Outline
- Introduction
- The Beginning
- Who is Abdul-Rahman ibn ‘Awf?
- Sayyidunā Abdul-Rahman ibn ‘Awf Emigrates to Allah
- Abdul-Rahman ibn ‘Awf’: The Business-Smart
- Abdul-Rahman ibn ‘Awf’ Sacrifices for Islam
- Abdul-Rahman ibn ‘Awf After the Prophets’ Passing
- Abdul-Rahman ibn ‘Awf During the Caliphate of Abū Bakr, ‘Umar and ‘Uthman
- Abdul-Rahman ibn ‘Awf’s Virtues
- Abdul-Rahman ibn ‘Awf: A Man of Real Modesty
- Abdul-Rahman ibn ‘Awf’s Family
- Abdul-Rahman ibn ‘Awf’s Passing
- 14 Facts About Abdul-Rahman ibn ‘Awf
- The Takeaway…
Introduction
If you want to be inspired by a person of successful entrepreneurship, then put everything aside, and let’s dive in the life story of this Shining Star. If you want to learn to be a man of real and true modesty, then you this Shining Star to learn from.
Sayyidunā ‘Umar competed with Sayyidunā Abū Bakr in righteousness. And Sayyidunā ‘Uthman was on the hand competing with this Shining Star of ours, in righteousness.
He was one of only two of all the companions whom the Prophet every prayed behind. And he was one the first 10 to accept Islam, and one of the 10 given glad tidings of Jannah by name.
Yes, he’s Sayyidunā ‘Abdul-Rahman ibn ‘Awf. Sayyidunā ‘Abdul-Rahman ibn ‘Awf is our Shining Star of this episode of The Shining Stars Series brought to you by GSalam.Net and Al-Bushra by GSalam.
The Beginning
In the first episode of Sayyidunā Abū Bakr al-Ṣiddīq raḍiya Allāhu ‘anhu we mentioned that after he accepted Islam, he made wise use of his networking to invite some personalities to Islam. The first six he succeeded in inviting to Islam became heavy weight, each, in Islam.
This includes al-Zubayr ibn al-Awwām, ‘Uthmān ibn ‘Affān, Ṭalḥah ibn ‘Ubaydillah, Sa’d ibn Abī Waqqāṣ, Abū ‘Ubaydah ibn al-Jarrāḥ and ‘Abd al-Raḥmān ibn ‘Awf.
With that he becomes one of the first 10 to accept Islam. And he comes at number 8 in the Shining Stars Series. He comes after
- Sayyidatunā Khadījah
- Sayyidunā Zayd ibn Ḥārithah
- Sayyidatunā Barakah Ummu Ayman
- Sayyidunā Abū Bakr al-Ṣiddīq
- Sayyidunā ‘Ali ibn Abī Ṭālib
- Sayyidunā ‘Uthmān ibn ‘Affān and
- Sayyidunā Al-Zubayr ibn al-‘Awwām
But who is ‘Abdul-Rahman ibn ‘Awf?
Who is Abdul-Rahman ibn ‘Awf?
At the point of his embracing Islam, his name was ‘Abd ‘Amr. The Prophet ṣallā Allāhu ‘alayhi wa sallam changed it for him, to ‘Abd al-Raḥmān (Abdul-Rahman).
His father was ‘Awf ibn ‘Abd ‘Awf ibn ‘Abd al-Ḥārith ibn Zuhrah ibn Kilāb ibn Murrah ibn Ka’b ibn Lu’ay ibn Ghālib ibn Fihr ibn Mālik ibn al-Naḍr.
His mother was Al-Shifā’ bint ‘Awf ibn ‘Abd al-Ḥārith ibn Zuhrah.
Sayyidunā Abdul-Rahman ibn ‘Awf was born in Makkah, 10 years after the birth of the Prophet ṣallā Allāhu ‘alayhi wa sallam. This means, he was 30 years when he embraced Islam, 10 years younger than the Prophet, 7 years younger that Sayyidunā Abū Bakr al-Ṣiddīq, and 3 years younger than Sayyidunā Zayd ibn Ḥārithah raḍiya Allāhu ‘anhum.
