Generosity & Passion for Financial Sacrifice
Hazrat Abdur Rahman (ra) bin Auf was known for his generosity and he also offered many financial sacrifices. Most of today’s references are regarding this attribute of his.
It is mentioned in a narration that as part of his will, Hazrat Abdur Rahman (ra) bin Auf left 400 dinars to those Companions who participated in the Battle of Badr and subsequently, this was fulfilled according to his will. At the time, the Badri companions [that were alive] numbered one hundred.
(al-Isabah fi Tamyeez al-Sahabah, Vol. 4, p. 293, Abdur Rahman bin Auf, Dar-ul-Kutub al-Ilmiyyah, Beirut, 1995)
When the Holy Prophet (sa) ordered the Companions to prepare for the Battle of Tabuk, he also urged the more affluent among them to offer wealth and mounts in the way of Allah. Upon this, Hazrat Abu Bakr (ra) came forward first and brought all of his belongings, which amounted to 4,000 dirhams. The Holy Prophet (sa) asked Hazrat Abu Bakr (ra), “Have you left anything for your family?” He replied, “I left Allah and His Messenger for them.” Hazrat Umar (ra) brought half of his belongings. The Holy Prophet (sa) asked Hazrat Umar (ra), “Have you left anything for your family?” He replied, “I have left half for them.”
Hazrat Abdur Rahman(ra) bin Auf gave 100 auqiyah. One auqiyah is equivalent to 40 dirhams, i.e. he gave approximately 4,000 dirhams. Following this, the Holy Prophet (sa) stated, “Uthman (ra) bin Affan and Abdur Rahman (ra) bin Auf are from among the treasures of Allah the Almighty on earth, who spend for the sake of acquiring Allah’s pleasure.”
(al-Sirat al-Halabiyyah, Vol. 3, p. 184, Ghazwah Tabuk, Dar-ul-Kutub al-Ilmiyyah, Beirut, 2002) (Lughaat-ul-Hadith, Vol. 4, p. 527, Lafz ‘Auqiyah’)
Hazrat Umm-e-Bakr (ra) bint Miswar relates that Hazrat Abdur Rahman (ra) bin Auf purchased a piece of land from Hazrat Uthman (ra) for 40,000 dinars and divided it amongst the poor and needy of the Banu Zuhrah tribe and amongst the Ummahat-ul-Momineen [mothers of the believers, i.e. the wives of the Holy Prophet (sa)].
Miswar bin Makhrama relates:
“When I gave Hazrat Aisha (ra) her portion of this land, she asked who had sent it? I informed her that Abdur Rahman (ra) bin Auf gave it. Upon this, Hazrat Aisha (ra) said, ‘The Holy Prophet (sa) said that after his demise, the one to treat her with kindness would be among the most patient of all.’ Following this, Hazrat Aisha (ra) prayed, ‘O Allah! Enable Abdur Rahman (ra) bin Auf to drink from the fountain of Salsabil in paradise.’”
(al-Tabaqaat-ul-Kubra li ibn Sa‘d, Vol. 3, p. 98, Abdur Rahman bin Auf, Dar-ul-Kutub al-Ilmiyyah, Beirut, 1990) (Roshan Sitarey az Ghulam Bari Saif Sahib, Vol. 2, p. 119)
In one narration, it is mentioned that the Holy Prophet (sa) said that after his demise, the person who would care for his family would indeed be an honest and pious individual. Hence, whenever Hazrat Abdur Rahman (ra) bin Auf would set out to perform the Hajj with the Ummahat-ul-Momineen, he would assist them by preparing their carriages and covering the saddles with a cloth as a veil and he would select such valleys for them to camp that were not commonly used by travellers so that they could rest with ease and maintain their Purdah [veil].
(al-Isabah fi Tamyeez al-Sahabah, Vol. 4, p. 292, Abdur Rahman bin Auf, Dar-ul-Kutub al-Ilmiyyah, Beirut, 1995)
Once, there was a food shortage in Medina. During this time, a caravan came from Syria to Medina, which consisted of 700 camel loads of wheat, flour and other provisions. This generated a lot of excitement amongst the people, upon which Hazrat Aisha (ra) enquired about the reason. She was informed that a caravan of Hazrat Abdur Rahman (ra) bin Auf consisting of 700 camels had come, which was loaded with wheat flour and other provisions. Hazrat Aisha (ra), the Mother of the Believers, stated, “I heard the Holy Prophet (sa) state that Abdur Rahman (ra) bin Auf would enter paradise upon his knees.” When Hazrat Abdur Rahman (ra) bin Auf heard this narration of Hazrat Aisha (ra), the Mother of the Believers, he went to her and said, “O Mother, I hold you witness that I have given all this grain, provisions and even the saddles on the camels away in the way of Allah, so that I may enter paradise whilst walking.”
