عَبْدُ الرَّحْمَٰنِ بْنُ عَوْف
رَضِيَ اللَّهُ عَنْهُ
Abd ar-Rahman ibn Awf
Merchant of Madinah · Early Muslim · Muhajir
may Allah be pleased with him
Quraysh — Banu Zuhrah · Makkah and Madinah, up to about 32 AH
An early Muslim who arrived in Madinah with nothing, refused the half of a man's wealth he was offered, and asked to be shown the market instead. He later conducted the consultation that chose the third caliph.
Known for
Named among the Ten given glad tidings of Paradise
He asked to be shown the market rather than take a gift
Paired with an Ansari of Madinah who offered to share his property with him, he declined and asked only to be pointed to where trade was done.
He conducted the consultation that chose Uthman
Umar named six men to settle the succession between them. Abd ar-Rahman took himself out of the running and spent days asking people their view before giving the pledge.
Among those who emigrated to Abyssinia
His story in moments
Short episodes from his life, in order. Read one at a time.
Life & legacy
Makkah and Abyssinia
Abd ar-Rahman was of Banu Zuhrah, the clan of the Prophet's ﷺ mother, and accepted Islam in the earliest years in Makkah.
He was among those who left for Abyssinia during the persecution, and later emigrated to Madinah.
Madinah
The emigrants reached Madinah with almost nothing, and were paired with the Ansar, who shared their homes and their livelihoods. Abd ar-Rahman's response to that offer is the thing he is best remembered for, and it is set out in the moment below.
He traded, and he prospered, and he gave a great deal of it away. He took part in Badr, Uhud and the campaigns after them.
When Umar was dying he named six men to choose a successor from among themselves. Abd ar-Rahman withdrew his own name and took on the work of consulting instead, which ended with the pledge being given to Uthman. He died in Madinah around 32 AH.
How the sources describe him
He would rather earn than be given
He stepped back from power when it was within reach
Named among six candidates for the caliphate, he removed himself from the list.
Connect
People around him
Alongside
- The Prophet Muhammad ﷺCompanion
An early Muslim of Makkah, and of his mother's clan, Banu Zuhrah.
Named him among the six who were to choose the next caliph.
He conducted the consultation that ended with the pledge being given to him.
Full timeline
- The early Makkan years
Accepts Islam in Makkah
- The Makkan years, before the Hijrah
Emigrates to Abyssinia
- 1 AH approximate
Declines a share of an Ansari's property and asks for the market
- 23 AH
Conducts the consultation that chooses Uthman
- Around 32 AH approximate, reports differReports give 31 and 32 AH.
Dies in Madinah
Part of
Sources & review
In reviewBased on the listed sources. See something to correct? Tell us.
Sahih al-Bukhariصحيح البخاري
Hadith collection · Muhammad ibn Isma'il al-Bukhari
Jami' at-Tirmidhiجامع الترمذي
Hadith collection · Muhammad ibn 'Isa at-Tirmidhi
As-Sirah an-Nabawiyyahالسيرة النبوية
Classical biography · Ibn Hisham, from the recension of Ibn Ishaq
Kitab at-Tabaqat al-Kabirالطبقات الكبرى
Classical biography · Ibn Sa'd
Tarikh ar-Rusul wa'l-Mulukتاريخ الرسل والملوك
Classical history · Muhammad ibn Jarir at-Tabari
Al-Isabah fi Tamyiz as-Sahabahالإصابة في تمييز الصحابة
Classical biography · Ibn Hajar al-'Asqalani
Siyar A'lam an-Nubalaسير أعلام النبلاء
Classical biography · Shams ad-Din adh-Dhahabi
SahabaMate editorial summary
Editorial summary
References follow the citation detail available in the source material.
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