Ubayy ibn Ka’b (RA)
Recognition by the Prophet:
The Prophet Muhammad ﷺ once asked: O Abu Mundhir! (Ubayy ibn Ka’b) Which verse of the Book of Allah is the greatest? Ubayy ibn Ka’b replied: Allah knows best.
The Prophet ﷺ repeated the question and Ubayy ibn Ka’b responded by reciting Ayat al-Kursi:
‘Allah, there is no God but He, the Living, the Self-Subsisting. Neither slumber overtakes him nor sleep. To Him belongs whatever is in the heavens and whatever is on earth….’ (Quran, 2:255)
The Prophet Muhammad ﷺ replied: May knowledge delight and benefit you, Abu Mundhir (Ubayy ibn Ka’b).
Early Life and Acceptance of Islam:
Ubayy ibn Ka’b was one of the most well-renowned companions, especially in the early days of Islam. He was part of the Ansar and belonged to the tribe of Khazraj, and was one of the first people of Yathrib (Madinah) to accept Islam.
He pledged allegiance to the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ at al-‘Aqabah before the Hijrah.
Ubayy ibn Ka’b in Battles:
Ubayy ibn Ka’b participated in the Battle of Badr and other expeditions after.
Guardian and Teacher of the Quran:
Ubayy ibn Ka’b was one of the few companions of the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ who wrote down the revelations from the Quran.
He acted as a scribe for the Prophet and was one of twenty five people who knew the Quran completely by heart.
Ubayy’s understanding of the Quran was so insightful that the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ encouraged his companions to learn the Quran from Ubayy ibn Ka’b and three others.
Umar ibn al-Khattab on Ubayy ibn Ka’b:
Umar ibn al-Khattab once said: O People! Whoever wants to ask about the Quran, let him go to Ubayy ibn Ka’b.
Special Relationship with the Prophet:
The Prophet Muhammad ﷺ once said: O Ubayy ibn Ka’b. I have been commanded to show or lay open the Quran to you.
Ubayy was happy with this and asked: O Messenger of Allah, have I been mentioned to you by name?
The Prophet Muhammad ﷺ replied: Yes, by your own name and by your genealogy (nasab) in the highest heavens.
The Prophet Teaches Ubayy Surah Fatihah:
The Prophet Muhammad ﷺ asked Ubayy: Shall I not teach you a Surah the like of which has not been revealed in the Tawrah, nor in the Injil, nor in the Zubar, nor in the Quran?
Ubayy ibn Ka’b replied: Certainly. The Prophet then asked: What do you recite when you stand for Salat?
Ubayy ibn Ka’b recited Surah Al-Fatihah and after listening to his recitation, the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ said: That’s it, That’s it. They are the seven oft-repeated verses of which Allah has said: ‘We have given you the seven oft-repeated verses and the Mighty Quran.’ (Quran, 15:87)
Firmness in Preserving the Quran:
On one occasion, Ubayy ibn Ka’b recited part of a verse which the Caliph Umar ibn al-Khattab did not remember or have knowledge of.
Umar told Ubayy ibn Ka’b: you have lied. Ubayy replied: Rather you have lied, O Umar.
One person was shocked upon hearing this exchange and asked Ubayy: Did you call Amir al-Mu’minin a liar?
Ubayy ibn Ka’b replied: I have greater honour and respect for the Amir al-Mu’minin than you, but he has erred in verifying the Book of Allah and I shall not say the Amir al-Mu’minin is correct when he made an error concerning the Book of Allah.
Umar ibn al-Khattab then concluded: Ubayy is right.
Commitment to Worship and Teaching:
After the death of the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ, Ubayy remained devoted in his attachment to the religion of Islam, the Quran and the Sunnah of the Prophet.
He was constant in his Ibadah and he would be regularly seen in the mosque at night after the last obligatory prayer, engaging in worship or in teaching.
Wisdom, Simplicity and Esteem:
One time, Umar ibn al-Khattab came in and sat with a group of Muslims and asked each person to recite a Dua.
When it came to Ubayy’s turn, he recited: ‘Allahumma ighfir lana, Allahumma irhamna’ – meaning: O Lord forgive us, O Lord have mercy on us.
Ubayy once gave advice to a person and said: The believer has four characteristics: If he is afflicted by any misfortune, he remains patient and steadfast. If he is given anything, he is grateful. If he speaks, he speaks the truth and if he passes a judgement on any issue, he is just.
Ubayy ibn Ka’b was very well-respected among the early Muslims.
Esteemed Among the Companions of the Prophet:
Umar ibn al-Khattab referred to Ubayy ibn Ka’b as the ‘Sayyid of the Muslims’ (Leader of the Muslims).
Ubayy ibn Ka’b – An Advisor of Abu Bakr and Umar During Their Caliph:
He was part of the group Abu Bakr consulted with when he was a Caliph.
This group included: Umar ibn al-Khattab, Uthman ibn Affan, Ali ibn Abi Talib, Abdur-Rahman ibn Awf, Muadh ibn Jabal, Ubayy ibn Ka’b and Zayd ibn Thabit.
Umar ibn al-Khattab also consulted with the same group when he was the Khalifah.
Concern for the Ummah:
One of Ubayy ibn Ka’b’s biggest fears for the Muslims was that a day would come when there would be fitnah between the Muslims.
He often became emotional when he read or heard the verse of the Quran, saying: ‘Say: He (Allah) had power to send calamities on you, from above and below, or to cover you will confusion in party strife, giving you a taste of mutual vengeance, each from the other’ (Quran, 6:65)
Ubayy ibn Ka’b’s Death:
Ubayy ibn Ka’b died in the year twenty nine AH during the caliphate of Uthman ibn Affan.
Hadith on Ubayy ibn Ka’b:
The Prophet Muhammad ﷺ said: Learn the Qur’an from (any of these) four persons. Abdullah bin Mas’ud, Salim the freed slave of Abu Hudhayfah, Ubayy ibn Ka’b, and Mu’adh bin Jabal. (Bukhari)
The Prophet Muhammad ﷺ said to Ubayy: Allah has ordered me to recite the Quran to you: (Surat-al-Bayina, Surah 98). Ubayy replied: Has He mentioned my name? The Prophet said: Yes. When Ubayy ibn Ka’b heard this, he started to cry. (Bukhari)