Great Trader Abu Muhammad Sayyiduna Abdur Rahman Bin Awf

Abu Muhammad Sayyiduna ‘Abdur Rahman Bin ‘Awf رَضِىَ اللّٰەُ عَنْهُ was a great companion amongst ‘Asharah Mubashsharah. He رَضِىَ اللّٰەُ عَنْهُ belonged to Banu Zuhrah, a family of Quraysh. In the era of ignorance, his name was ‘Abd ‘Amr or ‘Abdul Ka’bah. When he رَضِىَ اللّٰەُ عَنْهُ embraced Islam, the Beloved Rasool صَلَّى اللّٰەُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم changed his name to ‘Abdur Rahman. He رَضِىَ اللّٰەُ عَنْهُ departed this life at the age of 72 or 75 in the caliphate of Sayyiduna ‘Usman-e-Ghani رَضِىَ اللّٰەُ عَنْهُ in either 31 or 32 H. He رَضِىَ اللّٰەُ عَنْهُ was laid to rest in Jannat-ul-Baqi’, the graveyard of Madinah Munawwarah. (Siyar A’laam-un-Nubala, vol. 3, pp. 43, 44, 47, 58; Al-Mu’jam-ul-Kabeer, vol. 1, pp. 128, Raqm 262; Ma’rifat-is-Sahabah, vol. 3, pp. 260)

Source of income

He رَضِىَ اللّٰەُ عَنْهُ was a cloth merchant. (Al-Ma’arif li Ibn Qutaybah, pp. 575)

Self-respect

It has been narrated that after the commandment of migration, Sayyiduna ‘Abdur Rahman Bin ‘Awf رَضِىَ اللّٰەُ عَنْهُ reached Madinah from Makkah, so the Beloved Rasool صَلَّى اللّٰەُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم, like other Muhajireen, made him brother of an Ansari companion, Sayyiduna Sa’d Bin Rabi’ رَضِىَ اللّٰەُ عَنْهُ. Sayyiduna Sa’d Bin Rabi’ رَضِىَ اللّٰەُ عَنْهُ had so deep regard for this brotherhood that he presented his half wealth to Sayyiduna ‘Abdur Rahman Bin ‘Awf رَضِىَ اللّٰەُ عَنْهُ, but he did not accept this offer and asked him to show him the way to the market. Sayyiduna Sa’d Bin Rabi’ رَضِىَ اللّٰەُ عَنْهُ told Sayyiduna ‘Abdur Rahman Bin ‘Awf رَضِىَ اللّٰەُ عَنْهُ the way to the market of Qaynuqa’ [قَیْنُقَاع] and he رَضِىَ اللّٰەُ عَنْهُ started going to the market for trade daily. (Sahih Bukhari, vol. 2, pp. 4, Hadees 2048, summarised)

Blessing of Mustafa’s Du’a

Once the Beloved Rasool صَلَّى اللّٰەُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم motivated people to give Sadaqah, Sayyiduna ‘Abdur Rahman Bin ‘Awf رَضِىَ اللّٰەُ عَنْهُ left half wealth for his family and presented the remaining half wealth in the Divine path. Upon this, the Beloved Rasool صَلَّى اللّٰەُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم blessed him with Du’a: May Allah Almighty bestow blessing in what you have given and also in what you have left for your family. (Tafseer Khaazin, vol. 2, pp. 265)

He رَضِىَ اللّٰەُ عَنْهُ attained great blessing of the Du’a of Mustafa صَلَّى اللّٰەُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم. He رَضِىَ اللّٰەُ عَنْهُ said: When I pick up a stone, I hope that (by the blessing of the Du’a of Mustafa صَلَّى اللّٰەُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم) I will get gold beneath it. He رَضِىَ اللّٰەُ عَنْهُ was blessed with so much sustenance that after his blessed demise people’s hands were blistered from cutting his left gold with axes. (Shifa Shareef, vol. 1, pp. 326)

Imam Ibn ‘Abdul Barr رَحْمَةُ اللّٰەِ عَلَيْه has said: In the matter of trade, he رَضِىَ اللّٰەُ عَنْهُ was very fortunate; he left one thousand camels, three thousand goats and one hundred horses. (Siyar A’laam-un-Nubala, vol. 3, pp. 58)

Allah-loving traders

On one occasion, the Beloved Rasool صَلَّى اللّٰەُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم said: ‘عَبْدُ الرَّحْمٰنِ بْنِ عَوْفٍ مِنْ تُجَّارِ الرَّحْمٰنْ’ ‘Abdur Rahman Bin ‘Awf is amongst the traders of ’رَحْمٰن’ (Allah Almighty). (Firdaus-ul-Akhbar, vol. 1, pp. 375, Hadees 2789)

‘Allamah ‘Abdur Rauf Munaawi رَحْمَةُ اللّٰەِ عَلَيْه has said: Since his aim of trade was to support people so that they get prosperity, he رَضِىَ اللّٰەُ عَنْهُ took trade goods from one place to another place with the intention to benefit people. Since this deed of his was purely for seeking the pleasure of Allah Almighty, he رَضِىَ اللّٰەُ عَنْهُ was linked to [the court of] Allah Almighty. (Fayd-ul-Qadeer, vol. 3, pp. 573)

Entry into Paradise first

The Beloved Rasool صَلَّى اللّٰەُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم has said: Amongst the rich of my Ummah ‘Abdur Rahman Bin ‘Awf will enter Paradise first. (Kanz-ul-‘Ummal, vol. 6, pp. 328, Juz: 11, Hadees 33495)

May Allah Almighty enable us to act upon his blessed life!

صَلَّى  اللّٰهُ  عَلَيۡهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم اٰمِيۡن   بِجَاهِ   النَّبِيِّ  الۡاَمِيۡن