Abdur-Rahman ibn Awf

Abdur-Rahman ibn Awf (580-653 CE) was one of the ten companions promised Paradise (al-Asharah al-Mubasharah) and among the first eight people to embrace Islam. Originally named Abd Amr, the Prophet gave him the name Abdur-Rahman upon his conversion. A member of the Banu Zuhrah clan of Quraysh, he quickly became one of the most successful merchants in the Muslim community, renowned for his extraordinary business acumen and even more extraordinary generosity.

After migrating to Medina, Abdur-Rahman refused the generous offer of his Ansari brother Sad ibn ar-Rabi to share his wealth, instead requesting only directions to the marketplace. He rapidly built a thriving trade enterprise from nothing. His charitable contributions were legendary: he donated 40,000 dirhams, 500 horses, and 1,500 camels at various times for the sake of Islam. He equipped large portions of the Muslim army for major expeditions and freed numerous slaves.

Abdur-Rahman fought at Badr, Uhud, and every major battle. At Uhud, he received more than twenty wounds. After the assassination of Umar ibn al-Khattab, Abdur-Rahman was entrusted with the critical responsibility of chairing the shura council that selected the next caliph. After extensive consultation with the community, he nominated Uthman ibn Affan. He died in Medina in 32 AH (653 CE) and is buried in al-Baqi. He is remembered as a model of how wealth, when earned honestly and spent generously, can serve Islam.