Hadith #179

Arabic Text

English Translation

It was narrated from 'Abdullah ibn Mas'ud (رضي الله عنه) — via Abu Bakr ibn 'Ayyash, from 'Asim, from Zirr — that Ibn Mas'ud said: 'I was tending the sheep of 'Uqba ibn Abi Mu'ayt when the Messenger of Allah ﷺ and Abu Bakr passed by me. He said: O boy, do you have any milk? I said: Yes, but I am entrusted [with these animals — the milk is not mine to give]. He said: Is there a sheep that has not been covered by the ram? I brought him a sheep and he wiped its udder — milk flowed. He milked it into a vessel, drank, and gave Abu Bakr to drink. Then he said to the udder: Shrink! and it shrank. Then I came to him after this and said: O Messenger of Allah, teach me from this speech. He wiped my head and said: May Allah have mercy on you — you are a taught young boy [ghulayyim mu'allam].' — [A second chain via 'Affan and Hammad ibn Salama from 'Asim] adds: 'Abu Bakr brought him a hollowed stone, so he milked into it and drank, and Abu Bakr drank, and I drank. Then I came to him afterward and said: Teach me from this Quran. He said: You are a taught youth. And I took from his lips seventy surahs.'