1 00:00:00,000 --> 00:00:03,000 In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful. 2 00:00:15,259 --> 00:00:18,260 The Mawaddah Association is pleased 3 00:00:18,260 --> 00:00:22,260 to present to you "Portraits from the Lives of the Companions" 4 00:00:22,260 --> 00:00:25,260 by 'Abd al-Rahman Ra'fat al-Basha, 5 00:00:25,260 --> 00:00:27,289 may Allah have mercy on him. 6 00:00:27,289 --> 00:00:34,299 'Abd al-Rahman ibn 'Awf, may Allah be pleased with him, 7 00:00:45,030 --> 00:00:50,890 was one of the first eight people to embrace Islam, 8 00:00:50,890 --> 00:00:53,890 one of the ten promised Paradise, 9 00:00:53,890 --> 00:00:59,890 one of the six members of the consultative council (Shura) tasked with choosing the caliph after al-Faruq 'Umar, 10 00:00:59,890 --> 00:01:03,890 and one of the small group who used to issue legal verdicts (fatwas) in Medina 11 00:01:03,890 --> 00:01:10,890 while the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, was alive and living among the Muslims. 12 00:01:10,890 --> 00:01:13,890 In the pre-Islamic days of ignorance (Jahiliyyah), his name was 'Abd 'Amr, 13 00:01:13,890 --> 00:01:18,890 but when he accepted Islam, the noble Messenger named him 'Abd al-Rahman. 14 00:01:18,890 --> 00:01:23,890 That was 'Abd al-Rahman ibn 'Awf, may Allah be pleased with him. 15 00:01:23,890 --> 00:01:28,890 'Abd al-Rahman ibn 'Awf accepted Islam before the noble Messenger entered the house of al-Arqam, 16 00:01:28,890 --> 00:01:32,890 just two days after the conversion of Abu Bakr al-Siddiq. 17 00:01:32,890 --> 00:01:37,890 He endured the same persecution in the cause of Allah that the earliest Muslims faced; 18 00:01:37,890 --> 00:01:39,890 he was patient, just as they were patient, 19 00:01:39,890 --> 00:01:41,890 he stood firm, just as they stood firm, 20 00:01:41,890 --> 00:01:43,890 and he remained true, just as they remained true. 21 00:01:43,890 --> 00:01:48,890 He fled with his faith to Abyssinia, just as many of them fled with theirs. 22 00:01:49,890 --> 00:01:53,890 When the Messenger and his companions were permitted to migrate to Medina, 23 00:01:53,890 --> 00:01:58,890 he was in the vanguard of the emigrants (Muhajirun) who migrated for the sake of Allah and His Messenger. 24 00:01:58,890 --> 00:02:05,890 When the Messenger, peace and blessings be upon him, established brotherhood between the Muhajirun and the Ansar, 25 00:02:05,890 --> 00:02:10,889 he paired him with Sa'd ibn al-Rabi' al-Ansari, may Allah be pleased with him. 26 00:02:10,889 --> 00:02:13,889 Sa'd said to his brother 'Abd al-Rahman ibn 'Awf: 27 00:02:13,889 --> 00:02:17,889 "O my brother, I am the wealthiest among the people of Medina. 28 00:02:17,889 --> 00:02:21,889 I have two orchards and two wives. 29 00:02:21,889 --> 00:02:26,889 Look and see which of the two orchards you prefer so that I may surrender it to you, 30 00:02:26,889 --> 00:02:30,919 and which of my two wives pleases you more so that I may divorce her for you." 31 00:02:30,919 --> 00:02:33,919 'Abd al-Rahman said to his Ansari brother: 32 00:02:33,919 --> 00:02:36,919 "May Allah bless you in your family and your wealth. 33 00:02:36,919 --> 00:02:39,919 Just direct me to the marketplace." 34 00:02:39,919 --> 00:02:42,919 So Sa'd directed him to it, and 'Abd al-Rahman began trading; 35 00:02:42,919 --> 00:02:46,919 he set about buying, selling, making a profit, and saving. 