Abdur Rahman bin Awf (rta): A slave of Allah (swt)

By

Sadaf Azhar – Sub Editor Hiba magazine

Abdur Rahman bin Awf (rta) was one of the ten blessed Companions who were promised Jannah by the Prophet (sa). An extremely wealthy and astute businessman, he was nevertheless always mindful of his duty towards Allah (swt) and his fellow Muslims.

Life in Makkah

• He was named Abd Kabah but the Prophet (sa) changed his name to Abdur Rahman bin Awf when he accepted Islam. His Kuniyah was Abu Muhammad.
• He belonged to the powerful tribe of Banu Zohra, the tribe of the Prophet’s (sa) mother, Amina bint Wahb, and Saad bin Abi Waqas (rta).
• He had a powerful position within the Quraysh because he was married to multiple women.
• Abdur Rahman (rta) was described as an exceedingly handsome, dignified and pleasant man.
• During one of his trade routes to Yemen, he met a Christian monk who asked him where he was from and why he was here. He replied that he was a merchant from Makkah. The monk asked him: ‘Shall I not give you a glad tiding that is greater than your trade? A man that will rise from where you just came from, who receives revelation from the Lord of the Heavens and the Earth and who is on the way of Isa (as)?’ When he returned to Makkah, Abdur Rahman (rta) questioned Abu Bakr (rta), who explained the Prophet’s (sa) message and then took him to Khadeejah’s (rta) house to embrace Islam.
• He was one of the students of Dar ul Arqam before the Prophet (sa) publicly gave Dawah.
• This Sahabi continued his trade and stayed under the Quraysh’s radar but he too was persecuted so he migrated to Abyssinia. He returned and then made the Hijrah to Madinah, which is why he is one of the blessed Companions who earned the title of ‘The Companions of the Two Migrations’ (As-haab al Hijratayn).

Life in Madinah

In Madinah, he was paired off with Saad ibn Rabi’i (rta). This is one of the most striking stories of the brotherhood called (Muwakhaat) that the Prophet (sa), in his wisdom, established between each Ansari of Madinah (a resident) and each Muhajir of Makkah (a refugee).

To please Allah (swt), Saad (rta) who was wealthy, tried to split his wealth in half to share with Abdur Rahman (rta). He even offered to divorce one of his 2 wives so Abdur Rahman (rta) could marry her instead!

Abdur Rahman (rta) was embarrassed and he politely refused by praying for Barakah in Saad’s (rta) wealth and family and just asked to be directed to the marketplace so he could begin his own business.

His character, worship and service to Islam

• Despite his wealth and business concerns, he participated in every battle with the Prophet (sa), staying close to him to protect him.
• He was one of those who stayed steadfast in Uhud and suffered over 20 wounds, with one that left him with a limp for the rest his life.
• Once when Rasool (sa) wanted someone to sponsor an expedition, Abdur Rahman (rta) brought 2000 coins. The Prophet (sa) asked him: ‘What have you left behind?’ He replied: ‘I gave 2000 for the sake of Allah and 2000 for my family’.
• He was made the leader of an expedition. The Prophet (sa) wrapped his turban himself, put his hand on it, made Dua for him and advised him to be mindful of Allah (swt) to not transgress and be ready to meet Allah (swt). He also told him to invite the people to Islam and if they accepted, he advised Abdur Rahman (rta) to propose to marry the daughter of the chief. That is what Abdur Rahman (rta) did, and his most well-known son, Abu Salamah bin Abdur Rahman bin Awf (rta), was born from this blessed union.
• All of the people of Madinah lived off Abdur Rahman bin Awf (rta). One third of the people had debts that he paid off, one third owed money to him and he forgave them, and one third were given Sadqah that he gave without expecting any favour.
• Abdur Rahman bin Awf (rta) is the only person behind whom the Prophet (sa) prayed. This incident took place in Tabuk. Since they couldn’t find the Prophet (sa), they appointed Abdur Rahman (rta) to lead the Salah. The Prophet (sa) came upon them while they were praying in congregation so he joined the prayer (it was dark), in the second Rakah. As Abdur Rahman (rta) completed his prayer, he noticed the Prophet (sa) stand up to complete his Salah. The companions were overwhelmed and confused so they started to recite Tasbeeh. The Prophet (sa) appreciated their prayer and this was an unprecedented honour.
• After the Prophet’s (sa) death, Abdur Rahman (rta) continued to play an important role in the community. He was part of the Shura. He himself undertook the financial responsibility for the Mothers of the Believers. Every transaction he made, he allotted a percentage of it for them. He also took them for Hajj.
• Once, he returned to Madinah with his caravan of 700 camels. The city began to rumble and the people thought they were under attack. Ayesha (rta) asked what the commotion was about and was told that Abdur Rahman (rta) had just returned from Ash-Shaam. She prayed: ‘O Allah allow him to drink from the water of Salsabeel’. (Some say the Prophet (sa) also made this Dua for him)
• He was known for his asceticism (Zuhd). He said: ‘We were tested with hardship with the Prophet (sa) and we were patient, but then we were tested with ease and prosperity after the Prophet’s (sa) death and we were not patient’.

This refers to the difficulty of controlling Nafs in prosperity as compared to being mindful of Allah (swt) in deprivation.

• The Prophet (sa) said that Shaitan vowed: ‘The owner of wealth will never be safe from me by one of three ways: I will get them to take money without permission, or spend it without right or make it so beloved to them that they obstruct it being spent rightfully.’ So Abdur Rahman (rta) was extremely cautious about his wealth. He once spent an entire Tawaf praying: ‘O Allah protect me form the greed of my soul’.
• He narrated the Hadith which forms the basis of the ruling for Jizya from non-Muslims.

Events prior to his death

As a caliph, Uthman (rta) once became sick and he wrote that Abdur Rahman bin Awf (rta) should be his successor. They had the same generous, humble personality.

When Abdur Rahman (rta) was conveyed these glad tidings, he went between the graves of the Prophet (sa) and the first two Caliphs and prayed: ‘If that is true, let me die before that because I do not wish to be tried.’ He died a few months after this incident.

He was 75 years old when he passed away. In his will, he liberated hundreds of slaves, donated 400 dinars of gold for each veteran of Badr, and left huge shares for the Mothers of the Believers (up to 400,000 dinars). Yet his inheritors had a lot of money to divide amongst themselves.

A little before he passed away, Abdur Rahman (rta) narrated a dream wherein he looked behind and his whole Ummah was standing behind him. When he died, Ali (rta) said it was as if the whole Ummah was standing behind the bier of Abdur Rahman (rta). The people of Madinah whom he had supported all his life had come to testify for his generosity and piety.