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 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’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.