‘Abdullah ibn Mas’ud’s (radiyallahu ‘anhu) surprise and happiness upon hearing of a Sunnah being practised

Question

Kindly mention which ‘Abdullah was alluded to in the following narration along with the reason for saying أنى علقها:

عن أبي معمر أن أميرا كان بمكة يسلم تسليمتين فقال عبد الله: أنى علقها. قال الحكم في حديثه: إن رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم كان يفعله

(Sahih Muslim, Hadith: 581)

 

Answer

‘Abdullah in this Hadith refers to Sayyiduna ‘Abdullah ibn Mas’ud (radiyallahu ‘anhu)

(Al-Mufhim, Hadith: 470)

 

He said the words أنى علقها (more or less meaning “from whom/where did he learn it”) out of surprise and happiness that this Sunnah was learned and being practiced upon.

(An-Nihayah, vol. 2 pg. 246, Al-Minhaj, Hadith: 1313 and Ad-Dibaj, Hadith: 581; Also see footnotes on Sahih Muslim, Hadith: 581, Matba’ah ‘Amirah (Turkish) edition)

 

Translation

It has been reported on the authority of Abu Ma’mar (rahimahullah) that there was a leader in Makkah that used to make salam [in prayer] with two salaams. Abdullah ibn Mas’ud [upon witnessing or hearing about this] then said: “From whom/where did he learn it?!”

Al-Hakam [one of the narrators] said in his Hadith [i.e whilst reporting the Hadith, as if to explain Sayyiduna Abdullah ibn Mas’ud’s reason for being pleased]: “Verily Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alayhi wasallam) used to do it.”

(Sahih Muslim, Hadith: 581)

 

And Allah Ta’ala knows best.

 

Answered by: Moulana Farhan Shariff

 

Approved by: Moulana Muhammad Abasoomar