Sayyidunā Abdul-Rahman ibn ‘Awf Emigrates to Allah
Sayyidunā Abdul-Rahmān ibn ‘Awf was renowned and successful businessman. Perhaps, this explains why he was among the firsts Sayyidunā Abū Bakr thought of inviting too Islam.
But this did not spare him from been tortured after his Islam became known. Thus, he emigrated together with the first batch of those who migrated to Abyssinia.
When he migrated to Madīnah, he had to leave Makkah empty-handed. This means, in the terms of the 21st century, he reached Madīnah, likewise many of the companions, as a broke man.
In the brotherhood exercise which the Prophet lodge many of the Muhājirīn with many of the Anṣār, Sayyidunā Abdul-Rahman ibn ‘Awf was made do lodge with Sa’d ibn al-Rabī’ raḍiya Allāhu ‘anhumā.
Just like many of the Anṣār showed hospitality to their Muhājirīn brothers who had just arrived from Makkah empty-handed by offering them what they needed to start new life in Madinah, Sa’d ibn al-Rabī’ also offered ibn ‘Awf. But he offered him half of his wealth, and one of his wives.
But he rejected it. Instead, he asked to be shown the way to the marketplace. That’s where he revived his entrepreneurship talent. And that marked the beginning of the era of the Billionaire Abdul-Rahman ibn ‘Awf.
5Abdul-Rahman ibn ‘Awf’: The Business-Smart
When he turned down the offer of Sayyidunā Sa’d ibn al-Rabī’, he asked to be shown the way to a market in Yathrib (Madīnah). He was directed to the market of Qaynuqā’. There he started trading in a very small scale.
Sayyidunā Abdul-Rahmān ibn ‘Awf was business smart. He had the ability to run multiple businesses at a time. Thus, he had trading between Syria and Ḥijāz (Makkah and Madīdah). He also traded in properties, as well as in livestock.
A time came, that Sayyidunā ‘Abdul-Rahmān ibn ‘Awf owned 1000 horses, 1000 camels, and 10,000 sheep and goats. Besides all that, he had a vast area of lands for agriculture. This is in addition to the fact that Allah has blessed for him his businesses.
It’s said that Sayyidunā ‘Abdul-Rahman admitted that he could make money from anything he touches. In other words, money grew in his hands like the hair grows in the beard of a hairy person. To that effect, he said:
واللَّهِ لَوْ رَفَعْتُ حَجَراً لَوَجَدتُّ تَحْتَهُ ذَهَباً
“By Allah, if I’m to lift a stone, I’ll find gold beneath it.”
Despite all that, all that only grew in his hands. Meaning, Sayyidunā Abdul-Rahman ibn ‘Awf attained such material richness, but he didn’t allow it to occupy his heart. Instead, the richer he became, the more he spent in Allah’s cause.
It’s reported, that once his trade, consisting of 700 camels carrying commodity returned to Madinah. You can imagine how much dust the arrival of 700 loaded camels will make, making their way to a city or town. Sayyidah ‘Ā’ishah raḍiya Allāhu ‘anhā made some remarks on it. Upon hearing that, Sayyidunā Abdul-Rahmān ibn ‘Awf donated all of it in the cause of Allah.
Abdul-Rahman ibn ‘Awf’ Sacrifices for Islam
There’re numerous milestones in Sayyidunā ‘Abdul-Rahman ibn ‘Awf’s sacrifices for Islam.
It’s needless to emphasize that he gave up everything in Makkah, in order to emigrate to Madīnah; to Allah and His Messenger. Imagine a rich man willingly, voluntarily giving up everything, for the sake of his faith.
