Daily Lesson 61

Listen to “Great Companions Series – Abdur Rahman Ibn Awf رضي الله عنه ” by Mawlana Junayd Makda Sahib

Abdur Rahman Ibn Awf رضي الله عنه

Name: Abdur Rahman Ibn Awf رضي الله عنه

Title: Sayyidul Muslimeen

Born: 10 years after our beloved Nabi sallallahu alayhi wasallam (42 BH)

Demise: 22 years after our beloved Nabi sallallahu alayhi wasallam (33 AH)

● Abdur Rahman the son of Awf رضي الله عنه was an extremely generous and a courageous companion of our beloved Nabi ﷺ

● His name during the before Islam was Abd Amr (slave of Amr) and Abd al-Ka’bah. When he accepted Islam, our beloved Nabi ﷺ changed it to Abdur Rahman.

● He accepted Islam in the very early days of Islam, through the invitation of Abu bakr al-Siddiq رضي الله عنه. He was among the first 8 people to accept Islam.

● Abdur Rahman رضي الله عنه is among the Asharah Mubasharah (the 10 sahaba who were promised Jannah) and also had the honour to participate in all the battles during his lifetime.

● His position can be understood from the battle of tabuk, during which he led our beloved nabi ﷺ in salah.

● He was among the wealthiest companions but despite this, he was extremely generous and was very selfless. He spent much of his wealth in the path of Allah to acquire His pleasure

● During the time of Umar ibn al-Khattab رضي الله عنه, he was among the six people chosen to choose the next khalifah after his death.

●After our beloved Nabi ﷺ passed away, Abdur Rahman ibn Awf رضي الله عنه took the responsibility of looking after the family of our beloved Nabi ﷺ

●He passed away at the age of 75.

Qualities:

1) Abdur Rahman ibn Awf رضي الله عنه was a very intelligent and devoted companion to our beloved Nabi ﷺ

2) He was very pious and close to Allah Ta’aala that he was among those promised Jannah.

3) His integrity and intelligence can be understood from the fact that he was one of the six companions chosen to select the next the caliph after Umar’s رضي الله عنه demise.

4) He was extremely generous and was not affected by his wealth.

5) He loved our beloved Nabi ﷺ and looked after his family after he left this world.

Merits:

1) Abdur Rahman Ibn Awf رضي الله عنه was leading a congregation in which our beloved nabi ﷺ joined in. He wished to move back but our beloved Nabi ﷺ instructed him to carry on.

2) Nabi ﷺ said to one of his wives. He who generously helps you after my demise is a sincere believer and a kind man. (Abdur Rahman Ibn Awf رضي الله عنه was this man) Musnad Ahmad)

3) Our beloved Nabi ﷺ also said: ‘O Allah! Let Abdur Rahman drink from the salsabeel of Jannah (salsabeel – a pure and clean spring in Jannah). (Musnad ahmad)

4) Our beloved Nabi ﷺ while mentioning the companions of Jannah said, ‘ Abdur Rahman is from Jannah.’

Abdur Rahman Ibn Awf ‘s رضي الله عنه independence and the Sunnah of walimah

Abdur Rahman Ibn Awf رضي الله عنه narrates the following, “When we came to Medina as migrants, Allah’s Nabi ﷺ established a bond of brotherhood between me and Sad bin Ar-Rabi رضي الله عنه. Sad bin Ar-Rabi رضي الله عنه said (to me), ‘I am the richest among the Ansar, so I will give you half of my wealth and you may look at my two wives and whichever of the two you may choose I will divorce her, and when she has completed the prescribed period (iddat before marriage) you may marry her.’ Abdur Rahman Ibn Awf رضي الله عنه replied, “I am not in need of this. Is there any market-place where trade is practiced?’ He replied, “The market of Qainuqa.” Abdur Rahman Ibn Awf رضي الله عنه went to that market the following day and brought some dried butter-milk (yoghurt) and butter, and then he continued going there regularly. A few days later, ‘Abdur Rahman Ibn Awf رضي الله عنه came having traces of yellow (scent) on his body. Allah’s Nabi ﷺ asked him whether he had got married. He replied in the saying yes. Our beloved Nabi ﷺ said to him, ‘Whom have you married?’ He replied, ‘A woman from the Ansar.’ Then our beloved Nabi ﷺ asked, ‘How much did you pay her?’ He replied, ‘(I gave her) a gold piece equal in weighing to a date stone. Nabi ﷺ said, ‘Give a Walima (wedding banquet) even if with one sheep.’