عبد الرحمن بن عوف
Abd al-Rahman ibn Awf
The Generous Merchant
Quick Facts
Birth
c. 581 CE, Makkah
Tribe
Quraysh — Banu Zuhrah
Relationship
Early believer through Abu Bakr
Major Role
Merchant, giver, member of the Shura
Death
c. 652 CE (32 AH), Madinah
One of the first eight to believe, Abd al-Rahman rebuilt his fortune from nothing in Madinah and gave with legendary open-handedness. Trusted by all, he later helped choose the third Caliph.
Biography Timeline
Early Faith & Migration
He believed among the very first through Abu Bakr, migrated to Abyssinia, then to Madinah. When his Ansari brother offered to share half his wealth, he asked instead only to be shown the marketplace.
Trade & Charity
From the market he built great wealth and matched it with vast charity — freeing captives, funding armies, and once giving an entire caravan and its goods in the path of God.
Trust of the Prophet ﷺ
On the expedition of Tabuk, the Prophet ﷺ arrived to find Abd al-Rahman leading the prayer, and prayed the remaining rak'ah behind him — a rare honour that showed his standing.
The Shura & Legacy
Umar named him to the six-man council to choose his successor; Abd al-Rahman himself declined and instead consulted the people, then pledged to Uthman. He died in Madinah around 652 CE.
Authentic Narrations
ورد أن النبي ﷺ سمّى عشرة من أصحابه من أهل الجنة: أبو بكر، وعمر، وعثمان، وعليّ، وطلحة، والزبير، وعبد الرحمن بن عوف، وسعد بن أبي وقاص، وسعيد بن زيد، وأبو عبيدة بن الجراح.
“It is reported that the Prophet ﷺ named ten of his companions as people of Paradise: Abu Bakr, Umar, Uthman, Ali, Talha, al-Zubayr, Abd al-Rahman ibn Awf, Sa'd ibn Abi Waqqas, Sa'id ibn Zayd, and Abu Ubaidah ibn al-Jarrah.”
Jami' al-Tirmidhi (Sahih)
Historical Sources
- ✦Sahih al-Bukhari; Sahih Muslim
- ✦Ibn Sa'd, al-Tabaqat