In addition to that, he also sacrificed for Islam physically. Sayyidunā ‘Abdul-Rahmān ibn ‘Awf was a brave warrior. So, he fought alongside the Prophet ṣallā Allāhu ‘alayhi wa sallam in the Battles of Uḥud, Badr and all the battles, in which Prophet ṣallā Allāhu ‘alayhi wa sallam participated. He was among the few companions who stood by the Prophet in the Battle of Uḥud when others had to run for their lives.
He sustained injuries in his whole body in the Battle of Uḥud. It’s reported to be more than 20 spots of injury. He lost his incisors and sustained an injury in his let that caused limped for the rest of his life. In fact, his survival in the battle of Uḥud was a miracle.
The Prophet appointed him the commander of the detachment which was dispatched to Dawmah al-Jandal. When they were preparing for dispatch, he Prophet ṣallā Allāhu ‘alayhi wa sallam himself wrapped for him his turban, and then gave him the advice he would usually give to any battalion.
The Prophet instructed him to marry the daughter of the King of Dawmah al-Jandal if they succeed in inviting the people to Islam. True enough, they succeeded in convincing the people of Dawmah al-Jandal to embrace Islam. Thereafter Sayyidunā ‘Abdul-Rahman ibn ‘Awf married the King’s daughter, Tamāḍur bint al-Aṣbagh.
During the fundraising drive for the Battle of Tabūk, it’s reported that he donated 4,000 dinars. And that was estimated to be half of his wealth, then.
When it comes to his contributions to Islam, even Sayyidunā ‘Uthmān ibn ‘Affān admits that none can beat Abdul-Rahmān ibn ‘Awf. If Sayyidunā ‘Umar competed with Sayyidunā Abū Bakr is charity, then Sayyidunā ‘Uthmān competed with Sayyidunā ‘Abdul-Rahmān ibn ‘Awf.
The people of Madinah, in its entirety, has benefitted from his wealth, in a way or another. It’s reported that, he either lent a third of them from his money, relieved the loans of another third or extended some forms of kindness to other third from his money.
Abdul-Rahman ibn ‘Awf After the Prophets’ Passing
Imām Ibn Ḥajar al-‘Asqalānī raḥimahū Allāh reports, from the narration of Sayyidah ‘Ā’ishah raḍiya Allāhu ‘anhā, that the Prophet ṣallā Allāhu ‘alayhi wa sallam said to his wives.
Sayyidah ‘Ā’ishah raḍiya Allāhu ‘anhā says that the Prophet ṣallā Allāhu ‘alayhi wa sallam said:
لا يَحْنُو عَلَيْكُنَّ بَعْدِي إِلا الصَّابِرُونَ
“It’s only the patient ones who will pity you after my passing.”
Sayyidah ‘Ā’ishah narrated this ḥadīth, after Sayyidunā ‘Abdul-Rahman ibn ‘Awf sent to them (the wives of the Prophet’s) some money and foodstuff.
And, he was among those who were consistent in remembering the Prophet, ṣallā Allāhu ‘alayhi wa sallam, and for that matter, he ensured the needs of his wives were fulfilled.
At the time of his death, he pledged a vast area of land for them.
He pledged 400 dinars for each of the remaining companions of the Prophets who participated in the Battle of Badr. There were 100 of them. And Sayyidunā ‘Uthmān was among them, and received his share too.
Abdul-Rahman ibn ‘Awf During the Caliphate of Abū Bakr, ‘Umar and ‘Uthman
Sayyidunā ‘Abdul-Rahman ibn ‘Awf was a point of recognition and acknowledgement, by the Prophet ṣallā Allāhu ‘alayhi wa sallam, and by all the caliphs who came after him.
Sayyidunā ‘Umar used to consult him regarding to crucial issues. He consulted him regarding entering ‘Amwās when it was hit with the Plague of ‘Amwās.
