أُبَيُّ بْنُ كَعْب
رَضِيَ اللَّهُ عَنْهُ
Ubayy ibn Ka'b
Foremost of the reciters · Ansari · Scribe of the revelation
may Allah be pleased with him
Khazraj — Banu an-Najjar, of Madinah · Madinah, up to about 30 AH
An Ansari of Madinah who wrote the revelation down and was foremost among those who recited it. The Prophet ﷺ once told him he had been commanded to recite a particular surah to him by name.
Known for
He was foremost among the reciters
The reports place him first in the community for recitation, and Umar is recorded saying as much.
The Prophet ﷺ recited a surah to him, and named him as the one to hear it
He told Ubayy that Allah had commanded him to recite it to him. Ubayy asked whether he had been named, and was told that he had. The report is in both Sahih collections.
He wrote the revelation down for the Prophet ﷺ
He was at Aqabah and at Badr
His story in moments
Short episodes from his life, in order. Read one at a time.
Life & legacy
Madinah
Ubayy was of Banu an-Najjar in Madinah and was among those who gave the pledge at Aqabah before the Hijrah. He could write, which was uncommon, and he became one of those who recorded the revelation.
His standing rests on recitation. He was the man people were sent to in order to learn the Qur'an as it should be read, and that reputation held for the rest of his life and after it.
Later years
He remained in Madinah after the Prophet ﷺ died, teaching and being consulted. Umar is recorded acknowledging his precedence in recitation openly, in the same breath as disagreeing with him about something — which is a fair picture of how he was regarded.
He was among those consulted when the copies of the Qur'an were prepared under Uthman.
He died in Madinah. The sources differ considerably over the year.
How the sources describe him
People came to him to hear it read properly
He said what he thought to people who outranked him
Connect
People around him
Alongside
- The Prophet Muhammad ﷺCompanion
He wrote the revelation for him, and was named as the one a surah was recited to.
Umar acknowledged his precedence in recitation openly, while differing with him on some of what he recited.
Full timeline
- Shortly before the Hijrah
Gives the pledge at Aqabah
- 2 AH
Present at Badr
- The Madinan years
The Prophet ﷺ recites a surah to him, having named him
- The sources differ widely approximate, reports differReports give 19, 22, 30 and 32 AH.
Dies in Madinah
Part of
Sources & review
In reviewBased on the listed sources. See something to correct? Tell us.
Sahih al-Bukhariصحيح البخاري
Hadith collection · Muhammad ibn Isma'il al-Bukhari
Sahih Muslimصحيح مسلم
Hadith collection · Muslim ibn al-Hajjaj
Jami' at-Tirmidhiجامع الترمذي
Hadith collection · Muhammad ibn 'Isa at-Tirmidhi
As-Sirah an-Nabawiyyahالسيرة النبوية
Classical biography · Ibn Hisham, from the recension of Ibn Ishaq
Kitab at-Tabaqat al-Kabirالطبقات الكبرى
Classical biography · Ibn Sa'd
Al-Isabah fi Tamyiz as-Sahabahالإصابة في تمييز الصحابة
Classical biography · Ibn Hajar al-'Asqalani
Siyar A'lam an-Nubalaسير أعلام النبلاء
Classical biography · Shams ad-Din adh-Dhahabi
SahabaMate editorial summary
Editorial summary
References follow the citation detail available in the source material.
Notice an error?
If something looks wrong or missing, send a correction and we’ll check it against the listed sources.
Notice an errorWant to remember what you learn about the Sahabah?
Pro adds Smart Review, the full Sahaba Album, adaptive quizzes, learning paths, a Mistake Notebook and personalised daily sessions across both apps.