36 00:02:46,919 --> 00:02:52,919 It was not long before he had gathered enough for a woman's dowry, and so he married. 37 00:02:52,919 --> 00:02:57,919 He then came to the Messenger, peace be upon him, wearing traces of perfume. 38 00:02:57,919 --> 00:03:00,919 The Messenger, peace be upon him, asked him: 39 00:03:00,919 --> 00:03:03,919 "Mahyam, O 'Abd al-Rahman?" 40 00:03:03,919 --> 00:03:06,919 — this being a Yemeni word expressing surprise. 41 00:03:06,919 --> 00:03:08,919 He replied: "I have gotten married." 42 00:03:08,919 --> 00:03:12,919 The Prophet asked: "And how much dowry did you give your wife?" 43 00:03:12,919 --> 00:03:15,919 He replied: "The weight of a date stone in gold." 44 00:03:15,919 --> 00:03:18,919 The Prophet said: "Offer a wedding feast (walimah), even if with only a single sheep. 45 00:03:18,919 --> 00:03:20,919 May Allah bless you in your wealth." 46 00:03:20,919 --> 00:03:22,919 'Abd al-Rahman said: 47 00:03:22,919 --> 00:03:27,919 "Then the world opened up to me so abundantly that I felt that if I were to lift a stone, 48 00:03:27,919 --> 00:03:32,050 I would expect to find gold or silver beneath it." 49 00:03:32,050 --> 00:03:37,050 On the day of Badr, 'Abd al-Rahman ibn 'Awf strove in the cause of Allah with true devotion, 50 00:03:37,050 --> 00:03:42,110 slaying the enemy of Allah, 'Umayr ibn 'Uthman ibn Ka'b al-Taymi. 51 00:03:42,110 --> 00:03:44,110 On the day of Uhud, 52 00:03:44,110 --> 00:03:46,110 he stood firm when feet were shaken, 53 00:03:46,110 --> 00:03:49,110 and held his ground when the defeated fled. 54 00:03:49,110 --> 00:03:53,110 He emerged from the battle bearing more than twenty wounds, 55 00:03:53,110 --> 00:03:57,110 some of them so deep that a man's hand could enter them. 56 00:03:57,110 --> 00:04:00,110 Yet 'Abd al-Rahman ibn 'Awf's sacrifice with his person 57 00:04:00,110 --> 00:04:04,110 came to be seen as modest when compared to his striving with his wealth. 58 00:04:04,110 --> 00:04:08,110 For on one occasion, the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, 59 00:04:08,110 --> 00:04:10,110 wished to equip an expedition. 60 00:04:10,110 --> 00:04:13,110 He stood before his Companions and said: 61 00:04:13,110 --> 00:04:17,110 "Give in charity, for I intend to dispatch an expedition." 62 00:04:17,110 --> 00:04:20,139 'Abd al-Rahman ibn 'Awf hastened to his home 63 00:04:20,139 --> 00:04:22,139 and quickly returned, saying: 64 00:04:22,139 --> 00:04:24,139 "O Messenger of Allah! 65 00:04:24,139 --> 00:04:26,139 I have four thousand [dirhams]: 66 00:04:26,139 --> 00:04:28,139 two thousand I have lent to my Lord, 67 00:04:28,139 --> 00:04:31,139 and two thousand I have left for my family." 68 00:04:31,139 --> 00:04:35,209 The Messenger, peace and blessings be upon him, said: 69 00:04:35,209 --> 00:04:38,209 "May Allah bless you in what you have given, 70 00:04:38,209 --> 00:04:42,209 and may Allah bless you in what you have withheld." 71 00:04:42,209 --> 00:04:45,209 When the Messenger, peace be upon him, resolved 72 00:04:45,209 --> 00:04:46,209 to undertake the Expedition of Tabuk — 73 00:04:46,209 --> 00:04:49,209 which was the last campaign he fought in his life — 74 00:04:49,209 --> 00:04:54,209 the need for funds was no less pressing than the need for men. 75 00:04:54,209 --> 00:04:58,209 The Byzantine army was immense in numbers and heavily equipped, 76 00:04:58,209 --> 00:05:01,209 that year in Medina was a year of severe drought, 77 00:05:01,209 --> 00:05:04,209 the journey was long, provisions