Abdur Rahman bin Awf
ʿ Abd al- Rahmaan ibn ʿ On (Arabic عبد الرحمن بن عوف, DMG ʿ Abd ar -Rahman ibn ʿ In † 652/3 ) was one of the earliest followers of the Prophet Mohammed and a successful trader who played a pivotal role in the choice of the third caliph Uthman ibn Affan played. According to a tradition cited by Muhammad ibn Sa ʿ d in his Kitaab aṭ - Tabaqat al - Kabir, he was born ten years after the year of the elephant, but this does not fit into any other traditional statement that he in the year 32 of the Hegira ( = 652 / 53 AD), died at age 75.
ʿ Abd al- Rahmaan ibn ʿ On belonged to the clan of quraischitischen Banū Zuhra and was originally called ʿ Abd al - ʿ Ka ba ( " servant of the Kaaba " ) or ʿ Abd ʿ Amr; the name of ʿ Abd al- Rahmaan he should have received only at his conversion by Muhammad. According to tradition, he joined Mohammed to before this began with the public preaching in the house of al - Arqam ibn Abī ʾ l - Arqam, and took part in the emigration to Abyssinia.
After the Hijrah to Yathrib in 622 him the rich Ansari Sa ʿ d ibn al- ʿ Rabī was assigned as a "brother" by the Prophet who is to have this opportunity half of his fortune and one of his two wives offered to him. ʿ Abd al- Rahmaan ibn ʿ on, it is reported, but I politely declined and asked about a place where he could trade. In the market of Banu Qainuqa he had then acquired a large fortune in a short time. With this he later supported the community through generous Sadaqa- payments. Due to his complaints about itching caused by lice Mohammed allowed him to wear silk, which was otherwise forbidden.
ʿ Abd al- Rahmaan took to the lifetime of the Prophet and in most battles of the Muslims part (for example, Badr and Uhud ) and led in December 627 a squad of fighters at 700 who occupied the place DUMAT al - Jandal.
Once Umar ibn al - Khattab became caliph, he commissioned ʿ Abd ar - Rahmaan regularly with the management of the pilgrimage to Mecca. After the death of Abu Ubaida ibn al - Dscharrah he became the closest confidant of Umar. Uthman ibn Affan, together with Ali ibn Abi Talib, Talhah ibn ʿ Ubaidullah, az - Zubayr ibn al - Sa'd ibn Abi Waqqas Awwam and he was one of the consultative body that would choose after the death of Umar the new caliph. By such persons harbored alone Ali and Uthman ambitions to succeed. ʿ Abd al- Rahmaan renounced the candidacy under the condition that the task of the referee he would be transferred in the event of disagreement. Da Sa ʿ d ʿ Alī voted for and al-Zubayr ʿ Uthmān for, but Talha was absent, came ʿ Abd ar - Rahmaan as referee for use. He decided, after consultation with the heads of Quraysh clans for ʿ Uthmān, so this became the new Caliph.
At his death, ʿ Abd ar - Rahmaan ibn should have ʿ leave on an immense fortune. Over his ( alleged? ) Grave on a hill northeast of Amman a small Grabmausoleum was built, at an unknown date.
ʿ Abd al- Rahmaan ibn ʿ on applicable in the Islamic tradition as a symbol of successful Muslim businessman. Together with Abu Bakr, he is led by the modern scholar Yusuf al -Qaradawi as proof that Islam is a religion from the beginning was that supported the trade.