Appearance

Hazrat Abdullah bin Mas‘ud was slim, short in height and had a wheatish complexion. He would wear fine white clothing and use perfume. Hazrat Talha relates that he would be recognised by his perfume.

(Al-Tabqaat-ul-Kubra, Vol. 3, pp. 116-117, Dar-ul-Kutb al-Ilimiyya, Beirut, 1990)

Hazrat Ali (ra) relates that once the Holy Prophet (sa) instructed Abdullah bin Mas‘ud for a certain task to climb a tree. Seeing as his calves were apparently thin and weak, the Companions began laughing. The Holy Prophet (sa) thereupon asked, “Why do you laugh? The virtues of Abdullah bin Mas‘ud will be heavier in the scales on the Day of Judgement than the Uhud Mountain.”

(Usdul Ghaba, Vol. 3, p. 385, Dar-ul-Kutub al-Ilmiyyah, Beirut)

Hazrat Abdullah bin Mas‘ud had hair which he would lift from his ears. According to one narration his hair reached his neck. When he prayed he would put his hair behind his ears.

(Al-Tabqaat-ul-Kubra, Vol. 3, p. 117, Dar-ul-Kutb al-Ilimiyya, Beirut, 1990)

Zaid bin Wahhab narrates: “One day, I was sitting with Hazrat Umar (ra) when Hazrat Abdullah bin Mas‘ud arrived. Since he had a short stature it was difficult to see him in the crowd of people that were seated.” The other people seated in the congregation were tall or perhaps they were seated in a way that it was difficult to see him. He was almost concealed from view. “When Hazrat Umar (ra) saw him, he smiled and then began to converse with him in a joyful manner. During this discourse Hazrat Abdullah remained standing lest he became obscured from view. When they finished the conversation and Hazrat Abdullah left, Hazrat Umar (ra) watched him until he was out of sight. He then said: “This individual is an extraordinary vessel of knowledge”.

(Usdul Ghaba, Vol. 3, p. 386, Dar-ul-Kutub Al-ilmiyyah, Beirut)