were scarce, 78 00:05:04,209 --> 00:05:06,209 and riding mounts were scarcer still, 79 00:05:06,209 --> 00:05:13,209 so much so that a group of believers came to the Messenger pleading with deep sorrow that he take them with him, 80 00:05:13,209 --> 00:05:17,209 but he had to turn them away because he could find no mounts for them to ride; 81 00:05:17,209 --> 00:05:23,209 “Nor unto those whom, when they came to thee (asking) that thou shouldst mount them, thou didst tell: I cannot find whereon to mount you. They turned back with eyes flowing with tears, for sorrow that they could not find the means to spend.” (9:92) 82 00:05:23,209 --> 00:05:25,209 they were thus called "the Weepers" (al-Bakka'un), 83 00:05:26,209 --> 00:05:29,209 and that army was named the "Army of Hardship" (Jaysh al-'Usrah). 84 00:05:29,209 --> 00:05:36,300 At that moment, the Messenger, peace be upon him, commanded his Companions to spend in the cause of Allah 85 00:05:36,300 --> 00:05:39,300 and to seek their reward with Allah. 86 00:05:39,300 --> 00:05:44,300 The Muslims rushed to respond to the call of the Prophet, peace be upon him, 87 00:05:44,300 --> 00:05:49,300 and in the vanguard of those giving charity was 'Abd al-Rahman ibn 'Awf. 88 00:05:49,300 --> 00:05:53,300 He gave two hundred ounces (awqiyyahs) of gold in charity. 89 00:05:53,300 --> 00:05:57,300 'Umar ibn al-Khattab said to the Prophet, peace be upon him: 90 00:05:57,300 --> 00:06:01,300 "I fear that 'Abd al-Rahman has committed an error, 91 00:06:01,300 --> 00:06:04,300 for he has left nothing for his family." 92 00:06:04,300 --> 00:06:07,300 The Messenger, peace be upon him, asked: 93 00:06:07,300 --> 00:06:10,300 "Have you left anything for your family, O 'Abd al-Rahman?" 94 00:06:10,300 --> 00:06:15,300 He replied: "Yes, I have left them more and better than what I spent." 95 00:06:15,300 --> 00:06:17,300 The Prophet asked: "How much?" 96 00:06:17,300 --> 00:06:18,300 He said: 97 00:06:18,300 --> 00:06:23,300 "What Allah and His Messenger have promised of provision, goodness, and reward." 98 00:06:23,300 --> 00:06:26,399 The army marched on to Tabuk, 99 00:06:26,399 --> 00:06:29,399 and there, Allah honored 'Abd al-Rahman ibn 'Awf 100 00:06:29,399 --> 00:06:33,459 with an honor bestowed upon no other Muslim. 101 00:06:33,459 --> 00:06:35,459 The time for prayer arrived 102 00:06:35,459 --> 00:06:39,459 while the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, was absent, 103 00:06:39,459 --> 00:06:43,560 so 'Abd al-Rahman ibn 'Awf led the Muslims in prayer. 104 00:06:43,560 --> 00:06:46,560 Scarcely had the first unit of prayer (rak'ah) ended 105 00:06:46,560 --> 00:06:49,560 when the Messenger of Allah, peace be upon him, arrived 106 00:06:49,560 --> 00:06:51,560 and joined the Muslims; 107 00:06:51,560 --> 00:06:53,560 he followed 'Abd al-Rahman ibn 'Awf in prayer 108 00:06:53,560 --> 00:06:55,560 and prayed behind him. 109 00:06:55,560 --> 00:06:59,560 Is there any honor greater or any virtue higher 110 00:06:59,560 --> 00:07:02,560 than for a person to serve as the imam for the master of creation 111 00:07:02,560 --> 00:07:06,560 and the leader of the prophets, Muhammad ibn 'Abdullah? 112 00:07:06,560 --> 00:07:09,560 When the Messenger, peace be upon him, passed away 113 00:07:09,560 --> 00:07:11,560 to the Highest Companion, 114 00:07:11,560 --> 00:07:15,560 'Abd al-Rahman ibn 'Awf undertook to look after the affairs of the Mothers of the Believers. 