The honest merchant

 

All praise is due to Allah, and prayers and peace of Allah be upon the Messenger of Allah.

 

The last abode of the honest merchant is Paradise with the prophets, the truthful, the martyrs and the pious. Hence, what if he (i.e. the honest merchant) gathered between honesty in trade, sincerity in religion, sacrifice and spending for the sake of Allah?

 

We will talk about an honest merchant. We will talk about a man was granted the grant of richness; so he utilized it for the goodness of his religion and nation. We will talk about Abdurrahman ibn ‘Awf.

 

 

His name and ancestry:

 

He is Abdurrahman ibn ‘Awf ibn Abd-’Awf ibn Abdel-Harith ibn Zuhra ibn Kilab. He was called Abd-Amr before embracing Islam, but when he turned to Islam, the Messenger of Allah (prayers and peace of Allah be upon him) called him Abdurrahman. The name of his mother is Safyyah daughter of Abd-Manaf ibn Zuhra ibn Kilab, and it is said that his mother is Ash-Shifâ` daughter of ‘Awf ibn Abdel-Harith ibn Zuhra. Hence, it is clear that Abdurrahman’s ancestry meets the Prophet’s ancestry at his paternal and maternal grandfather Zuhra.

 

 

His birth:

 

Ibn Sa’d mentioned in At-Tabaqat that he was born ten years after the year of the elephant.

 

 

His nickname:

 

He was called “Abu Muhammad” as a nickname.

 

 

His features:

 

It is narrated that Sahla daughter of ‘Asim said: “Abdurrahman ibn ‘Awf was white man with wide eyes, long lashes and long hooked nose with thin tips and long canines sometimes hurt his lips and hair under his ears and long neck and wide shoulders.”

And it is narrated that ibn Ishaq said: “He had no front teeth and he was left handed, had lameness. He had been injured in the Day of Uhud in his front teeth; so they fell out. And he was injured about twenty injuries one of them was in his leg and caused his lameness.”

 

 

His wives and children:

 

Abdurrahman ibn ‘Awf married many women who had begot to him. He (may Allah be pleased with him) had about twenty eight child; twenty males and eight females.

 

 

Embracing Islam and migration:

 

Abdurrahman ibn ‘Awf (may Allah be pleased with him) knew Islam early; he embraced Islam before the Messenger of Allah (prayers and peace of Allah be upon him) entered the house of Al-Arqam ibn Abu Al-Arqam and calls for Islam in it. He was one of the five persons who embraced Islam after being called to it by Abu Bakr the truthful. Furthermore, he was one of the first eight persons to embrace Islam.

 

After Abdurrahman ibn ‘Awf (may Allah be pleased with him) embraced Islam; he took his share from the polytheists’ torture and harm. He was among those who migrated to Ethiopia twice (i.e. the first and second migrations). Then, he migrated to Al-Madina, leaving in Makka countless properties and assets, in order to gain Allah’s pleasure and to support His religion.

 

It is narrated that Anas said: “When Abdurrahman ibn ‘Awf came to Al-Madina, the Prophet (prayers and peace of Allah be upon him) made a bond of fraternity between him and Sa’d ibn Ar-Rabi’ who was a rich man, Sa’d said, “The Ansar know that I am the richest of all of them, so I will divide my property into two parts between me and you, and I have two wives; see which of the two you like so that I may divorce her and you can marry her after she becomes lawful to you by her passing the prescribed period (i.e. ‘Idda) of divorce.” Abdurrahman said, “May Allah bless you your family (i.e. wives) for you But guide me to the market.” Abdurrahman went to the market and did not return on that day except with some gain of dried yogurt and ghee. He went on trading just a few days till he came to the Prophet (prayers and peace of Allah be upon him) bearing the traces of yellow dyed hair. The Prophet (prayers and peace of Allah be upon him) asked him, "O Abdurrahman, what is this yellow dye for?" He replied, "I have married a woman from the Ansar." The Prophet asked, "How much Mahr (i.e. dowry) have you given?" He said, "A date-stone weight of gold." The Prophet (prayers and peace of Allah be upon him) said, “Arrange a marriage banquet even with a sheep.” [Reported by Al-Bukhari]

 

