During the final illness of Sayyiduna ‘Abdullah bin Mas‘ood (radhiyallahu ‘anhu), Sayyiduna ‘Uthmaan (radhiyallahu ‘anhu), the khaleefah of the time, came to visit him. Sayyiduna ‘Uthmaan (radhiyallahu ‘anhu) asked, “What are you suffering from?” He replied, “My sins.”
Sayyiduna ‘Uthmaan (radhiyallahu ‘anhu) then asked, “What do you desire?” He replied, “The mercy of my Rabb.”
Sayyiduna ‘Uthmaan (radhiyallahu ‘anhu) further asked, “Should I not call a doctor for you?” He replied, “The (True) Doctor (i.e. The One who truly gives sickness and cure, Allah Ta‘ala) has given me this illness, (so why should I turn to any other doctor?).”
Thereafter, Sayyiduna ‘Uthmaan (radhiyallahu ‘anhu) asked, “Should I not arrange a stipend for you (from the public treasury)?” Sayyiduna ‘Abdullah bin Mas‘ood (radhiyallahu ‘anhu) (who had previously declined receiving a stipend from the public treasury, preferring to remain independent) replied, “I have no need for it.”
Sayyiduna ‘Uthmaan (radhiyallahu ‘anhu) explained, “It could be for your daughters (after you have passed away). Sayyiduna ‘Abdullah bin Mas‘ood (radhiyallahu ‘anhu) responded, “Do you fear poverty for my daughters? I have taught them something which, if they recite it, they will never experience poverty. I instructed my daughters to recite Surah Waaqi‘ah every night, for I have heard Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) say: ‘Whoever recites Surah Waaqi‘ah every night, will never be afflicted by poverty!’”
(Shu‘abul Imaan # 2267, Fadhaail-us-Sahaabah – Imaam Ahmad bin Hambal #1247 and Taareekh Ibni ‘Asaakir vol. 33, pg. 187)
Sayyiduna ‘Abdullah bin Mas‘ood (radhiyallahu ‘anhu) passed away in Madeenah Munawwarah in the year 32 A.H. at the age of 63 and was buried in Jannatul Baqee’. (Usdul Ghaabah vol. 3, pg. 78 and Taareekh Ibni ‘Asaakir vol. 33, pg. 190)
When the news of his demise reached Sayyiduna Abud Dardaa (radhiyallahu ‘anhu), he exclaimed, “He has not left behind anyone like him (in calibre).” (Fadhaail-us-Sahaabah – Imaam Ahmad bin Hambal #1540)
Lessons:
1. Sayyiduna ‘Abdullah bin Mas‘ood’s (radhiyallahu ‘anhu) connection with the Quraan Majeed remained until his last breath. Even on his deathbed, his conviction in Allah Ta‘ala and His divine book remained unwavering. Attaining this level of conviction and passing away in this manner requires an entire lifetime of consistent effort in this direction.
2. Allah Ta‘ala and His blessed Rasul (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) have provided us with various divine prescriptions to secure our worldly well-being and see to our needs. Financial stability is a natural need and concern of man. While we work tirelessly and sacrifice much to fulfil this need, Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) has given us a simple, guaranteed prescription: the daily recitation of Surah Waaqi‘ah as a means of protection from poverty.
3. Preserving our own Deen is vital, but so too is safeguarding the Deen of our families. When a person departs from this world, they leave behind a legacy for their children – good or bad. To secure our children’s success in both this world and the hereafter, we must teach them imaan and instil in them aa’maal (good deeds). This will be a means of salvation for them, and a means of sadaqah jaariyah (perpetual reward) for us in the hereafter.