One day, the Sahabah (Radiyallahu Anhum) gathered and said, “By Allah, the Quraish have never heard anyone reciting the Quran aloud in front of them, so which person among us is prepared to go and recite the Quran aloud before them?”
Hazrat Abdullah bin Mas’ood (Radiyallahu Anhu) said, “I will go and recite the Quran aloud before them.” The Sahabah (Radiyallahu Anhum) replied, “We fear over your life! We want that such a person should go before them and recite the Quran aloud who has a strong clan to protect him from the people if they intend to harm him.” Hazrat Abdullah bin Masood (Radhiyallahu Anhu) responded saying, “Let me go, as Allah will protect my life!”
The following day at the time of midmorning, Hazrat Abdullah (Radiyallahu Anhu) set out and came to the Maqam-e-Ebrahim. At that time, the Quraish were seated in their gatherings nearby. He stood by the Maqam-e-Ebrahim, and began reciting the Quran Majeed in a loud tone. He first recited Bismillah, and then began to recite Surah Rahman.
The Quraish listened to his recitation attentively, and then began to ask one another, “What is Ibnu Ummi Abd (referring to Hazrat Abdullah bin Masood Radiyallahu Anhu) reciting?” Some of them replied, “He is reciting some verses which Muhammad (Sallallahu Alayhi Wasallam) has brought to them.” At this, they stood up and began to hit him on his face. However, he continued to recite from the Quran Majeed as much as he was able to recite before them.
After everything was over, Hazrat Abdullah (Radiyallahu Anhu) returned to his companions in the condition that his face was wounded due to the beating. Seeing him in this condition, his companions said to him, “We were fearing this over you!” He replied, “The enemies of Allah Ta‘ala are more insignificant in my sight now than before (this incident transpired i.e. I don’t care how they look at me – rather I will still continue to recite the Quran Majeed before them). If you want me to go and recite the Quran again before them, then I am prepared to go tomorrow again and do so.” His companions said to him, “This is enough! We wished that someone make them hear the beautiful recitation, and you have completed this by making them hear it, but unfortunately, they dislike hearing it.” (Usdul Ghabah 3/381)