Introduction
Abd al-Rahman was among the earliest Muslims and migrated first to Abyssinia and then to Madinah. He arrived with almost nothing and was paired in brotherhood with a wealthy Ansari, Sad ibn al-Rabi, who offered to share half his property.
He declined and asked only for the way to the market. Through honest trade he became one of the richest men of Madinah, and he spent heavily for Allah.
The sources preserve his fear that worldly ease might use up his reward, and his trusted role among the companions. He was one of the ten promised Paradise and one of the six consulted on the succession to Umar.
The story
c. 581 CE
Born in Makkah in the Banu Zuhrah.
c. 615 CE
Emigrated with the early group to Abyssinia.
622 CE / 1 AH
Reached Madinah and refused half of Sad ibn al-Rabi's wealth, asking for the market.
Read the wording
Sahih al-Bukhari 2048Sahih Arabic text
… نَزَلْتُ لَكَ عَنْهَا، فَإِذَا حَلَّتْ تَزَوَّجْتَهَا. قَالَ فَقَالَ عَبْدُ الرَّحْمَنِ لاَ حَاجَةَ لِي فِي ذَلِكَ، هَلْ مِنْ سُوقٍ فِيهِ تِجَارَةٌ قَالَ سُوقُ قَيْنُقَاعَ. قَالَ فَغَدَا إِلَيْهِ عَبْدُ الرَّحْمَنِ، فَأَتَى بِأَقِطٍ وَسَمْنٍ ـ قَالَ ـ ثُمَّ تَابَعَ الْغُدُوَّ، فَمَا لَبِثَ أَنْ جَاءَ عَبْدُ الرَّحْمَنِ عَلَيْهِ أَثَرُ صُفْرَةٍ، فَقَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم" …
“I am not in need of all that. Is there any marketplace where trade is practiced?'”
2 AH / 624 CE
Fought at Badr.
Read the wording
Sahih al-Bukhari 3141Sahih Arabic text
قَالَ بَيْنَا أَنَا وَاقِفٌ، فِي الصَّفِّ يَوْمَ بَدْرٍ فَنَظَرْتُ عَنْ يَمِينِي، وَشِمَالِي، فَإِذَا أَنَا بِغُلاَمَيْنِ، مِنَ الأَنْصَارِ حَدِيثَةٍ أَسْنَانُهُمَا، تَمَنَّيْتُ أَنْ أَكُونَ بَيْنَ أَضْلَعَ مِنْهُمَا، فَغَمَزَنِي أَحَدُهُمَا فَقَالَ يَا عَمِّ، هَلْ تَعْرِفُ أَبَا جَهْلٍ قُلْتُ نَعَمْ، مَا حَاجَتُكَ إِلَيْهِ يَا ابْنَ أَخِي قَالَ أُخْبِرْتُ أَنَّهُ يَسُبُّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صلى …
“While I was standing in the row on the day (of the battle) of Badr, I”
23 AH / 644 CE
Served on the council that selected Uthman as caliph.
32 AH / c. 653 CE
Died in Madinah.
A day in their footsteps
6 small, repeatable practices from Abd al-Rahman ibn Awf's life. Each comes with the Arabic text and English wording of its source, and links to read the full report.
Earning honestly instead of accepting a gift
Offered half the wealth of his Ansari brother, he asked only for the market, started with butter and dried yoghurt and returned daily until he could marry.
Try this today
Prefer honest work over reliance, and be thankful for generosity without taking it.
Sit with this
Would you rather earn a little honestly than receive a lot as a gift?
Source
Sahih al-Bukhari 2048Sahih … نَزَلْتُ لَكَ عَنْهَا، فَإِذَا حَلَّتْ تَزَوَّجْتَهَا. قَالَ فَقَالَ عَبْدُ الرَّحْمَنِ لاَ حَاجَةَ لِي فِي ذَلِكَ، هَلْ مِنْ سُوقٍ فِيهِ تِجَارَةٌ قَالَ سُوقُ قَيْنُقَاعَ. قَالَ فَغَدَا إِلَيْهِ عَبْدُ الرَّحْمَنِ، فَأَتَى بِأَقِطٍ وَسَمْنٍ ـ قَالَ ـ ثُمَّ تَابَعَ الْغُدُوَّ، فَمَا لَبِثَ أَنْ جَاءَ عَبْدُ الرَّحْمَنِ عَلَيْهِ أَثَرُ صُفْرَةٍ، فَقَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم" …
“I am not in need of all that. Is there any marketplace where trade is practiced?'”
Marrying simply and feeding others
When the Prophet saw the trace of perfume on him after his marriage, he was told the dowry was small, and the Prophet's advice was to hold a wedding feast, even with one sheep.
Try this today
Celebrate with food shared with others, however modest.
Sit with this
How could your next celebration feed someone beyond your guests?