115 00:07:15,560 --> 00:07:17,560 He would attend to their needs, 116 00:07:17,560 --> 00:07:20,560 traveling with them whenever they traveled, 117 00:07:20,560 --> 00:07:23,560 performing the Hajj with them whenever they performed it, 118 00:07:23,560 --> 00:07:26,560 placing protective mantles over their camel-litters, 119 00:07:26,560 --> 00:07:29,560 and pitching their camps in places that pleased them. 120 00:07:29,560 --> 00:07:33,560 That was one of the noble merits of 'Abd al-Rahman ibn 'Awf 121 00:07:33,560 --> 00:07:36,560 and a mark of the trust the Mothers of the Believers placed in him, 122 00:07:36,560 --> 00:07:39,560 an honor in which he had every right to take pride. 123 00:07:39,560 --> 00:07:42,560 Such was the extent of 'Abd al-Rahman ibn 'Awf's benevolence 124 00:07:43,560 --> 00:07:46,560 toward the Muslims and the Mothers of the Believers 125 00:07:46,560 --> 00:07:49,560 that he once sold a plot of land belonging to him for forty thousand dinars 126 00:07:49,560 --> 00:07:52,560 and distributed the entire sum among the clan of Banu Zuhrah, 127 00:07:52,560 --> 00:07:55,560 the poor among the Muslims and the Muhajirun, 128 00:07:55,560 --> 00:07:58,560 and the wives of the Prophet, peace be upon him. 129 00:07:58,560 --> 00:08:01,560 When he sent to the Mother of the Believers 'A'ishah, 130 00:08:01,560 --> 00:08:04,560 may Allah be pleased with her, the share allotted to her from that money, 131 00:08:04,560 --> 00:08:07,560 she asked: "Who sent this money?" 132 00:08:07,560 --> 00:08:10,560 She was told: "'Abd al-Rahman ibn 'Awf." 133 00:08:10,560 --> 00:08:12,560 She said: 134 00:08:12,560 --> 00:08:15,560 "The Messenger of Allah, peace be upon him, said: 135 00:08:15,560 --> 00:08:18,560 'None will show compassion to you after me except the truly patient.'" 136 00:08:19,689 --> 00:08:22,689 The supplication of the Messenger, peace be upon him, 137 00:08:22,689 --> 00:08:24,689 for 'Abd al-Rahman ibn 'Awf 138 00:08:24,689 --> 00:08:26,689 that Allah bless his wealth 139 00:08:26,689 --> 00:08:29,689 continued to shelter him throughout his entire life, 140 00:08:29,689 --> 00:08:32,690 until he became the wealthiest of all the Companions 141 00:08:32,690 --> 00:08:34,690 and the most affluent among them. 142 00:08:34,690 --> 00:08:37,690 His commerce continually flourished and expanded, 143 00:08:37,690 --> 00:08:43,690 and his caravans moved back and forth, departing from Medina and returning to it, 144 00:08:43,690 --> 00:08:46,690 bringing its residents wheat, flour, cooking oil, 145 00:08:46,690 --> 00:08:49,690 garments, utensils, perfume, 146 00:08:49,690 --> 00:08:52,690 and everything else they needed, 147 00:08:52,690 --> 00:08:56,690 while transporting away whatever surplus produce exceeded their needs. 148 00:08:56,690 --> 00:08:58,690 One day, 149 00:08:58,690 --> 00:09:01,690 a caravan belonging to 'Abd al-Rahman ibn 'Awf arrived in Medina, 150 00:09:01,690 --> 00:09:04,690 consisting of seven hundred laden camels — 151 00:09:04,690 --> 00:09:07,690 yes, seven hundred camels! — 152 00:09:07,690 --> 00:09:10,690 bearing on their backs provisions, merchandise, 153 00:09:10,690 --> 00:09:13,690 and all that the people needed. 154 00:09:13,690 --> 00:09:18,690 No sooner had it entered Medina than the ground trembled beneath it, 155 00:09:18,690 --> 00:09:21,690 and a tremendous clamor and commotion were heard. 