TRAILBLAZER SERIES: THE CONCEALED ONE

 Abdullah Ibn Umm Maktoom was born to Qays Ibn Za'id and Aatikah Bint Abdullah. He was born blind, which was the reason behind the people calling his mother Umm Maktoom (Mother of the Concealed One). He was a cousin of the first wife of the Prophet, Khadeejah Bint Khuwaylid, and was among the first converts to Islam. He thus had a front row seat as Islam grew in Makkah, witnessing all of the suffering and persecution along with Prophet Muhammad (SAW) and the other companions. This not only strengthened his faith but also increased his determination to hold on to the religion of Islam as much as he could, and this in turn increased his devotion to the Apostle of Allah. He was always eager to learn by heart as much as he could of the Qur'an such that at times, he unintentionally sought to have the Prophet's attention all to himself.

   Most of the time he spent in Makkah with the Prophet, Da'wah was the most important part of the Prophet's duty. On one occasion, Prophet Muhammad (SAW) was concentrating on achieving the conversion of the nobles among his tribesmen, the Quraish, and had Utbah Ibn Rabah and his brother, Shaybah, Abu Jahl Amr Ibn Hisham, Umayyah Ibn Khalaf, and Walid Inn Mughirah, father of Khalid Ibn Walid, and was doing his usual preaching to these men, inviting them to leave their pagan gods and worship Allah. As the Prophet was thus engaged, Abdullah Ibn Umm Maktoom sauntered to him, and asked him to teach him of what Allah had taught him. Prophet Muhammad frowned and turned away from Abdullah, to continue preaching to the prestigious Quraish nobles. As soon as he finished with his preaching, he received a revelation from Allah, the first 16 verses of Surah 'Abasa (Q80 Vs 1-16), in which Allah admonished the Prophet for prioritising the group of disbelievers over one of his own brothers who had come in search of knowledge. 

   Abdullah was the first of the companions, alongside Mus'ab Ibn Umayr, to migrate to Madinah, where they were to teach the religion and Qur'an to the people of Madinah before the arrival of the Prophet from Makkah. When the Prophet (SAW) arrived in Madinah, he appointed Abdullah as one of the Muadhin, along with Bilal Ibn Rabah. Whenever Bilal made the adhan, Abdullah was charged with making the Iqamah. They switched their roles sometimes as well. When the Prophet (SAW) left Madinah, Abdullah was charged with leading the Muslims in prayers.

   Shortly after the battle of Badr, the first battle the Muslims engaged in, Allah revealed a verse in which the status of the Mujahideen, the ones who fought for Allah in battles, was proclaimed as a very lofty one. This revelation made Abdullah worried, as he knew be could not be allowed to fight on the battlefield due to his condition, and he spoke about it to Allah's apostle. Allah immediately revealed a clause in that verse, exempting those physically unfit from Jihad "Not equal are those who remain seated among the believers except those who possess disabilities and those who strive and fight in the way of God with their wealth and their persons..." Surah An-Nisa Q4 Vs 95. Abdullah wasn't satisfied with having to settle for an exemption, and he wanted to be a Mujahid. In the 14th year after Hijrah, he made a vow to be the standard bearer for the Muslims at the battle of Qadisiyyah, a major onslaught on the Persians. On the third day of the battle, the Muslims had overcome their adversaries. Abdullah lay among the martyrs, still holding onto the flag of the Muslims. His entire life was characterised by his dedication to the Prophet, and the Prophet's admiration of his person. He was left in charge of Madinah anytime the Prophet had to leave, showing the level of the trust Prophet Muhammad (SAW) had in him. He died as a martyr, and attained the pleasure of Allah with his actions.