Abd al-Rahman ibn Awf

Abd al-Rahman was friends with Umayyah ibn Khalaf, a stern opponent of Islam. When Abd al-Rahman emigrated to Medina, the two reached a written agreement, according to which Abd al-Rahman was to protect Umayyah's property and family in Medina, while Umayyah would protect Abd al-Rahman's in Mecca. When Abd al-Rahman wanted to sign the document, Umayyah protested, saying "I do not know Ar-Rahman" and requested that the pre-Islamic name "Abd Amr" should be used, to which Abd al-Rahman agreed.[5] The two met again in the Battle of Badr in March 624. A hadith attributed to Abd al-Rahman ibn Awf reports:

Sunnis tend to view this as Sahih and have included it in Sahih Bukhari[6].

Abdel Rahman was one of those who stood firmly beside Muhammad at the Battle of Uhud when most of the warriors fled.[1]^: 98 Later, he also participated in the pledge of the Tree during the first pilgrimage of the Medinan Muslims[7][8] Abd ar-Rahman participated in all military operations led by Muhammad.[9]

In August 626 Muhammad directed Abd al-Rahman ibn Awf to raid the Kalb tribe in Daumatul-Jandal, instructing him: “Take it, Ibn Awf; fight everyone in the way of Allah and kill those who disbelieve in Allah. Do not be deceitful with the spoil; do not be treacherous, nor mutilate, nor kill children. This is Allah's ordinance and the practice of His prophet among you.” Muhammad also instructed him on the correct way to wind a turban.[3]^: 672 Abd al-Rahman defeated the Kalbites and extracted from them their declaration of Islam and the payment of the jizya. He then sealed the alliance by marrying the chief's daughter Tamadur bint Al-Asbagh and bringing her back to Medina.[10]^{: 207–208}

In August 634 the dying Caliph Abu Bakr called in Abd al-Rahman and Uthman to inform them that he had designated Umar ibn al-Khattab as successor.

Abd al-Rahman ibn Awff witnessed the Battle of al-Qadisiyyah, which took place in the 14th year of migration, before the Muslim armies continued to subdue Ctesiphon, the capital of the Sasanian empire.[11] Later, Abd al-Rahman also participated in the battle of Jalula in the year of 16 AH, where the Muslims managed to seize massive spoils of war.[11] Abd al-Rahman ibn Awf and Abdullah ibn Arqam were then assigned by caliph Umar to escort the spoils to the capital of the caliphate.[11] Later, After the conquest of Jerusalem, Abd al-Rahman ibn Awf was involved in the writing of the 'covenant of Umar' regarding the newly subdued Jerusalem, which was ratified by the caliph.[11] Nevertheless, during the caliphate of Umar, Abd al-Rahman was mostly pursuing a scholarly career and assumed the leadership of the Hajj pilgrims' convoy.[11]

In 644 the dying caliph Umar nominated a board of six members (the Council of Shura) to elect one of themselves as the next caliph. The group consisted of Sad Ibn Abi Waqqas, Abdel Rahman ibn Awf, Zubayr ibn al-Awwam, Talha ibn Ubayd Allah, Ali ibn Abi Talib and Uthman ibn Affan. Uthman was chosen as the third caliph by Abd al-Rahman ibn Awf.[12]

Abd al-Rahman died in Medina in c. 654 at the age of seventy-two. At his death, Abd al-Rahman left an inheritance, in which a quarter of his property alone was worth 84,000 dinars.[13] He was buried in the Al-Baqi Cemetery.[14]

His sister was married to Bilal Ibn Rabah.

