From Nothing to Millions
Sayyeduna Abdur Rahman Ibn Awf رضي الله عنه stood out among the companions of the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ. He was a man of extraordinary success. Though he became one of the wealthiest men in Medina, his wealth never ruled him, and he spent his life giving back to others.
When Abdur Rahman Ibn Awf became a Muslim, he was among the earliest followers of the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ. He was also one of the ten companions promised paradise, a rare and honourable title. But life wasn’t always easy for him. When Rassoul Allah ﷺ established brotherhood between Al Ansar in Medina and the muslims who made Hijra from Mecca, Abdur-Rahman Ibn Awf was paired with Saeed Ibn Rabi’, a wealthy man who offered him half his fortune. Imagine that: someone offerring half of his wealth and assets including home! But Abdur-Rahman Ibn Awf (may Allah be pleased with him), instead of accepting, smiled and said: “May Allah bless your wealth and family. Just show me the way to the market.”
And so, with nothing but his determination and good entreupeneur skills, shortly after making Hijra, Ibn Awf went to the market to trade. His first deal was small – some butter and cheese – but he made a profit. Slowly but surely, his efforts paid off, and he became one of the richest men in Medina.
Abdur Rahman Ibn Awf رضي الله عنه once said:
“If I lifted a stone, I hoped to find gold or silver beneath it.” His honesty, business skills and reputation turned every opportunity into success.
How wealthy was Abdur Rahman Ibn Awf?
Abdur Rahman Ibn Awf’s riches grew so vast that the city of Medina shook when his caravans entered. Once, 700 camels loaded with goods arrived in Medina from Syria. The sound of the camels and their loads caused a commotion, and people ran to see what was happening.
Hearing the noise, Aisha رضي الله , the wife of the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him), asked, “What is this sound?”
They replied, “It’s a caravan of Abdur Rahman Ibn Awf!”
Aisha (may Allah be pleased with her) remembered the Prophet Muhammad’s ﷺ words:
“I saw Abdur-Rahman Ibn Awf entering Paradise crawling.”
When Abdur-Rahman Ibn Awf heard this, he rushed to Aisha (رضي الله عنها) and said, “I swear that everything this caravan carries is for the sake of Allah.”
And just like that, he gave away an entire fortune to the poor and needy.
A Man Who Refused Power
Despite his success, Abdur-Rahman Ibn Awf رضي الله عنه never craved power or authority. Twice, he had the opportunity to become the leader of the Muslims, but both times, he declined.
After the death of Umar Ibn Al-Khattab رضي الله عنه , Abdur-Rahman Ibn Awf was chosen as one of six people to decide who would lead the Muslim community. Though he had every right to put himself forward, he chose to step back and help others make the right choice.
Instead of taking power, he asked the people and consulted with them. Eventually, he chose Uthman Ibn Affan رضي الله عنه as the leader, a decision that won the trust of everyone.
Even later, when leadership was offered again, he turned to Allah and said,
“O Allah, if leadership is meant for me, take my soul before it comes to me.”
True to his wish, he passed away peacefully six months later, leaving behind a legacy of humility.
Gratitude
Though he had everything—wealth, success, and respect—Ibn Awf (may Allah be pleased with him) always attributed any blessing to Allah. One day, while fasting, food was placed in front of him. As he looked at the food, he began to cry.
He said:
“Mus’ab Ibn Umair رضي الله عنه died in battle, and he was better than me. He had nothing but a small cloth for a shroud. If we covered his head, his feet would show, and if we covered his feet, his head would show. Then Hamza رضي الله عنه died, and he too had no shroud. Now here I am, eating and living in luxury. I fear our good deeds are being rewarded too quickly in this world.”
He cried so much that he stopped eating.
The Legacy of Abdur-Rahman Ibn Awf
Abdur-Rahman Ibn Awf (may Allah be pleased with him) left behind not only his wealth but also a lesson: true success is using your blessings for the good of others. He donated thousands of gold coins, gave away entire caravans, and supported the Prophet’s family even after his death.
Before his death, he donated fifty thousand dirhams for the sake of Allah, alongside one thousand horses and a thousand camels. His estate also included three thousand sheep, a hundred horses, and gold that was so plentiful, it had to be chopped with axes, and the workers’ hands became swollen from carrying it!
He divided his inheritance into sixteen shares. One share was allocated to Abu Bakra, a freed slave of the Prophet Muhammad . Each of his four wives received eighty thousand, with some sources citing amounts of one hundred thousand or even three hundred and twenty thousand dinars. He also left a garden valued at four thousand dinars for the mothers of the believers. He also secured a home for his children to manage legal affairs. His generosity, however, was so immense that much of his wealth had already been given away for the sake of Allah before his passing!
The Lesson for Us
Abdur-Rahman Ibn Awf’s (may Allah be pleased with him) story teaches us that wealth is not evil, it’s a tool that could be exploited appropriately. If we earn it honestly and spend it wisely, we can change lives. He reminds us that being rich doesn’t mean forgetting our values or chasing power. Instead, it’s about staying humble, thankful, and generous.
“True success isn’t measured by how much you own, but by how much you give.”