A long time ago, in the holy city of Makkah, there was a good and honest man named Abd al-Rahman ibn ‘Awf, and he was one of the first people to believe in Islam, and he became a close friend and helper of Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him).
Early Life and Business Skills
Even before he became Muslim, Abd al-Rahman was known as a smart, kind, and fair businessman who never lied, never cheated, and always gave people the right price, and he was part of the noble tribe of Quraysh.
His real name was Abd Amr, but when he accepted Islam, the Prophet gave him the name Abd al-Rahman, which means “Servant of the Most Merciful,” and this name suited him perfectly because he always wanted to please Allah by doing good, being gentle, helping the poor, and caring for his Muslim brothers and sisters.
Faith and Perseverance
He accepted Islam very early, even when many people were afraid to believe, and he stood strong with the Prophet when other people were angry.
Even when people made fun of him, or shouted at him, or tried to hurt him, he did not give up his faith.
Hijrah to Madinah
When the Muslims were treated badly in Makkah, Abd al-Rahman left everything and made Hijrah—he moved with the other Muslims to the city of Madinah, where they were safer and could pray freely.
When he arrived in Madinah, he had no house, no money, and no shop, and the Prophet (PBUH) made him a brother to another kind man named Sa’d ibn Rabi’, who was very rich and said, “I will give you half of my money and my house,” but Abd al-Rahman smiled and said, “Thank you, my brother, but just show me the way to the market.”
A Blessed Businessman
This showed how brave, hardworking, and honest he was, and he started his business again, buying and selling things, always telling the truth, never lying, and always being fair.
In just a short time, Allah blessed him, and he became rich again, but he never became proud or greedy, and he always remembered that everything he had was from Allah.
He gave so much to poor people, orphans, widows, and travelers, and he helped build mosques, feed the hungry, and free slaves.
Beloved by the Prophet (PBUH)
The Prophet (PBUH) loved him very much and said, “Abd al-Rahman is in Jannah (Paradise),” and this made him very happy, but he still worked hard to give more and more for the sake of Allah.
Service in Battles
He fought bravely in many battles like Badr, Uhud, and Tabuk, and he even gave his money and food for the army when the Muslims needed help.
Once, the Prophet asked people to give charity for the Muslim army, and Abd al-Rahman gave 2000 coins of gold, which was a lot, but he did it with a big smile, and the Prophet (PBUH) said, “May Allah bless all that you give.”
Humble and God-Fearing
Even though he was rich, he dressed simply, ate simply, and always prayed and remembered Allah.
He would often cry when he remembered the poor, and say, “I am afraid I will be given too much in this world and lose my reward in the next.”
This shows that he was not just rich in money, but rich in iman (faith) and taqwa (God-fearing heart), and he never forgot the times when Muslims had nothing.
After the Prophet (PBUH)
He never forgot how hard the Prophet worked, and how much the Sahabah gave to protect Islam.
When the Prophet passed away, Abd al-Rahman continued to serve Islam, and he helped Hazrat Abu Bakr (RA), Hazrat Umar (RA), and Hazrat Uthman (RA), and he was always kind, wise, and careful with his words.
When Hazrat Umar was dying, he asked Abd al-Rahman to help choose the next leader of the Muslims, because he trusted him so much, and this shows how honest and respected he was.
His Final Years and Legacy
When Abd al-Rahman became very old, he still prayed on time, still gave charity, still helped people, and he taught children and young people about Islam, about being kind, about being honest in business, and about always thanking Allah.
When he passed away, he left so much money behind, but before he died, he gave much of it away, and said, “Give this to the people of Badr, and give this to the poor, and give this for Allah’s cause.”
Many people made du’a for him, and said, “This man gave his heart and his hands for Islam,” and now he is in Jannah, in a beautiful place with gardens, rivers, and peace.
Lessons for Children
We remember him not just for his gold, but for his golden heart, and for his loyalty to the Prophet and his love for Allah.
Children can learn from Hazrat Abd al-Rahman ibn ‘Awf that being rich is not bad if you share, if you care, and if you thank Allah.
We learn that being honest is better than being clever, and that giving to others is better than keeping for ourselves.
Prayer, good manners, and a clean heart are more important than toys or clothes.
Just like Abd al-Rahman gave food to others, we should share our lunch if a friend has none.
Just like he gave charity, we can give coins in the sadaqah box, or give our time to help someone in need.
We should never lie, never cheat, and never forget that all good comes from Allah.
Conclusion
One day, if we try to be like him, we can also hope to be in Jannah with the Prophet and the Sahabah, where there will be no pain, no sadness, and no hunger—only joy, peace, and love forever.
That is the beautiful story of Hazrat Abd al-Rahman ibn ‘Awf (RA), the rich man with a heart full of light, the businessman who helped Islam grow, and the friend of the Prophet who gave everything for the sake of Allah.