We often admire modern-day billionaires and the way they live. Many people see them as role models for success. They read books about their lives to learn how they think and work.
But let me tell you about a noble Companion of Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ) whose wealth and generosity became legendary. His name was Abdur Rahman bin Auf (R.Z), a Sahabi whose riches, even when calculated today, would reach billions of dollars.
Abdur Rahman bin Auf (R.Z) belonged to the respected Banu Zuhra tribe, the same tribe as the Prophet’s (ﷺ) mother. His family in Makkah ran a huge business in leather and perfumes, and he learned trade from his father.
He was a good friend of Abu bakr (R.Z). At the age of 30, Abdur Rahman bin Auf (R.Z) accepted Islam through Abu Bakr (R.Z). When he migrated to Madinah, he took nothing with him. He left behind his wealth, business, and property.
In Madinah, the Ansari companion Sa’d bin Rabi’ (R.Z) offered him half of his wealth, but Abdur Rahman (R.Z) politely refused and said: “Show me the way to the marketplace.” This shows his trust in Allah, his hard work, and his dignity.
He found that the entire business market was controlled by Jewish traders who often cheated people.
The Arab tribes remained silent because they had taken loans on interest and were afraid to speak.
Abdur Rahman bin Auf (R.Z) was a skilled businessman. With trust in Allah, he started his business from the scratch in the market of Madinah by selling whatever small things he had.
With honesty, and hard work he built the largest business in Madinah in a short amount of time.
His wealth grew so much that the entire Muslim Khilafat could run its finances from his contributions alone. His support was strong enough to fulfill the needs of a huge Islamic empire.
Historians calculate that his wealth today would equal: $600,000,000,000 (Six Hundred Billion Dollars).
Even the richest man today, like Waleed bin Talal with $16 billion, would not come close to him (R.Z).
If Abdur Rahman bin Auf (RA) lived today, he would still be the richest man in the world. But his greatness was not in money, it was in his heart. He did not only used his wealth to help Muslims in battles, he fought bravely in the battles. Especially in the Battle of Badr, he played a key role in killing Umayyah ibn Khalaf, one of the fiercest enemies of Islam. During the battles for Islam, he received many injuries, including a deep wound struck his leg, causing him to limp for the rest of his life.
Due to his immense generosity for Muslims, his courage in battles, and his steadfastness in the mission of Islam, Prophet Muhammad’s (ﷺ) gave him the glad news of a promised place in Jannah.
All his life, he (R.Z) used his wealth to support widows, feed the poor, fund Muslim armies in battles, and strengthen Islam. His generosity held up the Muslim community like a pillar. Hazrat Abdur Rahman bin Auf (R.Z) remains a shining example of how faith, honesty, and hard work bring success in both this world and the hereafter.