Sayyidunā ‘Abdul-Rahman ibn ‘Awf was one of the 6-member committee that was tasked to elect a successor who would be the third caliph after ‘Umar. This committee consisted of:
- ‘Uthmān ibn ‘Affān
- ‘Abd al-Raḥmān ibn ‘Awf
- ‘Ali ibn Abī Tālib
- Al-Zubayr ibn al-Awwām
- Sa’d ibn Abī Waqqāṣ
- Ṭalḥah ibn ‘Ubayd Allāh.
When committee met up to elect the successor of ‘Umar, right after the burial of Sayyidunā ‘Umar, Abdul-Rahman chaired the meeting.
He first asked them to minimize the number to three. Because the lesser the number of candidates, the easier it is to elect. Sayyidunā al-Zubayr gave his vote to Sayyidunā ‘Ali, Sayyidunā Ṭalḥah gave his to Sayyidunā ‘Uthmān, and Sayyidunā Sa’d gave his to ‘Abdul-Rahman ibn ‘Awf. With that, there were three left in the candidacy.
- Ali ibn Abī Tālib,
- ‘Uthmān ibn ‘Affān, and
- ‘Abd al-Raḥmān ibn ‘Awf
Sayyidunā ‘Abdul-Rahman then asked both of them, who (among the last three) wants to withdraw, and then we’ll ask him to pick the Khalīfah. ‘Ali and ‘Uthman remained quiet. He then said to them, then would you accept my pick if I decide (and Allah is my witness in my choice)? They both said: yes!
Sayyidunā ‘Abdul-Rahman did further study and eventually elected Sayyidunā ‘Uthmān ibn ‘Affān.
Sayyidunā ‘Uthmān ibn ‘Affān said to Miswar ibn Makhramah who happens to be the nephew of ‘Abdul-Rahmān ibn ‘Awf:
مَنْ زَعَمَ أَنَّهُ خَيْرٌ مِنْ خَالِكَ فِي الهِجْرَةِ الأُولَى وَفِي الهِجْرَةِ الآخِرَةِ فَقَدْ كَذَبَ
‘Whoever claims, that he’s better than you uncle in the first hijrah or in the second hijrah has said a lie.”
Abdul-Rahman ibn ‘Awf’s Virtues
Sayyidunā ‘Abdul-Rahman ibn ‘Awf was truly a man of virtues. Among his virtues is that he participated in the allegiance of Hudaybiyah upon whom Allah has bestowed His Pleasure.
He has also participated in the Battle of Badr, upon the participants of which Allah has bestowed His forgiveness.
Moreover, he has participated with his money and physical self in the Battle of Tabūk, upon the participants of which Allah has bestowed His repentance.
And here is a highlight of another three virtues of his.
He was one of the 10 Given Glad Tiding of Paradise
Imām al-Tirmidhī reports from the narration of Sayyidunā ‘Abd al-Raḥmān ibn ‘Awf, the Prophet ṣallā Allāhu ‘alayhi wa sallam once said:
أَبُو بَكْرٍ فِي الْجَنَّةِ، وَعُمَرُ فِي الْجَنَّةِ، وَعُثْمَانُ فِي الْجَنَّةِ، وَعَلِيٌّ فِي الْجَنَّةِ، وَطَلْحَةُ فِي الْجَنَّةِ، وَالزُّبَيْرُ فِي الْجَنَّةِ، وَعَبْدُ الرَّحْمَنِ بْنُ عَوْفٍ فِي الْجَنَّةِ، وَسَعْدٌ فِي الْجَنَّةِ، وَسَعِيدٌ فِي الْجَنَّةِ، وَأَبُو عُبَيْدَةَ بْنُ الْجَرَّاحِ فِي الْجَنَّةِ.ـ
Abu Bakr is in Paradise, ‘Umar is in Paradise, ‘Uthmān is in Paradise, ‘Ali is in Paradise, Ṭalḥah is in Paradise, Al-Zubayr is in Paradise, ‘Abd al-Raḥmān ibn ‘Awf is in Paradise, Sa’d bin Abī Waqqāṣ is in Paradise, Sa’īd is in Paradise, and Abu ‘Ubaydah bin Al-Jarrah is in Paradise.”
