Abdur Rahman bin Auf

His business thrived. His wealth knew no bounds. But so was his generosity.
Hazrath Abdur Rahman bin Auf was one among the earliest of companions of Prophet Muhammad (Pbuh). He said the shahadah two days after Hazrat Abu Bakr came into the fold of Islam. He was a doughty warrior and remained steadfast with Islam despite heavy odds. He was even among those who migrated to Abyssinia (Habsha) under the command of Jaffer bin Abi Talib.

Prior to conversion to Islam, he was known as Abd Amr. The Holy Prophet named him as Abdur Rahman and later he became known as Abdur Rahman bin Auf.
When he migrated to Madinah, he was offered a garden by Saad bin Rabi who also wanted to divorce one of his two wives in order that Abdur Rahman could marry her. But Abdur Rahman requested him to tell the direction of the market in Madinah in order that he could set up his business. The business thrived and he grew into a wealthy man. One day when he came to the Prophet, the fragrance from his person attracted the Holy Prophet. On enquiry, he informed the Prophet that he had married. The Prophet then asked him if he had paid any mehr (dower) to his bride and asked him to arrange valeema even if he could afford to sacrifice just a goat. He informed the Prophet that he had offered a piece of gold to the bride in mehr. He is quoted to have once said that such is his fortune that he strikes gold even if he lifts a stone.
He was extremely generous in charity. Once the Prophet made a general appeal for Jehad fund. Abdur Rahman went inside his house and brought 2,000 Dinars. He told the Prophet that he had 4,000 Dinars with him, of which he had left half for the family. The Prophet prayed for the acceptance of what was offered for the Jehad and for barakah (increase) for what has been left for the family. The war of Tabuk saw him turning over a lot of money and goods for the war fund in as much as the Prophet had to ask him if he had left anything behind for the family. It was a rare privilege for him to have led a prayer as imam in which the Prophet joined the namaz in the second rakah. This happened at a place where the Muslim armies were stationed during their march to the battlefield of Tabuk. He was a participant in the battles of Badr and Uhud. He was one among the companions who was stationed on a strategic hillock in the battlefield of Uhud. He remained steadfast and fought valiantly against the Makkan army even though several other companions left the battlefield in violation of the Prophet’s strict command. This proved costly. He was severely injured.

Abdur Rahman bin Auf used to take extreme care of the holy wives of the Prophet after the death of the Prophet. He would send them money for household expenses, arrange horses or camels for their journeys and send a green veil for their seats on the animal backs. Once the sale of an estate fetched 40,000 Dinars. He sent a good part of it for Bani Zuhra, the family of the Prophet’s mother. Remainder amount was also distributed among the holy wives of the Prophet.

He prospered through his business. His wealth knew no bounds. Once his merchant caravan comprising 700 camels entered the city of Madinah. It appeared as if the earth beneath their feet was trembling. When Hazrath Ayesha asked about the vibrations, she was told about the arrival of Abdur Rahman’s merchant caravan. She sent him the good tidings of being selected for the paradise (one among those ten who were so informed). She said, the holy Prophet had once told her that Abdur Rahman bin Auf would enter paradise while jumping with joy. On hearing this, Abdur Rahman immediately came to the court of Hazrath Ayesha and sought confirmation. When she confirmed the Prophet’s glad tidings, he offered the entire range of goods which included expensive garments, utensils, perfumes, oils and wheat etc, towards charity in the way of Allah.

Thereafter, he became even more generous. Once he donated 500 trained war horses and at another occasion he bought 1,500 Arabian horses to be distributed among the warriors. He left a will asking his successors to pay 400 Dinars out of his inheritance among the holy companions of the Prophet who participated in the battle of Badr. There were at least 100 such companions who received the payment. Despite this, he left nearly 1,000 camels, 400 horses and 3,000 goats. His death widowed four of his wives. The gold and silver ingots had to be cut into pieces with pickaxes to be distributed among the inheritors.

But his affluence did not alter his state of mind. He was the same humble self as he came from Makkah. He would often remember the early, difficult days of Islam when the companions of the Prophet sacrificed their lives for the sake of Islam. Among them, he would refer to martyr Wahab bin Umair whose body had to be buried with a coffin that barely covered his body.

His funeral prayers were led by Hazrath Usman Ghani and his body was lowered into the grave by Saad bin Abi Waqas. Hazrath Ali commented in the following words: Abdur Rahman, you have bargained for the genuine coins while rejecting the fake coins of worldly opulence.