'Abasa · Makki · ayah 2 of 42

'Abasa 80:2

أَن جَآءَهُ ٱلْأَعْمَىٰ

“Because there came to him the blind man,[1853] [interrupting].”

Saheeh International

Essence

His only offence was that he came, and the Quran names his blindness to demand more tenderness for him, not less.

A reflection

The man the Quran changed its wording for

The ayah gives him no name. It calls him simply 'the blind man'. But the sources know exactly who he was. His story is worth telling in full, because this is not the last time the Quran would stop for him.

He was ʿAbdullāh ibn Umm Maktūm, known by his mother's name. He was a cousin of Khadījah, and one of those who believed early in Makkah. On the day of this surah he came asking to be taught, and was turned from.

Then watch what he became. When the believers began to emigrate, he was among the very first to reach Madinah. A Companion recalls that the first to arrive were Muṣʿab ibn ʿUmayr and Ibn Umm Maktūm. The two of them taught the people the Quran (Sahih al-Bukhari). The man who had asked 'Teach me' became one of the first teachers of Madinah.

He became one of its callers to prayer. The Prophet ﷺ told people to keep eating and drinking before dawn until they heard his call. Because he could not see the dawn, he would not call until people told him, 'It is morning, it is morning' (Sahih al-Bukhari). For those fasting, the day began with his voice.

Years later, an ayah was revealed that ranked those who stay at home below those who strive in Allah's way. He came again and said that if he were able to strive, he would. The Prophet ﷺ was still dictating it. Right there, Allah added three words to the ayah: 'except those who have a disability' (4:95; Sahih al-Bukhari). The Quran's wording was widened for him.

The sources add that the Prophet ﷺ left him in charge of Madinah while he was away on campaigns, leading its people in prayer. One report counts thirteen such times. And a Companion remembered seeing him, much later, on the day of al-Qādisiyyah, wearing armour and carrying a black banner.

So the blind man at the door was not a footnote. He was a teacher, a caller to prayer, a deputy over the city, and a man the revelation itself paused for twice. The frown lasted a moment. The honour lasted a lifetime.

The full entry has 4 more reflections, questions to sit with, and "Live it today" - with the words, the roots and the tafsir alongside. Free, no account, works offline.