Source
Sahih al-Bukhari 5155Sahih أَنَّ النَّبِيَّ صلى الله عليه وسلم رَأَى عَلَى عَبْدِ الرَّحْمَنِ بْنِ عَوْفٍ أَثَرَ صُفْرَةٍ قَالَ" مَا هَذَا". قَالَ إِنِّي تَزَوَّجْتُ امْرَأَةً عَلَى وَزْنِ نَوَاةٍ مِنْ ذَهَبٍ. قَالَ" بَارَكَ اللَّهُ لَكَ، أَوْلِمْ وَلَوْ بِشَاةٍ".
“May Allah bless you: Offer a wedding banquet even with one sheep”
Fearing that comfort may use up reward
When food was brought to him while fasting, he remembered those who died with almost nothing, such as Musab and Hamzah, feared his reward might have been given early, wept, and left the meal.
Try this today
Let remembrance of the righteous keep wealth humble.
Sit with this
Does your comfort make you more thankful, or more forgetful?
Source
Sahih al-Bukhari 1275Sahih … ـ رضى الله عنه ـ أُتِيَ بِطَعَامٍ وَكَانَ صَائِمًا فَقَالَ قُتِلَ مُصْعَبُ بْنُ عُمَيْرٍ وَهُوَ خَيْرٌ مِنِّي، كُفِّنَ فِي بُرْدَةٍ، إِنْ غُطِّيَ رَأْسُهُ بَدَتْ رِجْلاَهُ، وَإِنْ غُطِّيَ رِجْلاَهُ بَدَا رَأْسُهُ ـ وَأُرَاهُ قَالَ ـ وَقُتِلَ حَمْزَةُ وَهُوَ خَيْرٌ مِنِّي، ثُمَّ بُسِطَ لَنَا مِنَ الدُّنْيَا مَا بُسِطَ ـ أَوْ قَالَ أُعْطِينَا مِنَ الدُّنْيَا مَا أُعْطِينَا ـ وَقَدْ خَشِينَا …
“Mus`ab bin `Umair was martyred and he was better than I and was shrouded in his Burd and when his head was covered with it, his legs became bare, and when his legs were covered his head got uncovered. Hamza”
Being a trusted imam
On a journey the Prophet joined the prayer in progress behind Abd al-Rahman, a sign of trust in his leading prayer.
Try this today
Be reliable enough that people are happy to follow you in prayer.
Sit with this
Could people follow you in prayer with confidence?
Source
Sunan Abi Dawud 149Sahih … عَبْدَ الرَّحْمَنِ بْنَ عَوْفٍ فَصَلَّى بِهِمْ حِينَ كَانَ وَقْتُ الصَّلاَةِ وَوَجَدْنَا عَبْدَ الرَّحْمَنِ وَقَدْ رَكَعَ بِهِمْ رَكْعَةً مِنْ صَلاَةِ الْفَجْرِ فَقَامَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم فَصَفَّ مَعَ الْمُسْلِمِينَ فَصَلَّى وَرَاءَ عَبْدِ الرَّحْمَنِ بْنِ عَوْفٍ الرَّكْعَةَ الثَّانِيَةَ ثُمَّ سَلَّمَ عَبْدُ الرَّحْمَنِ فَقَامَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم فِي …
“They brought forward 'Abd al-Rahman b. 'Awf who was leading them in prayer. The”
Passing on knowledge he had
When Umar and the companions disagreed about entering a plague-stricken land, it was Abd al-Rahman who told them what he had heard from the Prophet.
Try this today
Share the knowledge you have when it is needed.
Sit with this
Is there knowledge you hold that someone needs right now?
Source
Sahih al-Bukhari 5730Sahih أَنَّ عُمَرَ، خَرَجَ إِلَى الشَّأْمِ، فَلَمَّا كَانَ بِسَرْغَ بَلَغَهُ أَنَّ الْوَبَاءَ قَدْ وَقَعَ بِالشَّأْمِ، فَأَخْبَرَهُ عَبْدُ الرَّحْمَنِ بْنُ عَوْفٍ أَنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم قَالَ " إِذَا سَمِعْتُمْ بِهِ بِأَرْضٍ فَلاَ تَقْدَمُوا عَلَيْهِ وَإِذَا وَقَعَ بِأَرْضٍ وَأَنْتُمْ بِهَا فَلاَ تَخْرُجُوا فِرَارًا مِنْهُ".
“If you hear that it (plague) has broken out in a land, do not go to it; but if it”
Giving truthful testimony
When Umar was unsure how to treat Magians, Abd al-Rahman testified that the Prophet had taken the jizya from the Magians of Hajar.
Try this today
Say what you know exactly as you know it.
Sit with this
Can you say what you know exactly as you know it, no more and no less?
