Clarification of the Companionship of 'Abd Allah ibn 'Ukaym

The questioner:
I have not been informed of anything by Allah, except that Allah is the Living. Is he a Companion or not?

The Shaykh:
He was a contemporary of the Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him). It is said that a letter from the Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him) reached him a month before his death. If he met the Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him), he is a Companion; if he did not meet him, he is a Tabi'i, even if he lived in the time of the Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him). This is because anyone who embraced Islam during the time of the Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him) but did not see him is a Tabi'i, like the Negus. As for the one who saw him as a Muslim, he is a Companion, even if he saw him for only a moment while he was a Muslim. So I do not know whether 'Abd Allah ibn 'Ukaym saw the Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him) and is thus a Companion, or did not see him and is thus a Tabi'i. Yes.

The questioner:
And what is it?

The Shaykh:
And refer to his biography. Yes.