«قدم عبدالرّحمن بن عوف المدينة فآخى النّبيّ -صلّى الله عليه وسلّم- بينه وبين سعد بن الرّبيع الأنصاريّ، فعرض عليه -أي سعدًا- أن يناصفه أهله وماله، فقال عبدالرّحمن: بارك الله لك في أهلك ومالك دلَّني على السّوق، فربح شيئًا من أقطٍ وسمنٍ، فرآه النّبيّ -صلّى الله عليه وسلّم- بعد أيامٍ وعليه وَضَر من صفرةٍ، فقال النّبيّ -صلّى الله عليه وسلّم-: مهُيم يا عبدالرّحمن قال: يا رسول الله تزوجت امرأةً من الأنصار، قال: فما سقت فيها؟ فقال: وزن نواةٍ من ذهبٍ، فقال النّبيّ -صلّى الله عليه وسلّم: أولم ولو بشاة» رواه البخاري

 

 

The fragrance of Abdurrahman’s virtues:

 

Abdurrahman ibn ‘Awf was one of the first people to embrace Islam, and he attended the battle of Badr and all other battles with the Messenger of Allah (prayers and peace of Allah be upon him). Also, he is one of the ten persons that were informed the glad tidings of getting in Paradise. Moreover; he was one of the six persons whom Omar told that the Messenger of Allah (prayers and peace of Allah be upon him) died while being pleased with them. And he is one of the rich Muslims who provided all their properties for Allah’s cause.

 

The following are some of his virtues (may Allah be pleased with him);

 

He is one of the great economic institutions in Islam; he helped Islam by his money to the extent of saying that the money of Abdurrahman ibn ‘Awf (may Allah be pleased with him) was for the religion of Islam. In other words, the portion of Islam in Abdurrahman’s money was greater than the portion of Abdurrahman himself.

 

Paradise is the ultimate goal. The Messenger of Allah (prayers and peace of Allah be upon him) said: “Abu Bakr in Paradise, Omar in Paradise, ‘Uthman in Paradise, ‘Ali in Paradise, Talha in Paradise, Az-Zubair in Paradise, Abdurrahman ibn ‘Awf in Paradise, Sa’d ibn Abu Waqqas in Paradise, Sa’eed ibn Zaid in Paradise and Abu ‘Ubaida ibn Al-Jarrah in Paradise.” [Reported by At-Tirmithi 3747 and authenticated by Al-Albani]

 

«أبو بكر في الجنة وعمر في الجنة وعثمان في الجنة وعلي في الجنة وطلحة في الجنة والزبير في الجنة وعبد الرحمن بن عوف في الجنة وسعد بن أبي وقاص في الجنة وسعيد بن زيد في الجنة وأبو عبيدة بن الجراح في الجنة» رواه التّرمذي 3747 وصححه الألباني

 

Also, it is narrated that the Prophet (prayers and peace of Allah be upon him) prayed after him in Tabuk battle. Actually, this is implied testimony from the Prophet (prayers and peace of Allah be upon him) that he (i.e. Abdurrahman) is righteous, because the Prophet (prayers and peace of Allah be upon him) would not have to pray after a disobedient person.

 

It is narrated on the authority of Al-Mughira ibn Shu’bah that he participated in the expedition of Tabuk along with the Messenger of Allah (prayers and peace of Allah be upon him). The Messenger of Allah (prayers and peace of Allah be upon him) went out to answer the call of nature before the Morning Prayer, and I carried along with him a jar (full of water). When the Messenger of Allah (prayers and peace of Allah be upon him) came back to me (after relieving himself), I began to pour water upon his hands out of the jar and he washed his hands three times, then washed his face three times. He then tried to tuck up the sleeves of his cloak upon his forearms but since the sleeves were tight he inserted his hands in the cloak and then brought out his forearms up to the elbow below the cloak, and then wiped over his shoes and then moved on. Mughira said: I also moved along with him till he came to the people and (he found) that they had been saying their prayer under the lead of Abdurrahman ibn ‘Awf. The Messenger of Allah (prayers and peace of Allah be upon him) could get one Rak’a out of two and said (this) last Rak’a along with the people. When Abdurrahman ibn ‘Awf pronounced the Tasleem (ending prayer), the Messenger of Allah (prayers and peace of Allah be upon him) got up to complete the prayer. This made the Muslims terrified and most of them began to recite the glory of the Lord. When the Messenger of Allah (prayers and peace of Allah be upon him) finished his prayer, he turned towards them and then said: “You did well,” or said with a sense of joy: “You did the right thing”, that they said prayer at the appointed hour [Reported by Muslim: 274]

