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| Abdul Rahman bin Auf RA- Merchant in Heaven |
'Abd-ar-Rahmarr's RA
conduct in battle was exemplary. On the day of the battle of Uhud (3
A.H.), he remained loyal and steadfast, while many people fled. He
came out of the battle with over twenty wounds, some so deep that no
one thought he would survive. At the time of the Treaty of Hudaibiyah
(7 A.H.), 'Abd-ar-Rahman ibn 'Auf RA was present to take the Oath of
Ridwan with Ra sulullah SAW~ under the tree. He was also asked by
Rasulullah SAW to sign the treaty itself that they made with the
Makkans. He was also one of the few who could make a fatwah
(religious ruling) in Madinah during the life of Rasulullah SAW. This
is an indication of his wisdom and understanding.
Yet, 'Abd-ar-Rahman's RA
true jihad was within his soul. His jihad in battle fades in
comparison to his jihad with his money. Throughout his life, he
continued to give his money away. The more he gave, the more he got.
On the inside, he had to fight pride, greed, and selfishness, all of
which he fought and apparently conquered, with the help of Allah and
His Prophet SAW.
Once, Rasulullah SAW
wanted to mobilize a troop for war. He stood among his sahabah and
said, "Pay
sadaqah, because I want
to send an army." 'Abd-ar Rahman RA hurried home and came
rushing back and said, "0 Rasulullah, I have four thousand
dinars. I'll lend two to my Lord and keep two for my children."
So Rasulullah SAW said, "May Allah grant you blessing (barakah)
in what you gave ... and may He grant you blessing in what you kept!"
When Rasulullah ~ decided to go for the last battle of his life, the
battle of Tabuk-a-the city at the frontier between as-Sham and the
Arabian peninsula, at that time under Roman rule, now part of Saudi
Arabia-he needed money as well as men. That year in Madinah was one
of scarcity; the trip was very long, the weather was very hot, and it
was time to work on the harvest.
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| The Grave of the Great Companion -Abdul Rahman ibn Auf RA |
Not only that, but the
available provisions were mediocre and the camels scarce. Some people
came to Rasulullah SAW ~ begging him to take them with him, but he
had to tum them down for want of a horse or camel to carry them. The
army Rasulullah SAW ", finally established was called "the
army of constraint," because the circumstances surrounding its
assembly were tight and difficult. At that point, Rasulullah SAW
ordered his sahabah to spend money for Allah and to seek Allah. Many
Muslims jumped to answer the call of Rasulullah SAW, and one of the
first to give Sadaqah was 'Abd-ar-Rahman ibn 'Auf RA.
He gave two hundred
ounces of gold. 'Umar ibn al-Khattab RA said to Rasulullah ""
"This is not good; he has left nothing for his family!
" "Have you
left something for your family, 'Abdar-Rahman?" asked Rasulullah
SAW.
"Yes," he said,
"I have left for them more than what I spent and better."
"How much?"
asked Rasulullah SAW.
"The support, the
good, and the payment in return Allah SWT promised," replied'
Abd-ar-Rahman RA happily.
