Ihyaaud Deen An Effort to Revive Deen in Totality
When Allah Ta’ala commanded Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) to set out for the expedition of Tabuk, many Sahaabah did not possess sufficient means at that time to undertake the long and arduous journey, especially when they were expecting to meet the Roman army in combat, who were well-equipped and large in number.
Hence, in order to mobilise and prepare the army, Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) exhorted the Sahaabah (radhiyallahu ‘anhum) to spend wealth in the path of Allah Ta’ala. Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) encouraged them to assist those who did not have the means to take part in the expedition and he promised them that in lieu of this assistance, they will receive great reward from Allah Ta’ala. In this manner, many poor Sahaabah (radhiyallahu ‘anhum) were given conveyances and equipment for the journey.
Hazrat Abdullah bin Abbaas (radhiyallahu ‘anhuma) narrates:
On that occasion, among the Sahaabah who contributed the most wealth was Abdur Rahmaan bin Auf (radhiyallahu ‘anhu). He spent two hundred Uqiyah of silver (eight thousand silver coins).
At that time, Hazrat Umar (radhiyallahu ‘anhu) remarked, ‘O Rasul of Allah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam)! I think Abdur Rahmaan (radhiyallahu ‘anhu) did not leave anything behind for his family.’
Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) then addressed Hazrat Abdur Rahmaan bin Auf (radhiyallahu ‘anhu) and asked him, ‘Did you leave anything behind for your family?’
He replied, ‘Yes, I left for them much more than what I had spent and what I left for them is really better for them!’
Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) then asked him ‘How much did you leave for them?’ He replied, ‘I left for them the promises of Allah Ta’ala and His Rasul (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) of receiving goodness and sustenance (when sacrificing for the sake of Deen).’
From this incident, we see that Hazrat Abdur Rahmaan bin Auf (radhiyallahu ‘anhu) and his family sacrificed all the wealth they possessed on that occasion for the sake of Allah Ta’ala. (Taarikh Ibn ‘Asaakir 2/28)