 

«فتبرَّز رسول الله -صلّى الله عليه وسلّم- قِبل الغائط فحملت معه إداوةً قبل صلاة الفجر، فلمَّا رجع رسول الله -صلّى الله عليه وسلّم- إلىَّ أخذت أُهريق على يديه من الإداوة، وغسل يديه ثلاث مرَّات، ثم غسل وجهه، ثم ذهب يخرج جُبَّتَه عن ذراعيه، فضاق كُمَّا جُبَّته، فأدخل يديه فى الجُبَّة حتى أخرج ذراعيه من أسفل الجبَّة، وغسل ذراعيه إلى المرفقين، ثم توضأ على خُفَّيه، ثم أقبل، قالَ المغيرة: فأقبلت معه حتى نَجِدُ الناس قد قدَّموا عبدالرّحمن بن عوفٍ فصلَّى لهم، فأدرك رسول الله صلّى الله عليه وسلّم- إحدى الرَّكعتين فصلَّى مع النّاس الرَّكعة الآخرة، فلمَّا سلَّم عبدالرّحمن بن عوفٍ قام رسول الله -صلّى الله عليه وسلّم- يتمّ صلاته، فأفزع ذلك المسلمين، فأكثروا التّسبِيح، فلمّا قضى النّبيّ -صلّى الله عليه وسلّم- صلاته أقبل عليهم ثم قال: أحسنتم أو قال: قد أصبتم يغبطهم أنّ صلوا الصّلاة لوقتها» رواه مسلم 274

 

 

His spending in the cause of Allah:

 

And it is narrated on the authority of Abu Salama that “Abdurrahman ibn ‘Awf bequeathed a garden for the mothers of the believers was sold by 400.000.” [Reported by At-Tirmidhi 3750 and Al-Albani said: its chain of transmission is good]

 

«أن عبد الرحمن بن عوف أوصى بحديقة لأمهات المؤمنين بيعت بأربعمائة ألف» رواه الترمذي

 

 

His fighting with the Messenger of Allah (prayers and peace of Allah be upon him):

 

Abdurrahman ibn ‘Awf (may Allah be pleased with him) did not only contribute money in the cause of Allah; rather he also fought by his own self. He attended all the battles with the Messenger of Allah (prayers and peace of Allah be upon him) and did not slack supporting Islam. He was one of the companions, who attended the battle of Badr, and he had (in Badr battle) one camel for him and Abu Bakr and Omar alternate riding it.

 

Abdurrahman asked concession for those who have excuses:

 

It is narrated on the authority of Anas ibn Malik (may Allah be pleased with him) that the Messenger of Allah (prayers and peace of Allah be upon him) had granted concession to Abdurrahman ibn ‘Awf and Az-Zubair ibn Al-Awwam for wearing silk shirt during the journey because of itch which they both had or any other disease from which both of them had been suffering. [Reported by Muslim]

 

«عن أنس بن مالك -رضي الله عنه-أنَّ رسول الله -صلّى الله عليه وسلّم- رخَّص لعبدالرّحمن بن عوفٍ والزّبير بن العوَّام فى القمص الحرير فى السَّفر من حكَّةٍ كانت بِهما أو وجعٍ كان بِهما» رواه مسلم

 

 

The death of Abdurrahman ibn ‘Awf:

 

After a life full of achievements, he died 31 AH in Al-Medina at 75 years old. He bequeathed 50.000 dinars and 1.000 horses for Allah’s cause.

 

May Allah be pleased with Abdurrahman ibn ‘Awf and all the companions of the Messenger of Allah (prayers and peace of Allah be upon him), and may He gather us with them in the abode of His mercy; indeed He is the All-Hearer, Responsive. And prayers and peace of Allah be upon our prophet Muhammad and upon his family and companions. And the last of our invocations will be: Al-Hamdu Lillâhi Rabb-il-‘Alamîn [All the praises and thanks be to Allah, the Lord of ‘Alamîn (mankind, jinn and all that exists)].