Asalaamualaikum.I bear witness that Mohammed is the slave
and prophet of Allah. As usual we are once again here to talk about the life of
one of the companions of the Prophet Mohammed Saw.
I apologize for not being available last week .it was due to
some situation beyond my control. May Allah reward our effort.
Today we will talk about the life of one of the slave of
Allah.
The eighth person to embrace Islam, a Quraish and he
migrated twice to Abyssinia. He was one of the ten persons (al-asharatu-l
mubashshirin) who were assured of entering Paradise.
He was one of the six persons chosen by Umar to form the
council of shura to choose the Khalifah after his death. His name in Jahiliyyah
days was Abu Amr.
But when he accepted Islam the noble Prophet called him
Abdur-Rahman - the servant of the Beneficent God. Abdur-Rahman distinguished
himself in both the battles of Badr and Uhud, suffering more than twenty wounds
at the latter.
He was one of the great Reciters of the Quran, Narrator of
hadith and a Commander of the Muslim army.
Starting with nothing, he went on to enjoy tremendous
success as a merchant, becoming the richest of the Companions. From his great
wealth, Abdur-Rahman financed the Muslim armies, contributed to the upkeep of
the family of Prophet Mohammed after the Prophet's death and was universally
renowned for his fabulous generosity.
His name was ’Abdul-Rahman
bin ’Awf bin Abdul-Harith bin
Zuhrah. His nickname was Abu Muhammad. The Companion ‘Abdul-Rahman bin ‘Awf
(R) is one of those whom Allah’s
Messenger (SAW) bestowed the glad tidings of Paradise.
He was an early convert. He did not conceal reversion and
didn’t hesitate due to fear of
persecution. ‘Abdul-Rahman
bin ‘Awf was one of the elite and
chosen Companions as regards to truthfulness of belief, sincerity of the creed,
fighting in the way of Allah and spending for the sake of Him.
He was a religious scholar, and the Companions (R) used to
believe what he narrated from Allah’s
Messenger (SAW). He had a profound religious knowledge and was a gifted
teacher.
He feared Allah much, even though he was one of the ten who
was given the glad tidings of Paradise. He was present in all the battles. On
the day of Uhud, when the Muslims fled except a few warriors, he was among
those who remained to defend Allah’s
Messenger (SAW).
He was generous and openhanded without worrying about
poverty. Even a verse was revealed for him(Al-Baqarah 2:262). He earned his
wealth as a trader.
He supported the Mothers of the believers a lot. Once Aisha
(R) said: “May Allah
the Almighty give ‘Abdul-Rahman
bin ‘Awf from the sweet waters of
Salsabil in Paradise.”
His wealth increased due to the fact that: “Giving charity purifies, and
augments the wealth of the giver.” He used to rely on Allah first, and then his
own efforts.
Muhammad (SAW) said that he was one of the most excellent
Muslims. ‘Abdul-Rahman bin ‘Awf was one of the most
dutiful to the Mothers of the believers after the death of Allah’s Messenger (SAW).
Allah’s Messenger
(SAW) performed the prayer behind him. None acquired such a glorious deed
except he and Abu Bakr.
Companions of Muhammad (SAW) confessed he was virtuous and
excellent in behavior.
A hadith was Narrated by Bajalah:
That *'Umar would not take the Jizyah from the Zoroastrians
until 'Abdur-Rahman bin 'Awf informed him that the Prophet ( ﷺ ) took Jizyah
from the Zoroastrians of Hajar."*
Jami` at-Tirmidhi 1587; The hadith we qouted last time when
we were talking about MusabibnUmair also shows the level of faith 'Abdur-Rahman
bin 'Awf had.
Ibrahim Narrates :
Once a meal was brought to `Abdur-Rahman bin `Auf and he was
fasting. He said, "Mustab bin `Umar was martyred and he was better than I
and was shrouded in his Burd and when his head was covered with it, his legs
became bare, and when his legs were covered his head got uncovered. Hamza was
martyred and was better than I. Now the worldly wealth have been bestowed upon
us (or said a similar thing). No doubt, I fear that the rewards of my deeds
might have been given earlier in this world." Then he started weeping and
left his food.
Sahih al-Bukhari 1275
Abdul- Rahman bin ‘Awf
(R) died in the 31st year A.H. at the age of 72.
Let's learn from the generous character of Abdul Rahman and
try to emulate it in this month of Ramadan and those to come.
His character rewarded him jannah even before he
died.Asalaamualaikum
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