The Last Days in Madinah

When 'Uthman had one standard copy of the Qur'an prepared and ordered other copies to be withdrawn, 'Abdullah, who had his own written copy, was upset at being left out of the committee and did not want his copy taken. He reportedly voiced his displeasure, and later left his post in Kufa and returned to Madinah.

Accounts say the two reconciled before he died. Ibn Mas'ud fell ill, 'Uthman visited him, and when asked whether he wanted anything, 'Abdullah said he wanted only his Lord's mercy. 'Uthman offered him his stipend, which he declined, and wanted to provide for his daughters, but he reassured him that the Qur'an he had taught them would suffice.

He died in Madinah in 32 AH at around sixty and was buried in al-Baqi'. The Muslims who knew him remembered a man of great reverence for the Qur'an and scrupulous care in religion, and the later schools of Iraq drew deeply from him.