(Usdul Ghabah, Vol. 3, p. 478, Abdur Rahman bin Auf, Dar-ul-Kutub al-Ilmiyyah, Beirut) (Roshan Sitarey az Ghulam Bari Saif Sahib, Vol. 2, pp. 110-111)
The majority of the accounts of Hazrat Abdur Rahman (ra) bin Auf spending in the way of Allah have been collected by those who have compiled the various accounts in the lives of the Companions (ra). It is mentioned in Usdul Ghabah that Hazrat Abdur Rahman (ra) bin Auf was one who spent in the cause of Allah. On one occasion, he freed 30 slaves in one day.
(Roshan Sitarey az Ghulam Bari Saif Sahib, Vol. 2, p. 110)
On another occasion, Hazrat Umar (ra) was in need of some money so he requested Hazrat Abdur Rahman (ra) bin Auf for a loan. Hazrat Abdur Rahman (ra) bin Auf replied, “O Leader of the Faithful! Why do you ask this of me when you can take a loan from the Baitul-Mal [treasury] or from Hazrat Uthman (ra) or from any other person who has the provisions?” Hazrat Umar (ra) replied, “I do so lest I forget to return the amount to the treasury, or if I were to take the loan from another person, I may forget to return it and they may not request the amount back out of respect or due to other reasons. However, you would easily be able to ask for it back.”
(Asharah Mubasharah, Bashir Sajid, p. 882, Al Badr Publications, Lahore)
Due to their close relationship, they were very frank with one another and when he would require his money, he would be able to easily take it back.
Hazrat Abdur Rahman (ra) bin Auf’s son, Ibrahim relates on the authority of his father that the Holy Prophet (sa) said, “O Ibn Auf! You shall enter paradise whilst crawling because you are wealthy. Therefore, you ought to spend in the way of Allah so that you may walk on your feet into heaven.” This is similar to the narration of Hazrat Aisha (ra) that was previously mentioned.
Hazrat Abdur Rahman (ra) bin Auf submitted, “O Messenger (sa) of Allah! What should I spend in the way of Allah?”, to which he answered, “Whatever you have at present.” Hazrat Abdur Rahman (ra) bin Auf asked, “O Messenger (sa) of Allah, all of it?” The Holy Prophet (sa) replied, “Yes.” So Hazrat Abdur Rahman (ra) bin Auf left with the intention of giving all his wealth in the cause of Allah. A short while later, the Holy Prophet (sa) sent for him to be called back and said, “After you left, Gabriel came saying I should tell Abdur Rahman to spend [his wealth] on hospitality, feeding the poor, giving to those in need, and when spending on others he should first spend on his relatives. When he does all this, his wealth shall be purified.”
(al-Tabaqaat-ul-Kubra li ibn Sa‘d, Vol. 3, p. 97, Min Bani Zuhrah bin Kilab, Dar-ul-Kutub al-Ilmiyyah, Beirut, 1990) (Roshan Sitarey az Ghulam Bari Saif Sahib, Vol. 2, p. 112)
In this way, the wealth spent in the way of Allah would become pure and ensure that he did not enter paradise on his knees, but instead, standing on his two feet. This would be the direct impact of his sacrifice.
Hazrat Abdur Rahman (ra) bin Auf once gave half his entire wealth of 4,000 dirhams in the way of Allah. On another occasion, he gave 40,000 dirhams in alms for the sake of God, then on another occasion, he gave 40,000 dinars. Once, he gave 500 horses in the way of Allah and on another occasion, he gave 500 camels in the way of Allah.
(Usdul Ghabah, Vol. 3, p. 478, Abdur Rahman bin Auf, Dar-ul-Kutub al-Ilmiyyah, Beirut) (Roshan Sitarey az Ghulam Bari Saif Sahib, Vol. 2, p. 111)
Hazrat Abdur Rahman (ra) bin Auf’s son, Abu Salama, narrates:
“Our father left an orchard in his will for the wives of the Holy Prophet (sa). The value of this orchard was 400,000 dirhams.”
(Roshan Sitarey az Ghulam Bari Saif Sahib, Vol. 2, p. 119)
Hazrat Abdur Rahman (ra) bin Auf instructed that out of his will, 50,000 dinars ought to be given in the way of Allah. He left behind 1,000 camels, 3,000 goats and 100 horses, which would graze in Baqi. He also had 20 camels that would irrigate farmland at Jurf, which was an area of land situated approximately three miles north of Medina, where Hazrat Umar (ra) also owned some land. From this farmland, Hazrat Abdur Rahman (ra) bin Auf would ensure there was enough grain for the entire year for his household.
According to one narration, he left behind so much gold that it had to be cut up with axes and those cutting it up suffered blisters on their hands.
(al-Tabaqaat-ul-Kubra li ibn Sa‘d, Vol. 3, pp. 100-101, Abdur Rahman bin Auf, Dar-ul-Kutub al-Ilmiyyah, Beirut, 1990) (Roshan Sitarey az Ghulam Bari Saif Sahib, Vol. 2, p. 118) (Farhang Sirat, p. 87, Zawwar Academy Publications, Karachi, 2003)