He married at least sixteen times and had over thirty known children.[1]^: 97[18]^: 77–78

1. Umm Habiba bint Zama'a, a sister of Sawda. No children are known from this marriage.
2. Umm Kulthum bint Utba of the Abdshams clan of the Quraysh in Mecca.[10]^: 167
   1. Salim the Elder (died before Islam).
3. The Daughter of Shayba ibn Rabia ibn Abdshams.
   1. Umm Al-Qasim (born before Islam).
4. Habiba bint Jahsh of the Asad tribe, a sister of Zaynab bint Jahsh (childless).[10]^: 171
5. Tamadir bint al-Asbagh of the Kalb tribe. Although Abdur-Rahman divorced her during his final illness, she, like his other three widows, inherited one-thirty-second of his fortune, which was 80,000 or 100,000 dirhams.[1]^: 104[10]^{: 207–209}
   1. Abdullah the Younger (Abu Salama).
6. Umm Kulthum bint Uqba from the Umayya clan of the Quraysh in Mecca.[10]^: 163
   1. Muhammad, from whom he took his kunya of Abu Muhammad.
   2. Ibrahim.
   3. Humayd.
   4. Isma'il.
   5. Hamida.
   6. Amat ar-Rahman the Elder.
7. Sahla bint Asim from the Baliyy tribe of Medina.
   1. Maan.
   2. Umar.
   3. Zayd.
   4. Amat ar-Rahman the Younger.
8. Bahriya bint Hani of the Shayban tribe.
   1. Urwa the Elder (killed at Ifriqiya).
9. Sahla bint Suhayl of the Amir ibn Luayy clan of the Quraysh.[10]^: 190
   1. Salim the Younger (killed at Ifriqiya).
10. Umm Hakim bint Qariz of the Kinana tribe.[10]^{: 304–305}[18]
    1. Abu Bakr.
11. The Daughter of Abu al-His ibn Rafi from the Abdulashhal ibn Aws tribe of Medina.
    1. Abdullah (killed during the conquest of Africa)
12. Asma bint Salama
    1. Abd al-Rahman.
13. Umm Horayth, a war-captive from Bahra
    1. Mus'ab.
    2. Amina.
    3. Maryam.
14. Majd bint Yazid from the Himyar tribe.
    1. Suhyal (Abu'l-Abayd)
15. Zaynab bint As-Sabbah.
    1. Umm Yahya.
16. Badiya bint Ghaylan from the Thaqif tribe.
    1. Juwayriya.
17. Ghazzal bint Khosrau (concubine), a war-captive from Al-Mada'in
    1. Uthman
18. Other Concubines (unnamed).
    1. Urwa.
    2. Yahya.
    3. Bilal.
    4. Saad.[18]
    5. al-Miswar (died at al-Harra).[18]
    6. Fakhita, a wife of Yazid ibn Abi Sufyan.[18]
    7. Umm al-Qasim the Younger, a wife of Yahya ibn al-Hakam (brother of Marwan I).[18]
    8. Daughter, a wife of Abdullah ibn Uthman ibn Affan.[18]
    9. Daughter, a wife of Abdullah ibn Abbas.[18]

Many stories are told of Abd al-Rahman's personal generosity. He once furnished Muhammad's army with 1,500 camels. He bequeathed 400 dinars to the survivors of Badr and a large legacy to the widows of Muhammad.

Dhahabi reported that Abdel Rahman brought a caravan of 700 merchant-camels into Medina.[19] Aisha remarked, "I have heard Allah's Messenger say: 'I have seen Abd al-Rahman ibn Awf entering Paradise crawling.'" This was repeated to Abd al-Rahman, who replied: "If I could, I would certainly like to enter Paradise standing. I swear to you, yaa Ammah, that this entire caravan with all its merchandise, I will give in charity." And so he did.[20]

Abdel Rahman also reportedly once has given charity of 50,000 gold dinar of his personal wealth.[15]

Abd al-Rahman ibn Awf was tall and bent-backed with a fine, light, rosy complexion and a handsome face. In old age he did not dye his hair.[1]^: 101 Other descriptions refer to his curly hair; lustrous, long-lashed eyes; convex nose; somewhat protruding upper teeth; thick hair under the earlobes; long, elegant neck; and thick, masculine hands and fingers. He had a limp due to the wounds that he incurred at the Battle of Uhud.

Sunnis regard him as one of al-ʿashara al-mubashsharūn—the ten companions that Muhammad prophesied would enter Paradise.[21]