'Abd al-Rahman was born with the name Abdu Amr ibn Awf into the tribe of Banu Zuhrah. He married 'Uthman ibn Affan's half-sister, the daughter of 'Uthman's mother, Urwa bint Kariz, by her second husband. Sa'ad ibn Abi Waqqas was his first cousin.
'Abd al-Rahman was one of the first eight persons to accept Islam, doing so two days after Abu Bakr. On this occasion he adopted the name 'Abd al-Rahman, meaning "Slave of (God) the Beneficient."
In 634, the dying Caliph Abu Bakr called in 'Abd al-Rahman (along with 'Uthman) and informed him of his designation of Umar ibn al-Khattab as successor.
In 644, the dying Umar nominated a board of six members who were required to elect one of themselves as the next caliph. The group consisted of Sad Ibn Abi Waqqas, 'Abd al-Rahman ibn 'Awf, Zubayr ibn al-Awwam, Talha ibn Ubayd Allah, 'Ali ibn Abi Talib and 'Uthman ibn Affan. 'Uthman was chosen as the third caliph.
Sunnis regard 'Abd al-Rahman as one of the Ten Promised Paradise.
'Abd al-Rahman was born tenth year after the Year of the Elephant (570). He died in 31 A.H. (652). He was one of the Sahaba.
'Abd al-Rahman was married to Umm Kulthum bint Uqbah and Tamadur. Some of his notable offspring were Ibrahim bin 'Abdur-Rahman, Yahya and Abu Salamah
'Abd al-Rahman was one of the first eight people to accept Islam. He was one of the ten people (al-asharatu-l mubashshirin) who were assured of entering Paradise. During the difficult times in Mecca, when the pagans started abusing and treating the Muslims of the city unjustly, 'Abd al-Rahman along with others migrated to Abyssinia.
'Abd al-Rahman was one of the six people chosen by Umar to form the council of shura to choose the Khalifah after his death. His name in Jahiliyyah days was Abdu-Amr - the servant of Amr. However, when he accepted Islam, Muhammad called him Abdur-Rahman - the servant of the Most Merciful.
'Abd al-Rahman was friends with Umayyah ibn Khalaf, a stern opponent of Islam. When 'Abd al-Rahman emigrated to Medina, the two formed a written agreement, according to which 'Abd-al-Rahman was to protect Umayyah's property and family in Medina, while Umayyah would protect 'Abd-al-Rahman's in Mecca. When 'Abd al-Rahman wanted to sign the document, Umayyah protested, saying "I do not know Ar-Rahman" and requested that the pre-Islamic name "Abdu Amr" should be used, to which Abd al-Rahman yielded.
The two met again in the Battle of Badr. A narration attributed to 'Abd al-Rahman ibn 'Awf reports:
On the day (of the battle) of Badr, when all the people went to sleep, I went up the hill to protect him (Umayyah). Bilal saw him (Umayyah) and went to a gathering of Ansar and said, "(Here is) Umayyah bin Khalaf! Woe to me if he escapes!" So, a group of Ansar went out with Bilal to follow us ('Abdur-Rahman and Umayyah). Being afraid that they would catch us, I left Umayyah's son for them to keep them busy but the Ansar killed the son and insisted taht they would catch us. I left Umayyah's son for them to keep them busy but the Ansar killed the son and insisted on following us. Umayyah was a fat man, an when they approached us, I told him to kneel down, and he knelt, and I laid myself on him to protect him, but the Ansar killed him by passing their swords underneath me, and one of them injured my foot with his sword.
On the day (of the battle) of Badr, when all the people went to sleep, I went up the hill to protect him (Umayyah). Bilal saw him (Umayyah) and went to a gathering of Ansar and said, "(Here is) Umayyah bin Khalaf! Woe to me if he escapes!" So, a group of Ansar went out with Bilal to follow us ('Abdur-Rahman and Umayyah). Being afraid that they would catch us, I left Umayyah's son for them to keep them busy but the Ansar killed the son and insisted taht they would catch us. I left Umayyah's son for them to keep them busy but the Ansar killed the son and insisted on following us. Umayyah was a fat man, an when they approached us, I told him to kneel down, and he knelt, and I laid myself on him to protect him, but the Ansar killed him by passing their swords underneath me, and one of them injured my foot with his sword.
Sunnis tend to view this narration as Sahih (authentic) and have included it in Sahih Bukhari.
During the lifetime of Muhammad, Abd al-Rahman ibn 'Awf was directed to participate in the battle of Daumatul-Jandal. When victory was secured by the Muslims, Abd al-Rahman ibn 'Awf took the opposition general's daughter, Tamadur, in marriage under the instructions of Muhammad.
One day, a loud rumbling sound was heard coming from beyond the boundaries of Madinah (Medina) normally a calm and peaceful city. The rumbling sound gradually increased in volume. In addition, clouds of dust and sand were stirred up and blown in the wind. The people of Madinah (Medina) soon realized that a mighty caravan was entering the city. They stood in amazement as seven hundred camels laden with goods moved into the city and crowded the streets. Sayadah Aishah shook her head and gazed in the distance as if she was trying to recall some scene or utterance of the past and then she said: "I have heard the Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, say: I have seen Abdur-Rahman bin Awf entering Paradise leaping and of the Prophet? Some friends of his related to Abdur-Rahman the hadith which Aishah had mentioned. He remembered that he had heard the hadith more than have never forgotten," he is also reported to have said. He was so over-joyed and added: "If I could I would certainly like to enter Paradise standing. I swear to you, yaa Ammah, that this entire caravan with all its merchandise, I will give sabilillah." And so he did. In a great festival of charity and righteousness, he distributed all that the massive caravan had brought to the people of Madinah (Medina) and surrounding areas. This is just one incident which showed what type of man Abd al-Rahman was. He earned much wealth but he never remained attached to it for its own sake and he did not allow it to corrupt him.
In 634 C.C., the dying Caliph Abu Bakr called in 'Abd al-Rahman (along with Uthman) and informed him of his designation of Umar ibn al-Khattab as successor.
In 644, the dying Umar nominated a board of six members who were required to elect one of themselves as the next caliph. The group consisted of Sad Ibn Abi Waqqas, 'Abd al-Rahman ibn 'Awf, Zubayr ibn al-Awwam, Talha ibn Ubayd Allah, 'Ali ibn Abi Talib and Uthman ibn Affan. Uthman was chosen as the third caliph by Abdur Raman bin Awf.
'Abd al-Rahman died in the year 31 A.H., during the reign of Uthman ibn Affan in the Levant and was buried on a hill to the north east of present day Amman, Jordan.
Sunnis regard 'Abd al-Rahman as one of the Ten Promised Paradise.
Alternative names include:
'Abd al-Rahman ibn 'Awf
Abdel Rahman bin Awf
Abdu Amr ibn Awf
Abdur-Rahman bin 'Auf
Abdur Rahman bin Awf
Abdur Rahman ibn Awf
Bin 'Auf
Bin 'Auf, Abdur-Rahman
Bin Awf
Bin Awf, Abdel Rahman
Bin Awf, Abdur Rahman
Ibn 'Awf
Ibn 'Awf, 'Abd al-Rahman
Ibn Awf, Abdu Amr
Ibn Awf, Abdur Rahman
One of the Ten Promised Paradise
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