Part 17

Caliph also said that if he had, had the power to nominate the Caliph, he would have nominated Sa’d bin Abi Waqis 4. However, he said it was the right of the Muslim Ummah to choose their leader. He also recorded a last statement that if Sa’d bin Abi Waqdas & was not selected, the person who was elected to that high office should take advantage the services of this illustrious Companion. After he passed away and was buried, on the basis of a majority vote ‘Uthman bin “Affan -¢ was chosen Caliph.

He kept himself aloof from the tragic events of the Battles of Jamal and Safeen, He had instructed his family members not to tell him anything about these arguments and infighting, because it hurt him deeply. It was terrible, he said, that the swords of the Muslims were chopping off the heads of brother Muslims. There were people worthy of respect on both sides, he said, and even in his wildest imagination he could not think of lifting up arms against any one of them.

When he was eighty years old in 54'" Hijrah, while living in seclusion in ‘Aqeeq he received the summons of death. His son, describing his last days, saying:

“My father’s head was in my lap, his eyes were losing their focus. 1 started to cry. He asked me why I was crying; and asked me to be at ease, as he was sure that Allah Almighty would not give him any punishment in the Hereafter. Insha’ Allah, (God willing). He said that he would go to Paradise, as he had heard these glad tiding from the Prophet 3 himself. Then he pointed to a cupboard and it was opened for him. There was an old sheet lying in it and he had it taken out. He said he had worn it during the Battle of Badr, and preserved it very

carefully. He said he wanted that sheet to be used as his shroud; no matter if it was old, it was a blessed and historic sheet which he wanted to take into the grave with him. And soon his soul soared towards heaven.”

Among the Mujahideen Companion, he was the last to go to his Creature, Allah Almighty. He was buried in Jannatul-Baquahi’.

O glorious hero of Qadisiyah and conqueror of Persia!

O victor who proved his wisdom and farsightedness in Madayan! O beloved Governor of Iraq!

O fearless warrior who raced horses in the river Dajlah!

O extinguisher of the fire worshipped in Persia!

O maker of the city of Koofa!

O lover of Al-Madinah!

O hearer of the glad tidings of a place in Paradise from the lips of the Prophet % himself!

O great general and beloved ruler! OSa‘d bin Abi Waqas! Farewell, farewell!

May you be happy in Paradise enjoying the cool breezes and smiling like the lovely flowers and enjoying the spring seasons of Paradise!

‘Abdur-Rahman bin ‘Auf &

Ummul-Mo'mineen ‘Aishah (gs a eo) said;

“O Allah, May you give the sweet and cool

waters of the stream of Salsabil in Paradise to

‘Abdur-Rahman bin ‘Auf 2

He was tall, fair good-looking, with rosy cheeks, curly hair, a bright face and a strong and spry physique. He was an experienced and liberal businessman, yet one who was also wise and learned in matters religious, extremely truthful and sincere. He was a model of pride and self-respect. He was one of those ten! Companion who, in this very life, had been given the happy tidings of their elevation to Paradise after death.

When ‘Abdur-Rahman bin ‘Auf 4 emigrated to Al-Madinah, he was empty-handed and neither money nor property. The Prophet 3% had named him the brother in religion of Sa’d bin Rabee’ Ansari #. The latter, welcoming him in all sincerity and said to him,

| Also known in Islamic history as the ‘Ashra Mubashirah!

“Allah 3% has been very Kind and Generous to me and | am the richest man among the people of Al-Madinah. At present I have two big orchards and I have two wives. You can choose any of the two gardens for yourself and | will transfer it to your name. And | will divorce one of my wives, so that after her period of ‘Iddat' you can marry her. Since you are my brother in religion, it is my religious and social duty to look after your needs.”

This spirit of sacrifice is unparalleled in the annals of human history.

But the pride and self-respect of ‘Abdur-Rahman bin ‘Auf .% could not allow him to accept this offer. He told him,

“May Allah Almighty bless you with greater prosperity in your possessions and your family and children. May you enjoy your wealth. Just show me the way to the market. I will earn my own livelihood, I do not like to burden anyone.”

‘Abdur-Rahman bin ‘Auf 3 says that in business Allah Almighty gave him prosperity and wealth beyond his wildest dreams. If he picked up even a stone it turned to gold and silver in his hands. In addition to his business ventures, he entered into the field of agriculture on a very large scale. The Prophet ¥ allotted to him a huge agricultural farm in Khaiber, and using his own resources as well he bought extensive agricultural lands. He had twenty camels just to transport water to irrigate the fields in Jaraf. Just as Allah 3% had

' The period after divorce (three months) or death of the husband (four months and ten days) after which the lady can remarry.

bestowed wealth on ‘Abdur-Rahman bin ‘Auf -3, he spent it lavishly in charity in the name of Allah Almighty.

When she answered in the affirmative, he expressed his joy and asked her to bear witness that in his delight at the good news he was dedicating his expensive camels and_his business goods and wealth for the welfare of the Muslim Ummah, for the sake of Allah Almighty.

Praise be to Ailah for the strength of their faith and belief! We should sacrifice ourselves for Allah 3% and for these celestial beings who were turned into pure gold because of the influence of the sacred personality of the Prophet 38. ‘Abdur-Rahman bin ‘Auf . spent without reservations in the way of charity for Allah Almighty from the very beginning to the very last moments of his life. Yet he left immense wealth for his heirs. For his four wives he left eighty thousand dinar; huge bricks of gold were part of his assets not in use. These were cut and distributed among his heirs. When he died, besides his immovable properties, he left a thousand camels, a hundred horses and a herd of three thousand goats. Instead of feeling happy on seeing his wealth, often used to feel worried and anxious.

On one occasion when he was about to break his fast, food was placed before him. When he saw the dishes he broke into tears, and said Mus‘ab bin ‘Umair was better than him. When he died he did not have even a sheet for his shroud, large enough to cover his head and

feet at the same time. If the head was covered, the feet would be exposed; and if the feet were covered his head remained bare. But the world had become very spacious for him. He feared that Allah Almighty bestow all his bounties on him in this world and deprive him of His bounties and blessings in Eternity. At the very thought he started to sigh and weep; as a result he could not even touch the food kept in front of him.