156 00:09:21,690 --> 00:09:24,690 'A'ishah, may Allah be pleased with her, asked: 157 00:09:24,690 --> 00:09:26,690 "What is this commotion?" 158 00:09:26,690 --> 00:09:30,690 She was told: "A caravan belonging to 'Abd al-Rahman ibn 'Awf; 159 00:09:30,690 --> 00:09:35,690 seven hundred camels carrying wheat, flour, and food." 160 00:09:35,690 --> 00:09:38,690 'A'ishah, may Allah be pleased with her, remarked: 161 00:09:38,690 --> 00:09:42,690 "May Allah bless him in what He has given him in this world, 162 00:09:42,690 --> 00:09:45,690 but the reward of the Hereafter is far greater! 163 00:09:45,690 --> 00:09:49,690 For I heard the Messenger of Allah, peace be upon him, say: 164 00:09:49,690 --> 00:09:53,690 ''Abd al-Rahman ibn 'Awf will enter Paradise crawling.'" 165 00:09:53,690 --> 00:09:56,690 Before the camels had even knelt down, 166 00:09:56,690 --> 00:09:59,690 a bearer of good tidings rushed to 'Abd al-Rahman ibn 'Awf 167 00:09:59,690 --> 00:10:03,779 and conveyed what the Mother of the Believers had said, congratulating him on the promise of Paradise. 168 00:10:03,779 --> 00:10:06,779 No sooner had this glad tiding reached his ears 169 00:10:06,779 --> 00:10:10,779 than he flew swiftly to 'A'ishah and asked: 170 00:10:10,779 --> 00:10:16,779 "O Mother, did you hear that from the Messenger of Allah, peace be upon him?" 171 00:10:16,779 --> 00:10:18,779 She replied: "Yes." 172 00:10:18,779 --> 00:10:20,779 Overjoyed, he exclaimed: 173 00:10:20,779 --> 00:10:23,779 "If I am able, I shall surely enter it standing! 174 00:10:23,779 --> 00:10:25,779 I call you to witness, O Mother, 175 00:10:25,779 --> 00:10:30,779 that this entire caravan, with its loads, saddles, and gear, 176 00:10:30,779 --> 00:10:32,779 is dedicated in the cause of Allah." 177 00:10:32,779 --> 00:10:35,779 From that luminous and blessed day 178 00:10:35,779 --> 00:10:39,779 on which 'Abd al-Rahman ibn 'Awf was given the glad tidings of entering Paradise, 179 00:10:39,779 --> 00:10:43,779 his devotion to giving and spending his wealth increased immensely. 180 00:10:43,779 --> 00:10:47,779 He began disbursing it with both hands, right and left, 181 00:10:47,779 --> 00:10:49,779 secretly and openly. 182 00:10:49,779 --> 00:10:52,779 He gave forty thousand silver dirhams in charity, 183 00:10:52,779 --> 00:10:55,779 followed by forty thousand gold dinars, 184 00:10:55,779 --> 00:10:59,779 and then donated two hundred ounces of gold. 185 00:10:59,779 --> 00:11:04,779 He subsequently mounted fighters in the cause of Allah upon five hundred horses, 186 00:11:04,779 --> 00:11:09,779 and provided mounts for yet other fighters upon one thousand five hundred camels. 187 00:11:09,779 --> 00:11:12,779 When death approached 'Abd al-Rahman ibn 'Awf, 188 00:11:12,779 --> 00:11:15,779 he emancipated a great number of his slaves, 189 00:11:15,779 --> 00:11:18,779 and bequeathed to every surviving veteran of Badr 190 00:11:18,779 --> 00:11:21,779 four hundred dinars of gold, 191 00:11:22,779 --> 00:11:24,779 all of which they received; 192 00:11:24,779 --> 00:11:26,779 and they numbered one hundred men. 193 00:11:26,779 --> 00:11:31,879 He also bequeathed a vast amount of wealth to each of the Mothers of the Believers, 194 00:11:31,879 --> 00:11:35,879 such that the Mother of the Believers 'A'ishah, may Allah be pleased with her, 195 00:11:35,879 --> 00:11:38,879 would frequently pray for him, saying: 196 00:11:38,879 --> 00:11:41,879 "May Allah give him to drink from the waters of Salsabil." 