Abd ar-Rahman ibn Awf

Abd ar-Rahman ibn Awf was one of the first eight to accept Islam. He emigrated from Mecca to Madinah with nothing. His host in Madinah, Sad ibn ar-Rabi, offered him half of his wealth. Abd ar-Rahman refused. He said: may Allah bless your wealth and your family. Show me the way to the market.

He went to the market of Bani Qaynuqa the next morning, bought and sold cheese and butter, and within days he was making a profit. He was so successful that when he passed under the palm trees in Madinah he would say: I would rather be a Muhajir at Badr with the Prophet ﷺ than the wealthiest merchant in Sham. But he became both.

On one occasion the sound of a caravan of 700 camels loaded with goods arriving in Madinah reached the Prophet's wife Aisha. She said: this is a caravan of Abd ar-Rahman. Aisha then said: I heard the Messenger of Allah ﷺ say: I saw Abd ar-Rahman entering Paradise crawling. Abd ar-Rahman heard this and immediately gave the entire caravan of 700 camels, its cargo, and its saddles as charity to the poor of Madinah.

He was one of the ten promised Paradise. Umar named him one of the six members of the shura to select his successor. Abd ar-Rahman withdrew himself from candidacy and led the shura in choosing Uthman.

When he died he left orders that 400 gold dinars be given to each of the surviving veterans of Badr. Ali received his four hundred and wept, saying: may Allah bestow mercy on Abd ar-Rahman. He fed us his living, and now he has fed us his memory.