Islamic Exemplary Stories

The cry of Abdurrahman bin Auf RA (entering heaven on all fours)

One day, when the city of Medina was silent, a thick dust began to approach from various parts of the city to almost cover the horizon. The yellow dust began to approach the doors of the city of Medina. People thought it was a storm, but afterwards they knew that it was a huge trading caravan. The number of 700 camels full of cargo that crowded the streets of Medina. People immediately went out to see the amazing sight, and they rejoiced at what the caravan brought in - kindness and sustenance. When Ummul Mukminin Aisyah RHA heard the noise of the caravan, then he asked, "What is going on in Medina?" Some replied, "This caravan belongs to Abdurrahman bin Auf RA who just came from Sham carrying his merchandise." Aisyah asked, "Cause make a noise like this?" They said, "Yes, O Ummul Mukminin, this caravan is 700 camels." Ummul Mukminin shook his head, then said, "I have heard the Prophet said, 'I dreamt to see Abdurrahman bin Auf enter heaven by crawling'." (al-Kanz, no. 33500)

Consider, O men of reason; Abdurrahman ibn Auf entered heaven on all fours!

Some of his friends gave him this news. He recalled that he had heard this hadeeth from the Prophet SAW more than once, and with different lafazh. He took his foot into the house of Ummul Mukminin Aisha RHA and said to her, "You have mentioned a hadith which I will never forget."

Then he said, "I testify that this caravan is following its cargo and saddle, I infuse it in the way of Allah SWT."

The cargo of 700 camels was distributed to the people of Medina and its surroundings in a "great feast". It was Abdurrahman ibn Auf, a successful merchant, a wealthy man, a skilled believer, who refused if his wealth kept him away from the caravan of faith and the reward of heaven. How not? While he was one of the eight people who had first converted to Islam, and was among those who were given the good news of heaven.

He was one of the six members of the deliberation appointed by al-Faruq Umar RA to choose a caliph among them after his death, saying, "Rasulullah SAW died in a state of pleasure to them."

He emigrated to Habash, then returned to Mecca. He then moved to Habash for the second time. Then emigrated to Medina, and followed the wars of Badr, Uhud and all the wars.

When the Prophet of Islam SAW reconciled between the Muhajirin and Anshar, he reconciled between Abdurrahman bin Auf and Sa'd bin ar-Rabi' RA. On that matter, Anas bin Malik RA said, "Sa'd said to Abdurrahman, 'O my brother, I am a resident of Medina who has the most wealth, look at half my property and take it. I have two wives, see which of them you admire the most, and I will divorce them for you to marry.' Abdurrahman bin Auf replied, 'May Allah bless you with regard to your family and your property... Show me the market.' Then he goes to the market, buys and sells and makes a profit."

His trade was again blessed, he sought the lawful and shunned the haram and shubhat. In his trade there was a perfect part for Allah, which was given to his family and brothers, and to prepare the armies of the Muslims.

He had heard the Prophet speak to him one day,

يَا ابْنَ عَوْفٍ، إِنَّكَ مِنَ اْلأَغْنِيَاءِ، وَإِنَّكَ سَتَدْخُلُ الْجَنَّةَ حَبْوًا، فَأَقْرِضِ اللهَ يُطْلِقْ لَكَ قَدَمَيْكَ

"O Ibn Auf, you are of the rich, and you will enter heaven on all fours. Therefore, lend a loan to Allah so that Allah may set your feet free." (HR. al-Hakim, 3/311 and al-Hilyah, 1/99).

From that time on, he made a loan to Allah with a good loan, so that Allah multiplied the payment to him by a large double. One day he sold the land for 40,000 dinars, then distributed it all to his family, the Bani Zahrah, to Ummahatul Mukminin, and the poor from among the Muslims. One day he gave to an army of Muslims 500 horses. On another day, he gave as many as 1500 camels. When he died, he put 50,000 dinars in the way of Allah. It was for each living person of the battle participants Badr got 400 denarii in the way of Allah. To the extent that Imam Shahid Uthman ibn Affan RA took his share of the will and said, "Abdurrahman's wealth is lawful and clean, and enjoying the treasure becomes healing and blessing."

Therefore he said, "The people of Medina were all allies of Ibn Auf with regard to his property, and another third he got and gave it to them."

One day he was brought food to break the fast, because he was fasting. When his eyes saw the food and invited his taste, he wept and said, "Mush'ab bin Umair was martyred and he was better than me, and he was forgiven with a blanket. If the head is covered, then both legs are visible and if both legs are covered, then the head is visible. Hamzah died a martyr and it was better than me. He did not get a cloth to memorize it other than a blanket. Then the world was presented to us, and the world was given to us in such a way. I'm afraid that our reward has been hastened upon us in the world."

One day some of his friends gathered to eat food at his residence. When food was served in front of them, he cried. They asked, "What makes you weep, O Abu Muhammad?" He replied, "Rasulullah SAW has died in his condition and his temple members have never been full of wheat bread... I don't see us being terminated, because something's better for us."

Thus Abdurrahman ibn Auf, to the extent that it is said about him, if a stranger who does not know him sees him sitting with his servants, then he cannot distinguish between them.

When al-Faruq Umar bin al-Khaththab RA will take his holy life, and choose six people from the companions of the Prophet of Allah SAW to choose a new caliph, among them is Abdurrahman ibn Auf, so at that time many fingers were pointing towards Ibn Auf. When some of his friends mocked him about it, he said, "By Allah, the arrow's eye was taken and placed in my throat, and then passed to the other side, I'd rather be caliph."

After that, he told his five brothers that he was withdrawing from the nomination. But they thought that he would be the judge in choosing the caliph. He is the one who was judged by Imam Ali bin Abi Talib RA, "I hear the Prophet PBUH as a believer in the people of the heavens and a believer in the people of the earth."

This is where the right election takes place. He chose Dzun Nurain, a generous and timid man, a well digger for the Muslims, one who prepared the forces of Makkah conquest, Imam Shahid Uthman ibn Affan RA. Finally, the others followed his choice.

In 32 A. H., Ibn Auf breathed his last. Ummul mukminin Aisha RHA wants to give her special gifts that she has never given to anyone else. Aisha offered to him, at the time when Ibn Auf lay on his deathbed, to be buried in his room at the side of the Apostle SAW, Abu Bakr ash-Shiddiq and Umar ibn al-Khaththab RA. But he was a Muslim who was so well educated by his Islam that he felt ashamed to lift himself to such a degree. Moreover, he had a very strong agreement with Uthman bin Mazh'un RA, when the two made a pact one day, that between the two who died later, who among them died later, he was scattered near his friend.

When his soul was ready to make a new journey, his eyes shed tears, and he said, "I am afraid to be restrained to meet my friends because of the wealth I have."

But Allah SWT lowered His tranquility, and his face sparkled with light. It was as if he heard something soothing that was close to him. It seems that he heard the word of the Apostle SAW in the past, "Abdurrahman ibn Auf entered heaven."

He seems to have heard the promise of God in His Scriptures, "Those who spend their wealth in the way of God, then they did not accompany what he gave by mentioning his gift and by not hurting (the feeling of the receiver), they got their reward with their Lord. There is no concern for them and no (in any case) they are sad." (Al-Baqara: 262).

FOOTNOTE:

* Abdurrahman bin Auf az-Zuhri al-Qurasyi, one of the ten people who were given good news with heaven, one who first converted to Islam. Died in 32 H. Look, al-A'lam, 3/321. alsofwah.or.id