Ibn Mas`ūd was so close to the Prophet that any stranger in Madinah would have thought him a member of the Prophet’s household. Abū Mūsā said: “I came to Madinah from the Yemen with my brother. For quite some time we were under the impression that Ibn Mas`ūd and his mother belonged to the Prophet’s household, an impression we had formed because of the frequency of their comings and goings from the Prophet’s homes, and their long companionship with him.” [Related by al-Bukhārī and Muslim and al-Tirmidhī.]
The Prophet himself sought the hand of an Anşārī woman in marriage for Julaybib, a former slave. “Her parents were reluctant to sanction such a marriage. She, however, said to them: ‘Do you mean to reject the Prophet’s suit? If the Prophet thinks that this man is suitable for us, then let this marriage go through.’ So they gave their consent.” [Related by Aĥmad.]
Soon after his marriage, Julaybib took part in an armed expedition. After the
battle, which resulted in a victory for the Muslims, the Prophet asked his
Companions: “Is anybody missing?” They named a few people. He repeated the question and they named a few others. He asked the same question for the third time and they answered in the negative. He said: “I think Julaybib is missing.” They looked for him and found his body next to seven enemy soldiers whom he had killed. The Prophet went over, stood near him, and said: “He killed seven before he himself was slain. This man belongs to me and I belong to him.” He lifted him into his arms until a grave had been dug. He then put him in his grave. The tradition does not say whether Julaybib was given a death wash or not. [Related by Muslim.]