After the bow broke, Hazrat Qataadah (radhiyallahu ‘anhu) remained standing in front of Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) in order to protect and defend him from the arrows of the enemy. Whenever he would see an arrow coming towards the blessed face of Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam), he would place his own face and head in front of the arrow so that the arrow would strike him instead of Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam). Finally, one of the arrows of the enemy struck the face of Hazrat Qataadah (radhiyallahu ‘anhu) with such force that it caused his eye to come out of the socket. Hence, his eye was hanging against his cheek.
After the eye of Hazrat Qataadah (radhiyallahu ‘anhu) was injured in this manner, some of the Sahaabah (radhiyallahu ‘anhum) suggested that he cut off the eye, however others advised him to go to Hazrat Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) and mention his injury to him.
When Hazrat Qataadah (radhiyallahu ‘anhu) came to Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam), Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) began to weep. Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) made du‘aa for him saying, “O Allah! You protect Qataadah, as he protected Your Nabi with his face!”
Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) also said to Hazrat Qataadah (radhiyallahu ‘anhu), “If you wish, you may exercise patience (over this injury) and you will be rewarded with Jannah, and if you wish, I can return your eye to its socket (with the will of Allah Ta‘ala), and I will make du‘aa to Allah Ta‘ala for you, so you will not find any difference in your eye (compared to before).”
Hazrat Qataadah (radhiyallahu ‘anhu) responded, “O Rasul of Allah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam)! Indeed Jannah is a beautiful reward and a magnificent recompense. However, I have a wife whom I love dearly, and I fear that if she sees me in this condition, she may feel uncomfortable with my appearance. Please restore my eye (with the will of Allah Ta‘ala) and also make du‘aa to Allah Ta‘ala and beseech Him to bless me with Jannah.” Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) replied, “I will do so, O Qataadah.”
Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) then took the eye in his blessed hand and placed it back into the socket. Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) also made du‘aa saying, “O Allah! Bless it (the eye) with beauty!” In another narration, it is reported that Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) made du‘aa saying, “O Allah! Make this eye the better of the two eyes, and the one which has sharper and clearer sight.”
It is mentioned that through the du‘aa and miracle of Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam), the injured eye of Hazrat Qataadah (radhiyallahu ‘anhu) was completely restored. In fact, it was not only restored, but from his two eyes it became the better eye and more beautiful eye. Furthermore, when he would suffer from conjunctivitis (pink eye), then the eye which Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) had restored would not become affected, and only the other eye would become pink.
(Usdul Ghaabah 4/370, Siyar A’laamin Nubalaa 2/332, Isaabah 5/319, Majma’uz Zawaa’id #14098, Sharhuz Zurqaani 7/69-71)