He was Protected by the Angels in the Battle of Uḥud
Al-Ḥārith ibn al-Ṣammah narrates that the Prophet asked him during the Battle of Uhud about ‘Abdul-Rahman ibn ‘Awf and he told him that he saw him fighting the Mushrikīn. When he wanted to go and give him a support, he saw the Prophet alone, so he diverted to the Prophet instead.
The Prophet then told him that “Abdul-Rahman ibn ‘Awn is been protected by the Angels.”
After a while Al-Ḥārith went back to Abdul-Rahman and found seven dead men around him. He asked him and he said, “I killed this three. But the remaining, I don’t know who killed them.
Al-Harith then told him what the Prophet said.
The Prophet Prayed Behind him.
During the Battle of Tabūk, the Prophet left the companions at night to relieve himself in the desert. By the time he returned, and it was Fajr time and the companions were praying with ‘Abdul-Rahman been the imam.
The Prophet got one raka’ah out of the two. So after he completed his raka’ah, he said to the companions that “good job… you’ve done the right thing.”
It’s only Sayyidunā Abū Bakr and Sayyidunā ‘Abdul-Rahman ibn ‘Awf who had the honour to lead a prayer with the Prophet behind them.
Abdul-Rahman ibn ‘Awf: A Man of Real Modesty
Modesty is easily perceived as our way of dressing and the extent to which the Muslim observes his dress code. Yes, that’s modesty. But it’s just part of it. It’s not all of it.
Modesty involves any situation when you observe your integrity and dignity, and are also able to curb your greed and heart-desires and put them under control and not allow them to control you.
As far as the latter is concerned, Sayyidunā Abdul-Rahman ibn ‘Awf was truly a person of modesty. And his is seen is two crucial occasions. First, he rejected the offer of Sa’d ibn Rabī’ah. And second, he withdrew from the nomination to be caliph. And then saved the Ummah by managing the process.
Abdul-Rahman ibn ‘Awf’s Family
Sayyidunā ‘Abdul-Rahman ibn ‘Awf experience 15 marriages or more. And he made up to 28 known children. Below is a list of his wives and children:
Umm Kulthūm bint ‘Utbah ibn Rabī’ah
- Sālim al-Akbar (who died before Islam)
- Umm al-Qāsim
Umm Kulthūm bint ‘Uqbah ibn Abī Mu’īt
- Muḥammad
- Ibrāhīm
- Ismā’īl
- Ḥumayd
- Zayd
- Ḥumaydah
- Amah al-Rahmān al-Kubrā
Sahlah bint ‘Āṣim
- Ma’an
- ‘Umar
- Amah al-Raḥmān al-Ṣughrā
Umm Ḥakīm bint Qāriẓ, who mothered for him:
- Abū Bakr
Ibnatu Shaybah bint Rabī’ah
- Umm al-Qāsim
Baḥriyyah bint Hāni’, with whom he had:
- ‘Urwah al-Akbar
Sahlah bint Suhayl ibn ‘Amr
- Sālim al-Aṣghar
Ibnatu Abī Ḥaysar
- ‘Abdullāh
Tamāḍur bint al-Aṣbagh
- Abū Salamah
Asmā’ bint Salāmah
- ‘Abd al-Raḥmān
Umm Ḥurayth
- * Muṣ’ab,
- * Umayyah, and
- * Maryam
Majd bint Yazīd
- Suhayl
Ghazāl bint Kisrā
- ‘Uthmān
Zaynab bint al-Ṣabāḥ
- Umm Yaḥyā
Bādinah bint Ghaylān
- Juwayriyyah
He also had children whose mothers were not identified. These children include:
- ‘Urwah al-Ṣughrā
- Yaḥyā, and
- Bilāl
Abdul-Rahman ibn ‘Awf’s Passing
Abdul-Rahman ibn ‘Awf had a brotherhood agreement with ‘Uthmān ibn Maẓ’ūn that whoever between the two of them dies later should be buried next to the other.