Source
Sahih al-Bukhari 3156Sahih قَالَ كُنْتُ كَاتِبًا لِجَزْءِ بْنِ مُعَاوِيَةَ عَمِّ الأَحْنَفِ، فَأَتَانَا كِتَابُ عُمَرَ بْنِ الْخَطَّابِ قَبْلَ مَوْتِهِ بِسَنَةٍ فَرِّقُوا بَيْنَ كُلِّ ذِي مَحْرَمٍ مِنَ الْمَجُوسِ. وَلَمْ يَكُنْ عُمَرُ أَخَذَ الْجِزْيَةَ مِنَ الْمَجُوسِ. حَتَّى شَهِدَ عَبْدُ الرَّحْمَنِ بْنُ عَوْفٍ أَنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم أَخَذَهَا مِنْ مَجُوسِ هَجَرٍ.
“till `Abdur-Rahman bin `Auf testified that Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) had taken the Jizya from the Magians of Hajar”
Virtues
The Prophet named him among the ten given the news of Paradise.
“'Abdur-Rahman bin 'Awf is in Paradise,”
Arabic text
… عَنْ عَبْدِ الْعَزِيزِ بْنِ مُحَمَّدٍ، عَنْ عَبْدِ الرَّحْمَنِ بْنِ حُمَيْدٍ، عَنْ أَبِيهِ، عَنِ النَّبِيِّ صلى الله عليه وسلم نَحْوَهُ وَلَمْ يَذْكُرْ فِيهِ عَنْ عَبْدِ الرَّحْمَنِ بْنِ عَوْفٍ. قَالَ وَقَدْ رُوِيَ هَذَا الْحَدِيثُ عَنْ عَبْدِ الرَّحْمَنِ بْنِ حُمَيْدٍ عَنْ أَبِيهِ عَنْ سَعِيدِ بْنِ زَيْدٍ عَنِ النَّبِيِّ صلى الله عليه وسلم نَحْوَ هَذَا وَهَذَا أَصَحُّ مِنَ الْحَدِيثِ …
Jami at-Tirmidhi 3747Sahih
Sayings and moments
Seeing food, he feared that the reward for his deeds might have been given early in this world.
“No doubt, I fear that the rewards of my deeds might have been given earlier in this”
Arabic text
… وَهُوَ خَيْرٌ مِنِّي، كُفِّنَ فِي بُرْدَةٍ، إِنْ غُطِّيَ رَأْسُهُ بَدَتْ رِجْلاَهُ، وَإِنْ غُطِّيَ رِجْلاَهُ بَدَا رَأْسُهُ ـ وَأُرَاهُ قَالَ ـ وَقُتِلَ حَمْزَةُ وَهُوَ خَيْرٌ مِنِّي، ثُمَّ بُسِطَ لَنَا مِنَ الدُّنْيَا مَا بُسِطَ ـ أَوْ قَالَ أُعْطِينَا مِنَ الدُّنْيَا مَا أُعْطِينَا ـ وَقَدْ خَشِينَا أَنْ تَكُونَ حَسَنَاتُنَا عُجِّلَتْ لَنَا، ثُمَّ جَعَلَ يَبْكِي حَتَّى تَرَكَ …
Sahih al-Bukhari 1275Sahih
Words on this page
- Ansarالأنصار
- "The Helpers": the Muslims of Madinah, from the Aws and Khazraj tribes, who welcomed and sheltered the Prophet ﷺ and the emigrants from Makkah.
- Badrبدر
- The first major battle between the Muslims and Quraysh, in 2 AH. Those who fought there hold a special rank among the Companions.
- Madinahالمدينة
- The city, formerly Yathrib, to which the Prophet ﷺ migrated and where the first Muslim community was built.
- Makkahمكة
- The city of the Ka'bah, where the Prophet ﷺ was born and revelation began.
Related companions
- أبو بكر الصديقAbu Bakr al-SiddiqThe Prophet's closest companion and first caliph, remembered for truthfulness, tender-hearted worship and giv…
- طلحة بن عبيد اللهTalha ibn UbaydullahA wealthy early Muslim who shielded the Prophet at Uhud with his own hand and was promised Paradise.
- أنس بن مالكAnas ibn MalikThe Prophet's young attendant for ten years, who reported his conduct with remarkable patience and detail.
- عمر بن الخطابUmar ibn al-KhattabUmar ibn al-Khattab, al-Faruq and second caliph: his night prayer, justice, generosity and respect for the Bo…
- عثمان بن عفانUthman ibn AffanUthman ibn Affan, third caliph and Dhu al-Nurayn: his modesty, open-handed giving, wudu, Quran and night-pray…
Sources and review
- Abd al-Rahman ibn Awf - Wikipedia (dates and life events) (opens in a new tab)
- hadith-api (mirror used to confirm hadith text, numbering and grades; mirrors sunnah.com) (opens in a new tab)
Hadith numbers follow sunnah.com. Each report links to sunnah.com, and, where the numbering matches, to al-Hadees or HadithUnlocked as well. Quran verses link to quran.com, Tafsir Ibn Kathir and Tanzil. The Arabic is taken from the hadith editions and trimmed around the quoted words, so read the full report at the source before relying on it. Grades are the ones those editions give.
This page is pending scholar review. It was compiled from public sources, and its citations were last checked on 7 October 2026. If you notice a mistake or a missing source, please tell us.