Prophet's (Pbuh) Companions

Abdu-Rahman (RA) was a model of how a rich Muslim should conduct his life.


He had a most compassionate heart towards the poor and needy Abdu-Rahman bin Awf was a most trustworthy, wealthy and a generous companion. He spent his wealth on God’s path in gratitude for His countless favours and blessings. Abdu-Rahman bin Awf constantly sought God’s guidance and help against temptation or any sense of self-righteousness. He was most sensitive and shed his tears easily in reverence and fear of his Lord. Abdu-Rahman was a model of how a rich Muslim should conduct his life, and he had a soft and a most compassionate heart towards the poor and needy.


Anas bin Malik narrated that Aisha, God be pleased with her, was at home when she heard a constant tumultuous blasting sound, the whole city of Madinah shook from its intensity. Aisha, the mother of the believers, then had partially lost her sight and when she inquired about the sound she heard, she was told that a large herd of 700 camels loaded with goods belonging to Abdu-Rahman bin Awf had just arrived from Syria. Aisha quietly commented: “Indeed, I heard God’s messenger say, ‘I saw Abdu-Rahman bin Awf entering paradise crawling on his knees and elbows.’ Later on, when her comments reached Abdu-Rahman bin Awf, and before he entered his house, he hastened to her house inquiring, and when she confirmed the prophetic saying, Abdu-Rahman immediat-ely avouched: “I call upon you to witness that from this moment on, this entire caravan and all the goods it carries are an offering for God’s pleasure, and they belong to the treasury of Muslims to distribute them to the poor and needy.”


Al-Musawwar bin Makhrama narrated that Abdu-Rahmin bin Awf owned a piece of land he had bought from Uthman, and he sold it for 40,000 Dinars, and then he divided its entire revenues between the tribe of Bani Zahra, the needy people of Madinah, and the mothers of the believers. Al-Musawwar added: “I personally carried Aisha’s share to her, and she commented”: ‘I once heard God’s messenger say, ‘Only the righteous people (saliheen) will show compassion on you after me.’


Abdullah Abi Awfa narrated that God’s messenger once called for Abdu-Rahman bin Awf who had arrived late, and asked him: “What delayed you?” He replied, “taking care of my accounts held me back, for I do have a large business. I have one hundred camels that have just arrived from Egypt, and I hereby offer them with all the goods they carry in charity for the widows of Madinah.”


Also on this subject, Ibrahim, son of ‘Abdu-Rahman bin Awf narrated that God’s messenger once said to his father Abdu-Rahman: “O son of Awf, you are one of the richest people of this town, and being thus rich, I think that you can only enter paradise crawling on your elbows and knees, so lend Allah a good loan so that He may unbind your feet.” Ibn Awf replied: “What should I lend Allah?” God’s messenger replied: “Exonerate yourself in the evening from what you have achieved during the day.” Ibn Awf replied: “Would distributing something every night purify my earnings?” He replied: “Indeed.” Immediately Ibn Awf hastened to do so. The arch angel Gabriel, soon descended upon God’s messenger and said: “Order Ibn ‘Awf to open his house for guests, to regularly feed the hungry and the needy, and to financially help people when they seek him. If he does so, this will be atonement for his concerns.”


Nawfal bin lyas al-Hathli narrated that Abdu-Rahman bin Awf used to frequent his circle. One day, after sitting with him and with his guests for a while, Abdu-Rahman excused himself for a short while, he went to his house, took his ablution and when he returned, he brought back with him a large tray of bread and meat. When the tray was placed in the middle, Abdu-Rahman cried in great chagrin, so the people asked him: “O Abu Muhammad, why are you crying like this?” He replied: “A thought came to me, and I suddenly remembered that God’s messenger died having not satisfied his basic hunger or that of his family, not even in eating just barley bread, and I do not think that God Almighty has kept us alive after him for better times than the days of His messenger.”


Also on this subject, Shu’ba narrated that a group of companions once sat to partake a meal, and Abdu-Rahman bin Awf was in their midst, but he did not eat, so the people assumed that he was fasting for that day. Abdu-Rahman then commented: “When Hamzah was killed, we did not have a piece of cloth to shroud him, and he is better than me. Also, when Mus’ab bin ‘Umair was killed, we did not have a piece of cloth to shroud him, and he is better than me, and here we are enjoying the comfort and delight of this world. I am afraid that perhaps our share in the hereafter is instead given to us in this world.” Shu’ba added: “I am not sure whether Abdu-Rahman ate with us on that day or not”.


Al-Hadhrami narrated that someone once read from the Qur’an before God’s messenger during an assembly, and his reading touched everyone’s heart. On that day, everyone’s eyes were overflowing with tears except Abdu-Rahman bin Awf, and God’s messenger commented: “Abdu-Rahman bin Awf’s eyes were not overflowing with tears, but his heart did”.


Sulaiman bin Ahmad narrated that Abdu-Rahman bin Awf, God be pleased with him, said: “When we were tried with adversities, we endured that with patience, but when we were tried with comfort, we surely failed to exercise patience.”


(Source:The Beauty of the Righteous & Ranks of the Elite.
Based on the Classic 10th Century Work of Imam Abu Na’im al-Asfahani (948-1038 C.E.) Hilyat-ul-Awliya Wa Tabaqat al-Asfiya. Translated from the Original Arabic & Edited by Shaykh Muhammad Al-Akili)