In response, Hisham castigated Maslama, ordering him to attend the congregational Friday prayers.[11] According to the historian al-Mada'ini (d. 843), Maslama thereafter became devoted to religion and "behaved in a steady and gentle manner".[11] Along with a number of his brothers, Maslama came under the tutelage of one of the major Muslim scholars of his time, Ibn Shihab al-Zuhri.[12] Hisham appointed Maslama to lead the Hajj pilgrimage to Mecca in November 737, accompanied by Ibn al-Zuhri,[13] who advised him in the operation.[12] During the Hajj expedition, he distributed money to the people of Medina and Mecca.[11]