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He was very lucky in his trade to an extent that aroused his amazement. He said, "If I lift up a stone,
I find silver and gold under it." Trade for `Abd Ar-Rahman lbn `Awf (May Allah be pleased with him)
was not greed or monopoly. It was not even a desire to gather money or riches. It was work and duty
whose success made him enjoy them and urged him to exert more effort. He used to have an enthusiastic
nature so that he found comfort in any honorable work, wherever it was. If he was not praying in the
mosque or fighting a battle, he was working in his trade that was thriving so much that his caravans were
arriving at Al-Madiinah from Egypt and Syria, laden with everything that the Arabian Peninsula might
need in garments and food.
Evidence of his ebullient nature is his course ever since the dawn of the Muslims' Hijrah to Al-
Madiinah. In those days the Messenger (PBUH) associated every two of his Companions as brothers, a
Muhaajir (Emigrant) from Makkah with an Ansaar (Helper) from Al-Madiinah. This association took
place in an astounding way. Each Ansaar in Al-Madiinah shared with his brother Muhaajir everything
that he owned, even his bed. If he was married to two women, he would divorce one for his brother to
marry!
The noble Messenger (PBUH) associated `Abd Ar-Rahman lbn `Awf and Sa'd Ibn Ar-Rabii'a as
brothers one day. Let us listen to the noble Companion Anas Ibn Maalik (May Allah be pleased with
him) narrating to us what happened:
Sa'd said to Abd Ar-Rahman, "O brother, I'm the richest in Al Madiinah. Take half of my fortune.
And I have two wives. Choose the one you like better and I'll divorce her for you to marry." So `Abd Ar-
Rahman Ibn Awf said, "Allah bless your family and money. Show me the way to the market." He went
to the market, bought, sold, and gained profit.
That is how he led his life in Al-Madiinah, whether during the Messenger's lifetime (PBUH) or after
his death, doing his duty towards religion or the worlds work and succeeding in his trade, so much so
that, as he said, if he lifted up a stone, he would find gold and silver under it!
What made his trade blessed and successful was his pursuing the halaal, and his strictly moving
away from the haraam, or even the doubtful. What made it even more blessed and successful was that it
was not for `Abd Ar-Rahman alone. Allah had a bigger share in it, by which he used to strengthen the
ties of his family and brothers and prepare the armies of Islam. If commerce and fortune are usually
evaluated on the basis of stocks on hand and profits, Abd Ar Rahman Ibn `Awf`s fortune was evaluated
on the basis of what was expended from it in the cause of Allah, the Lord of All the Worlds.
One day he heard the Messenger of Allah (PBUH) saying to him, "O lbn `Awf, you are a rich man,
and you are going to crawl into Paradise. So lend to Allah in order to set your feet free." Ever since he
heard this advice from the Messenger of Allah, he started lending to Allah a goodly loan. Then Allah
increased it manifold to His credit in repaying.
One day, he sold some land for 40,000 dinars and distributed it all to the people of Zuhrah tribe, the
Mothers of the Faithful, and the poor Muslims. Next day, he provided the Islamic armies with 500
horses, on the third day with 1,500 camels.
When he was about to die, he bequeathed 5,000 dinars in the cause of Allah and 400 dinars for each
one who was still living of those who had witnessed ! Even `Uthmaan Ibn `Affaan (May Allah be
pleased with him) took his share of the bequeathal in spite of his riches and said, "Abd Ar-Rahman`s
money is halaal and pure. Its food gives health and blessing".
lbn `Awf was master of his money, not its slave. The proof of this was that he did not have trouble
gathering it. He used to gather halaal money with much ease. Besides, he did not enjoy it alone, but
together with his family, relatives, brethren, and all his community.