Hazrat Abdullah ibn Umm Maktum

The Companion of Surah ‘Abasa

Abdullah ibn Umm Maktum was a blind Companion of the Quraysh, and among the very first emigrants to Madinah — going with Mus’ab ibn Umayr رَضِيَ اللَّهُ عَنْهُHazrat Mus'ab ibn Umayrرَضِيَ اللَّهُ عَنْهُThe first teacher of Islam in Madinah; standard-bearer and martyr of UhudMuhajirun · People of Badr · Early Converts and beginning, even before the Prophet’s ﷺ arrival, the teaching of the Qur’an there. 1 Hayatus Sahaba · Vol 1 · pp. 348 — Kandhlawi — Ibn Umm Maktum and Mus'ab are the first Muhajirun to reach Madinah, and begin teaching the Qur'an.

While the Prophet ﷺ was earnestly preaching to a Qurayshi chief in hope of his Islam, Ibn Umm Maktum, not seeing the others, came asking for instruction, and the Prophet ﷺ turned his face away. Then came down Surah ‘Abasa — “He frowned and turned away because the blind man came to him” — and ever after, whenever Ibn Umm Maktum appeared, the Prophet ﷺ would spread out his cloak for him to sit on, saying: “Welcome to him on whose account my Lord reprimanded me.” 2 Hayatus Sahaba · Vol 2 · pp. 490 — Kandhlawi — Surah 'Abasa revealed about Ibn Umm Maktum; the Prophet honours him ever after, spreading his cloak for him.

Deputy of the Prophet ﷺ and Mu’adhdhin

So trusted was he that the Prophet ﷺ left him in charge of Madinah when he set out for Uhud and again for the Trench, and on lesser expeditions; and he served as a mu’adhdhin of the Prophet’s ﷺ mosque. 3 History of Islam · Vol 1 · pp. 171, 195 — Najeebabadi — the Prophet leaves Ibn Umm Maktum in charge of Madinah for Uhud and the Trench. In Umar رَضِيَ اللَّهُ عَنْهُHazrat Umar ibn al-Khattabرَضِيَ اللَّهُ عَنْهُSecond Caliph; al-Farooq, who expanded the Islamic stateKhulafa Rashidun · Ashara Mubashara · Muhajirun’s caliphate, despite his blindness, he insisted on going out with the army to Qadisiyya — and is reported to have fallen there carrying the banner.