It’s reported that he cried on his deathbed. When he was asked, he said both Muṣ’ab ibn ‘Umayr and Ḥamzah ibn ‘Abd al-Muṭṭalib were better than him, but they didn’t get enough from their worldly possession to be clothed with.
He died in Madīnah, at the age of 75. And he was buried in al-Baqī’ beside Sayyidunā ‘Uthmān ibn Maẓ’ūn raḍiya Allāhu ‘anhu. That was in 32 after hijrah. By the way, who is ‘Uthmān ibn Maẓ’ūn? You can’t afford to miss about him, as he’s one of the Shining Stars featured here in the Shining Stars Series, brought to you by GSalam.Net and Al-Bushra by GSalam. So stay tuned to catch his episode, inch Allah.
14 Facts About Abdul-Rahman ibn ‘Awf
Here are 14 facts you may want to remember about Sayyidunā ‘Abdul-Rahman ibn ‘Awf:
- Sayyidunā ‘Abdul-Rahman ibn ‘Awf was among the first 10 accept Islam
- Sayyidunā ‘Abdul-Rahman ibn ‘Awf was 30 when he embraced Islam.
- Sayyidunā ‘Abdul-Rahman ibn ‘Awf was one of those whom Abu Bakr succeeded in inviting to Islam.
- Sayyidunā ‘Abdul-Rahman ibn ‘Awf migrated to both Abyssinia and Madinah.
- Sayyidunā ‘Abdul-Rahman ibn ‘Awf participated in the Battle of Badr.
- Sayyidunā ‘Abdul-Rahman ibn ‘Awf participated in the Battle of Uḥud.
- Sayyidunā ‘Abdul-Rahman ibn ‘Awf was protected by the Angles in Uḥud.
- Sayyidunā ‘Abdul-Rahman ibn ‘Awf was one of the 10 given glad tidings of Paradise in one hadith.
- Everyone in Madīnah has benefitted from the wealth of Sayyidunā ‘Abdul-Rahman ibn ‘Awf.
- Sayyidunā ‘Abdul-Rahman ibn ‘Awf was proactive and hardworking.
- The Prophet prayed behind Sayyidunā ‘Abdul-Rahman ibn ‘Awf. He was one of two.
- He was one of the 6-member committed tasked to elect the third caliph of Islam.
- Sayyidunā ‘Abdul-Rahman ibn ‘Awf was a man of real honesty.
- He was good friends with ‘Uthmān ibn Maẓ’ūn, to the extent that they pledged that whoever dies last must be buried next the other.
The Takeaway…
Sayyidunā ‘Abdul-Rahman ibn ‘Awf is one of those true examples from the companions, from whom we can learn that, although human self easily falls to temptations, but with a bit of effort put in, Allah will assist you to overcome that.
If you’re aspired to be a Muslim entrepreneur, then you have Sayyidunā ‘Abdul-Rahman ibn ‘Awf to learn from. But as you learn to be rich and wealthy like him, you must learn to be kind, brave and generous like him. Learn to spend that, whichever Allah enriches you with, in the cause of Allah like he did.
Sayyidunā Abdul-Rahmān ibn ‘Awf was extremely wealthy. But he was the master of his wealth. His wealth did never control or enslave him. For the Muslim you become the master of your wealth if you spend it the way that pleases Allah; the way that grants you Paradise.
Subscribe to Al-Bushra by GSalam on YouTube so you don’t miss any episode from this series. Kindly share the episodes and the articles, so you can be part of the rewards we’re targeting from Allah.
To receive updates from GSalam.Net delivered right to your inbox, click here. I will be glad if you join the discussion on Facebook.
Until we meet in our episode to take another glimpse of another shining star, I leave you in Allah’s protection.
Allah knows best.
Allahu Hafiz 🙂
Be the first to comment on "The Shining Stars: 11 – Abdul-Rahman ibn ‘Awf"