197 00:11:41,879 --> 00:11:44,879 Then, after all of that, 198 00:11:44,879 --> 00:11:48,879 he left behind for his heirs wealth that could scarcely be counted: 199 00:11:48,879 --> 00:11:50,879 leaving one thousand camels, 200 00:11:50,879 --> 00:11:52,879 as well as a hundred horses 201 00:11:52,879 --> 00:11:54,879 and three thousand sheep. 202 00:11:54,879 --> 00:11:56,879 He had four wives, 203 00:11:56,879 --> 00:12:02,879 and each one's share—a fourth of the eighth—amounted to eighty thousand dinars. 204 00:12:02,879 --> 00:12:04,909 He also left behind gold and silver 205 00:12:04,909 --> 00:12:07,909 that had to be chopped with axes to be divided among his heirs, 206 00:12:07,909 --> 00:12:11,909 to the point that the men's hands blistered from cleaving it. 207 00:12:11,909 --> 00:12:15,909 All of this was by virtue of the supplication of the Messenger, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, 208 00:12:15,909 --> 00:12:18,909 who prayed that Allah bless him in his wealth. 209 00:12:18,909 --> 00:12:20,940 Yet all that vast wealth 210 00:12:20,940 --> 00:12:24,940 never seduced 'Abd al-Rahman Ibn 'Awf, nor did it change him. 211 00:12:24,940 --> 00:12:28,940 Whenever people saw him among his servants, 212 00:12:28,940 --> 00:12:31,940 they could not tell him apart from them. 213 00:12:31,940 --> 00:12:34,980 One day, food was brought to him while he was fasting, 214 00:12:34,980 --> 00:12:37,980 so he looked at it and said: 215 00:12:37,980 --> 00:12:39,980 "Mus'ab Ibn 'Umayr was killed, 216 00:12:39,980 --> 00:12:41,980 and he was better than me, 217 00:12:41,980 --> 00:12:44,980 yet we could find nothing to shroud him in except a single garment; 218 00:12:44,980 --> 00:12:47,980 if it covered his head, his feet were exposed, 219 00:12:47,980 --> 00:12:50,980 and if it covered his feet, his head was exposed. 220 00:12:50,980 --> 00:12:54,980 Then the riches of this world were showered upon us as they were, 221 00:12:54,980 --> 00:12:58,980 and I truly fear that our rewards have been hastened to us in this life." 222 00:12:58,980 --> 00:13:04,009 Then he began to weep and sob until he lost all appetite for the food. 223 00:13:04,009 --> 00:13:08,039 Blessed indeed is 'Abd al-Rahman Ibn 'Awf, and worthy of all envy! 224 00:13:08,039 --> 00:13:13,039 For the truthful and trusted Muhammad Ibn 'Abdullah gave him the glad tidings of Paradise, 225 00:13:13,039 --> 00:13:16,039 and his bier was carried by the maternal uncle of the Messenger of Allah, 226 00:13:16,039 --> 00:13:19,039 Sa'd Ibn Abi Waqqas; 227 00:13:19,039 --> 00:13:21,039 the funeral prayer over him was led by Dhu al-Nurayn, 228 00:13:21,039 --> 00:13:23,039 'Uthman Ibn 'Affan; 229 00:13:23,039 --> 00:13:27,039 and he was escorted to his grave by the Commander of the Faithful, whose countenance was honored by Allah, 230 00:13:27,039 --> 00:13:29,039 'Ali Ibn Abi Talib, 231 00:13:29,039 --> 00:13:31,039 who said: 232 00:13:31,039 --> 00:13:33,039 "You attained its purity 233 00:13:33,039 --> 00:13:36,039 and outran its falsehood; may Allah have mercy on you!" 234 00:13:36,039 --> 00:13:43,779 May Allah bless what you have given, 235 00:13:43,779 --> 00:13:47,460 and may Allah bless what you have withheld, 236 00:13:47,460 --> 00:13:49,460 as in the supplication of the Messenger. 237 00:13:49,460 --> 00:13:53,460 You have scaled a lofty edifice, O poetry, 238 00:13:53,460 --> 00:13:57,639 and in praising them, can there ever be enough?