah bin Mas‘ood (radhiyallahu ‘anhu) as well. Thereafter, Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) instructed the udders saying, “stop”. The udders immediately dried up.
After some time, Sayyiduna ‘Abdullah bin Mas‘ood (radhiyallahu ‘anhu) came to Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) and requested him: “Teach me those words (that you had recited).” Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) passed his blessed hands on his head and said: “May Allah have mercy upon you. Indeed, you are a youngster who has great potential for (acquiring the) knowledge (of Deen).”
It was on this occasion that Sayyiduna ‘Abdullah bin Mas‘ood (radhiyallahu ‘anhu) accepted Islam at the blessed hands of Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam). He thereafter continued to learn from Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) until he had learnt seventy surahs of the Quraan Majeed directly from him.
(Musnad Ahmad #3598, #3599 & #4412 and Musnad Abi Ya’la #5096)
Lessons:
1. Despite the fact that his employer was not present, and would have not even come to know had he offered the milk to Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) and Sayyiduna Abu Bakr (radhiyallahu ‘anhu), yet Sayyiduna ‘Abdullah bin Mas‘ood (radhiyallahu ‘anhu) did not breach his trust. Rather he upheld the great qualities of honesty and trustworthiness. Furthermore, this incident occurred even before he had accepted Islam. This should serve as an inspiration for employees as well as others, that immaterial of whether one will ‘get caught’ or not, one must ensure that he upholds these qualities.
2. There have been numerous instances where Allah Ta‘ala permitted miraculous events to occur at the blessed hands of Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) that transcended a logical explanation. This particular incident is one such example. Likewise, every aspect of Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) is blessed, including his lifestyle and way of life. If one adopts his lifestyle and follows his blessed sunnah, he will definitely enjoy great blessings from Allah Ta‘ala and will witness ‘miracles’ happening in his life.
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