Ubayy ibn Ka'b
Companion of Muhammad and compiler of a Quran codex.
Ubayy ibn Ka'b (also called Abu Mundhir) was a companion of the prophet Muhammad and a highly respected figure in the early Muslim community. He was short, thin, and had gray hair. Born in Medina (then Yathrib) into the Banu Khazraj tribe, he was among the first to accept Islam and swore allegiance to Muhammad at al-Aqabah before the migration to Medina, making him one of the Ansar. He also took part in the second pledge at al-Aqabah and later fought at the Battle of Badr and other engagements.
Ubayy served as a scribe for Muhammad, writing letters on his behalf. He was one of the few people who compiled the Quran's surahs into his own personal codex, which contained 116 surahs—two more than the standard 114 in the Uthmanic codex. When Muhammad asked him which verse was the greatest in the Quran, Ubayy said it was the Throne Verse. The prophet also told Ubayy that he had been commanded to show or open the Quran to him. Overjoyed, Ubayy asked if he had been mentioned by name, and Muhammad confirmed that he had been named, along with his genealogy, in the highest heavens.
After Muhammad's death, Ubayy was one of the twenty-five hafiz—people who knew the entire Quran by heart. He served on the consultative group (mushawarah) that caliph Abu Bakr turned to for advice, which also included Umar, Uthman, Ali, Abd-al-Rahman ibn Awf, Muadh ibn Jabal, and Zayd ibn Thabit. When Umar became caliph, he consulted the same group, and for legal judgments (fatwas) he specifically relied on Ali, Uthman, Ubayy, and Zayd ibn Thabit.
Despite his high standing, Ubayy was not appointed to any governing role in the expanding Muslim state, though during Muhammad's lifetime he had worked as a collector of charity. Frustrated, he once asked Umar, "Why don't you appoint me as a governor?" Umar replied, "I do not want your religion to be corrupted." Ubayy died in 649 AD (30 AH) during the caliphate of Uthman.
- born
- Medina (Yathrib)
- field
- Quranic compilation, scribe, legal advisor
- nationality
- Arab (Banu Khazraj)
- known_for
- Compiling a Quran codex with 116 surahs; being one of the twenty-five Hafiz; member of the consultative group (mushawarah) for caliphs Abu Bakr and Umar
Lore & Background
Ubayy was born in Medina into the tribe of the Banu Khazraj. He was one of the first to accept Islam and pledge allegiance to Muhammad at al-Aqabah before the migration to Medina, becoming one of the Ansar. He joined the second pledge at al-Aqabah and later participated in the battle of Badr and other engagements. He acted as a scribe for Muhammad, writing letters for him. Ubayy was one of the few who compiled the surahs of the Quran to write his own codex that had 116 surahs, compared to the 114 of the Uthmanic codex. He believed that the Throne Verse was the greatest verse in the Quran when asked by the Prophet himself on an occasion. Ubayy enjoyed a special honor with regard to the Quran. One day, the Prophet said: 'O Ubayy ibn Ka'b! I have been commanded to show or lay open the Quran to you.' Ubayy was elated and asked if he had been mentioned by name. The Prophet replied: 'Yes, by your own name and by your genealogy (nasab) in the highest heavens.' Following Muhammad's death, he was one of the twenty-five Hafiz, people who knew the Quran completely by heart. He was part of the consultative group (mushawarah) to which the caliph Abu Bakr referred many problems, which included Umar, Uthman, Ali, Abd-al-Rahman ibn Awf, Muadh ibn Jabal, and Zayd ibn Thabit. Umar later consulted the same group when he was caliph, and specifically for fatwas he referred to Ali ibn Abi Talib, Uthman, Ubayy, and Zayd ibn Thabit. Despite his high standing, Umar did not appoint Ubayy to any governing position.
Reader's Guide
Ubayy ibn Ka'b's significance lies primarily in his role as a compiler of the Quran and as a trusted authority on its text in the early Muslim community. His codex, containing 116 surahs, represents one of the earliest attempts to collect the revelations into a single volume, predating the standardized Uthmanic codex. His status as one of the twenty-five Hafiz—those who knew the entire Quran by heart—underscores his importance as a living repository of the scripture after Muhammad's death. Additionally, his membership in the consultative group (mushawarah) for both caliphs Abu Bakr and Umar, and his specific role in issuing fatwas under Umar, demonstrate his influence in legal and administrative matters. The fact that Umar deliberately refrained from appointing him as a governor, fearing corruption of his religion, highlights the high regard for his piety and the perceived vulnerability of religious devotion to worldly power. Ubayy's legacy is thus that of a scholar-scribe whose work on the Quran and whose integrity shaped the early Islamic tradition.
Did You Know?
- Ubayy compiled a Quran codex that had 116 surahs, two more than the standard Uthmanic codex.
- He was one of the twenty-five Hafiz who knew the Quran completely by heart after Muhammad's death.
- The Prophet Muhammad told Ubayy he had been commanded to show or lay open the Quran to him, and that Ubayy had been mentioned by name and genealogy in the highest heavens.
- Caliph Umar refused to appoint Ubayy as a governor, saying 'I do not want your religion to be corrupted.'
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is Ubayy ibn Ka'b?
He was a trusted companion of the Prophet Muhammad, born in Medina among the Banu Khazraj tribe, and one of the earliest Muslims to hold a position of deep respect in the community.
What is Ubayy ibn Ka'b most famous for?
He is best remembered for personally gathering and arranging the surahs of the Quran into a written codex of 116 chapters, a task very few companions accomplished.
What was Ubayy ibn Ka'b's role under the early caliphs?
He served on the consultative council (mushawarah) that advised both Abu Bakr and Umar on matters of governance and law.
What other roles did Ubayy ibn Ka'b hold in the early Muslim community?
Beyond his work with the Quran, he functioned as a scribe for the Prophet and a legal advisor, and he was counted among the twenty-five Hafiz who memorized the entire scripture.
Why does Ubayy ibn Ka'b matter in Islamic history?
His codex represents one of the earliest physical collections of the Quran's surahs, and his advisory role helped shape the legal and administrative decisions of the first two caliphates.
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