Once, the Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him) fell ill with a severe fever. Upon hearing about his illness, a devoted Companion became deeply restless. Leaving all his work behind, he hurried to visit the Prophet (PBUH). Being the Prophet’s maternal uncle by relation, he visited him morning and evening, asking after his health before taking his leave.
One day, when he visited, the Prophet’s (PBUH) condition had slightly improved. He inquired, "How is your health today?"
The Prophet (PBUH) replied, "Jibreel (Gabriel, peace be upon him) came to me and recited this supplication over me (as a blow for healing):
‘Bismillahi arqeeka min kulli shay’in yu’dheeka, min sharri kulli nafsin aw ‘ayni hasidin, Allahu yashfeeka.’
(In the name of Allah, I perform Ruqyah over you from everything that harms you, and from the evil of every soul or envious eye, may Allah heal you.)"
The Prophet (PBUH) added that Jibreel had instructed him to recite this prayer.
The Companion who was so deeply concerned for the Prophet’s (PBUH) health was Ubadah ibn as-Samit (R.A), also known by his honorific title (Kunya) Abu Al-Waleed. He belonged to the Salim family of the Khazraj tribe. His father was Samit ibn Qays, and his mother was Qurrat al-Ayn bint Ubadah ibn Nadlah. His mother had named her beloved son after her own father.
Ubadah ibn as-Samit (R.A) was tall, strongly built, and had a dark wheatish complexion. He was remarkably handsome and elegant.
When the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) began spreading the message of Islam, the people of Makkah turned a deaf ear. Eleven years after he started preaching, a few people from Madinah (then called Yathrib) came to Makkah for the annual pilgrimage. The Prophet (PBUH) invited them, met them warmly, and asked, "Are you from Yathrib?"
They replied, "Yes!"
He then asked, "Will you sit with me for a moment so I may talk to you?"
They agreed: "Yes, certainly."
The Prophet (PBUH) presented the message of Islam to them. These men had previously heard the Jewish scholars of Madinah speak of the signs of the final Prophet. Upon seeing all those signs in Prophet Muhammad (PBUH), they accepted Islam right away. There were six men in total, and Ubadah ibn as-Samit (R.A) was among them. Returning to Madinah, they brought the glad tidings to their people: "The final Prophet (PBUH) has arrived in Makkah!"
Hearing this news, people gathered around them with eager questions. The following year, eleven men came from Madinah and accepted Islam. In the third year, 72 people traveled to Makkah during Hajj to embrace Islam and meet the Prophet (PBUH). Ubadah ibn as-Samit (R.A) participated in all three of these historic pledges (Pledges of Aqabah). During the third pledge, the Prophet (PBUH) honored Ubadah ibn as-Samit (R.A) by appointing him as the leader (Naqeeb) of the Qawaqil family of Khazraj.
Ubadah (R.A) was brave and passionate from the very beginning. Upon returning home as a Muslim, he guided his mother, Qurrat al-Ayn (R.A), to Islam. He had a close friend named Ka'b ibn Ujrah, who had not yet accepted Islam and kept a large idol in his home. Ubadah was determined to cleanse his friend's house of polytheism. Finding an opportunity one day, he entered Ka'b's house and broke the large idol to pieces. Seeing this, Ka'b ibn Ujrah reflected deeply: "How can an idol be a god if it cannot even protect itself?" Allah lifted the veil from his heart, and Ka'b ibn Ujrah (R.A) embraced Islam as well.
Later, as persecution in Makkah intensified, Allah commanded the Prophet (PBUH) to migrate to Yathrib (Madinah). Upon arriving in Madinah, the Prophet (PBUH) established brotherhood between the Muhajireen (Emigrants) and the Ansar (Helpers). He paired Ubadah ibn as-Samit (R.A) as a brother to Abu Marthad al-Ghanawi (R.A).
The Prophet (PBUH) held great affection for Ubadah ibn as-Samit (R.A). Once, when Ubadah fell ill, the Prophet (PBUH) personally went to visit him along with several Ansar Companions.
Hazrat Ubadah ibn as-Samit (R.A) was among the educated and learned Companions. He excelled in the recitation of the Quran and had memorized the entire Quran during the lifetime of the Prophet (PBUH). Only five Ansar Companions had completely memorized the Quran during the Prophet's lifetime, and Ubadah ibn as-Samit (R.A) was one of those distinguished few