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| The Great and Honest Companion of Rasulullah SAW-Abdul Rahman bin Auf RA |
When Makkah was finally
reopened to the Muslims, a disagreement arose between Khalid ibn
Walid ~ and 'Abd-ar-Rahrnan RA. Khalid ~ spoke angrily to 'Abd
ar-Rahman RA, and Rasulullah SAW said, "Gently, Khalid, let my
sahabah. be, for if you had Mount Uhud all in gold and spent it in
the way of Allah SWT, you would not attain the merit of any man of my
sahabah:" At the time of the Farewell Pilgrimage, Rasiilullah
SAW further demonstrated his trust in 'Abd-ar Rahman RA. He appointed
him and 'Uthman RA, his son-in-law, guardians of all his wives, who
accompanied him.
Rasulullah SAW himself
was in charge of a pilgrimage of 30,000 people. It was the first
pilgrimage in hundreds of years dedicated solely to Allah SWT, with
no idolaters or idolatrous practices, and it was a renewal of the
rite established by Ibrahim and Ismall AS. 'Abd-ar-Rahman RA and all
the others who were able to share it experienced great joy with their
beloved Rasul SAW. However, as they stood at 'Arafat listening to
Rasulullah SAW speak of the duties from Allah SWT that he had
discharged, the people became aware that he was saying goodbye. This
was confirmed by the Revelation that descended at that time:
"This day, I
have perfected your religion for you, and I have completed My
blessing upon
you"
(al-Ma'idah 5:3).
Not long after that, the
Prophet of Allah SAW demised. All of his sahabah had to go on living
without him, doing the best they could. 'Abd-ar-Rahman ibn 'Auf RA
continued to take care of Rasulullah's SAW wives, the Mothers of the
Believers ('Ummul al-Mu'rninin). He used to escort them when they
went out, and he made the Hajj with them when they made the Hajj. He
put special green covers on their howdahs (small rooms made to fit on
a camel in which a woman could sit in privacy) and rested in the
places they chose.
This was a merit of
'Abd-ar-Rah man ibn 'Auf RA, that the wives of Rasulullah SAW, who
were not to be seen by any men except their close relatives and were
never to marry again, should have such trust and confidence in him
and his honor. Because of 'Abd-ar-Rahman ibn 'Auf's dedication to the
Muslims and the ' Ummul al-Mu'minin, he sold a piece of land he owned
at the price of forty thousand dinars. He distributed all of this
money to the Banu Zuhrah (the people of Aminah bint Wahb, Rasulullahs
SAW mother), the poor
Muslims, the Muluijirun and Rasulullah's SAW wives.
When he sent her share to
'A'ishah*"she asked, "Who sent that money?"
'''Abd-ar-Rahman ibn 'Auf
RA," she was told.
Upon hearing this, she
quoted Rasulullah's SAW words, "Only the patient people
(as-sabiriin) will be
compassionate to you
after me."
