The master of the Qur’an reciters, Abū Mundhir al-Anṣārī al-Najjārī, the Madinan qāriʾ and veteran of Badr. He was also called Abū al-Tufayl. He was present at the Pledge of ʿAqaba and at Badr, compiled the Qur’an during the Prophet’s lifetime, presented it to the Prophet ﷺ, and preserved from him blessed knowledge. In learning and in practice he was a leading authority.

Among those who transmitted from him were his sons—Muḥammad, al-Ṭufayl, and ʿAbd Allāh—together with Anas ibn Mālik, Ibn ʿAbbās, Suwayd ibn Ghafala, Zirr ibn Ḥubaysh, Abū al-ʿĀliya al-Riyāḥī ⦗1⦘, Abū ʿUthmān al-Nahdī, Sulaymān ibn Ṣurad, Sahl ibn Saʿd, Abū Idrīs al-Khawlānī, ʿAbd Allāh ibn al-Ḥārith ibn Nawfal, ʿAbd al-Raḥmān ibn Abzā, ʿAbd al-Raḥmān ibn Abī Laylā, ʿUbayd ibn ʿUmayr, ʿUtiyy ⦗2⦘ al-Saʿdī, Ibn al-Ḥawtakiyya, Saʿīd ibn al-Musayyib—this last being effectively a mursal report—and many others.

ʿĪsā ibn Ṭalḥa ibn ʿUbayd Allāh said: “Ubayy was a stocky man—meaning of medium height—neither tall nor short.”

Ibn ʿAbbās ibn Sahl said: “Ubayy’s head and beard were both white.” ⦗3⦘

Anas reported that the Prophet ﷺ said to Ubayy ibn Kaʿb, “Allah has commanded me to recite the Qur’an to you,” and in another wording, “He has commanded me to teach you the Qur’an.” Ubayy asked, “Did Allah name me to you?” He replied, “Yes.” Ubayy continued, “And I was mentioned before the Lord of the worlds?” He answered, “Yes.” At that, Ubayy’s eyes filled with tears. ⦗4⦘