05-04-2003, 07:40 AM
[b:554143770a][i:554143770a][u:554143770a]<span>This post was originally posted by our sister Muslimah, I moved it here since it belongs within this thread[/u:554143770a].[/size:554143770a][/i:554143770a][/b:554143770a][/color:554143770a]</span>
<span>The ten companions who were promised Jannah: AbduRahman Ibn A`awf</span>
<span>AbduRahman Ibn A`awf (May Allah be pleased with him)</span>
<span>“Oh Ibn A`awf you are one of the affluent and you shall enter Jannah crawling so lend Allah so He shall release your feet”</span>
<span>He was one of the eight pioneer people to embrace Islam. When Abou Bakr introduced Islam to him, he never found any part ambiguous. He immediately responded to the call. He further hastened to the Messenger of Allah (PAPBUH) to accept Islam before him. The minute he did, he started to encounter his share of oppression from the pagans. He joined the first and second immigration to Ethiopia. Ibn A`awf followed the Muslims as well to Median. He participated in all the important events. On the day of Auhud, he was injured in twenty different parts of his body. One of the injuries left him with a handicapped leg. He also lost a number of teeth leaving a clear deficiency with his pronunciation. </span>
<span>Trade: </span>
<span>Ibn A`awf (may Allah be pleased with him) was very lucky with trade to his amazement. He said:” I think if I lifted a rock I would find underneath silver or gold”. To him trade was not only a profession to gain money. But rather to secure an honest source of income. We will easily observe this when the Messenger of Allah (PAPBUH) made brotherhood between the immigrants and the supporters (Muhajereen and Ansar). The Messenger (PAPBUH) made brotherhood between AbdurRahman Ibn A`awf and Saad Ibn Rabe`a. At this point, Saad told AbdurRahman: (Oh my brother I’m the wealthiest among people of Medina, so take half of my money. Also I have two wives and I want you to see which one you like best so that I divorce her for you to marry). AbdurRahman replied: (May Allah bless your money and women, please show me the market). He went out to the market, bought, sold and made profit. </span>
<span>Right of Allah:</span>
<span>The trade of AbdurRahman Ibn A`awf was not for him alone. No but Allah and the Muslims had a share in it. He heard the Messenger of Allah (PAPBUH) one day saying:” Oh Ibn A`awf you are among the affluent and you shall enter Jannah crawling so lend Allah so that He Shall release your feet”. </span>
<span>Since then, he kept on lending Allah a soft loan and in return Allah multiplies it for him. One day he sold land for 40.000 Dinar which he gave all to his people from Beni Zahra, mothers of the believers and poor Muslims. In addition, he provided 500 horses to the Muslim armies and on another situation he even provided 1500. Upon his death, he made a will to give out 50.000 Dinar in the name of Allah, 400 Dinar for the survivals of Badr to the extent that Othman the Khalifa became entitled for a share of the will, which he accepted. He commented: (Money of AbdurRahman is purely halal and thus eating from it is healthy and blessing). AbdurRahman Ibn A`awf was very generous which was described as: (People of Media are all partners of Ibn A`awf in his money. He lends one third, pays back the debt of one third and connects with and gives one third). After his death, he left a huge amount of gold that men’s hands became tired while preparing it with hack. </span>
<span>The Caravan of Faith:</span>
<span>One-day Medina received a blow of wind, which people thought it was a sandstorm. However, soon it became apparent that it is a large caravan carrying valuable loads, crowding Medina and shaking it. Aysha (may Allah be pleased with her) inquired: (What is happening in Medina?) People replied to her that a caravan which belongs to AbdurRahman Ibn A`awf arrived from Shaam carrying his trade. She was amazed saying (What a caravan that makes all this vibration?). They responded: (Yes mother of the believers it includes 700 riding camels. At this point Aysha shacked her head remembering: (I heard the Messenger of Allah PAPBUH say I saw AbdurRahman Ibn A`awf entering Jannah crawling. When this statement was conveyed to Ibn A`awf he remembered hearing this hadeeth from the Prophet PAPBUH more than one time. He hurried towards Aysha may Allah be pleased with her saying: (You reminded me of a hadeeth, which I never forgot). He further added: (I put you as a witness that the full load of this caravan is dedicated in the name of Allah). The load of a 700 riding camel was fully distributed on people of Medina and the surrounding areas. </span>
<span>Fear:</span>
<span>The wealth of AbdurRahman may Allah be pleased with him was a source of fear and disturbance. One day he was fasting and while he received his Iftar, he looked at the food, lost his appetite and cried. He commented: (Mosa`b Ibn Omair, who is much better than me, martyred. They wrapped him in a peace of cloth was not sufficient to cover both his head and legs. If one of them was covered the other was exposed. Hamza also martyred and he is better than me. Nothing was found to warp him with (Kafan) except a rough peace of cloth. As for us, what was expanded for us in Dunia was expanded and we received what we received. I am concerned that the reward for our good deeds was given to us in advance).</span>
<span>One-day food was served to him while he was among his friends. He cried. They inquired why are you crying Abu Mohamed? He explained: “ The Messenger of Allah PAPBUH died while he and his family members did not eat enough of barely bread. I don’t think that our death delayed for what is better for us).</span>
<span>This level of fear he enjoyed made him far off from arrogance. According to people: (When a stranger sees him sitting among his servants would never recognize him as a master).</span>
<span>Escape from power:</span>
<span>AburRahman was one of the six who were assigned for consultancy. Omar delegated them succession after him saying: (The Messenger of Allah PAPBUH died while he was pleased with them). They all referred to Ibn A`awf as the one who mostly deserves to be a Khalifa. He answered: (In the name of Allah, if a razor would be inserted into my throat to come out from the other side would be better for me than this assignment). As soon as the six men who were assigned Shura met in order to select a successor for Omar, AbdurRahman Ibn A`awf gave up his right given to him by Omar himself. He delegated the issue to the other five, which made them decide that he would serve as a judge among them. Aly may Allah honor his face said to him: (I heard the Messenger of Allah PAPBUH describe you as honest among people of skies and honest among people of earth). Therefore, AbdrRuhaman Ibn A`awf selected Othman Ibn Affan for succession (Khelfah) which received a consensus approval. </span>
<span>His Death:</span>
<span>In the year 32 of Hijra he – may Allah be pleased with him – died. Aysha the mother of the believers wanted to provide him with a special honor, which she never offered before. She offered him to be buried in her room next to the Messenger of Allah PAPBUH, Abi Bakr and Omar. However, he was shy to accept the generous offer and put himself into this level of neighborhood. He requested to be buried next to Othman Ibn Madhou`n. One day they actually made an agreement for whoever dies after the other to be buried next to his friend. His eyes were flooding with tears while he was mumbling: (I am concerned to be kept away from my friends due to my abundant wealth). However, soon he was surrounded with serenity, his face became illuminated and he looked alert as if someone was talking to him. May be that he heard the promise of the Messenger of Allah PAPBUH: (AbdurRahman Ibn A`awf is in Jannah).</span><span>[/b]</span><span> </span>