Three virtues were combined in him: 1. Eminence in knowledge 2. Courage in battle 3. Great wealth Yet these three virtues did not define all of his qualities. Merchants, even if knowledgeable and brave, usually seek immediate profit. However, this wise merchant was too prudent to settle for small gains and forego greater profits, even if delayed. Therefore, he did not engage in transactions that yielded mere five or ten percent profits. The minimum return he was content with was turning a hundred into at least seventy thousand, and sometimes, in this trade, a hundred would become a hundred and forty thousand.
Do you know what this trade was? It was trade with Allah—the trade of charity, which he engaged in solely for that purpose and dedicated himself to. Every year, he donated a hundred thousand to scholars and warriors, and many of them received a stipend from this scholar-merchant’s fund.
Once, he was criticized for distributing his wealth in other cities rather than helping his own townspeople. He replied:
“I know the status of a people who are virtuous and truthful. They pursued Hadith, learned it well, and became needy due to people’s reliance on their knowledge. If we abandon them, their Hadith will be lost; but if we support them, they will spread knowledge.”
He would tell Fuzil ibn ‘Iyad: “If it were not for you and your companions, I would not engage in trade.”
The reports of his generosity are almost unbelievable. For example, when he set out for Hajj, his companions from Marw would gather and say, “Abu ‘Abd al-Rahman, may we accompany you?” He would reply, “Yes.” Then he would instruct them to bring the money they had prepared for Hajj. He would collect it, place it in a chest, and lock it. He would then arrange transportation for them, provide them with the best food, and serve them the finest sweets. When they reached Baghdad, he would host them there, then continue to Madinah, treating them with the utmost generosity along the way.
In Madinah, he would ask each of them, “Did your family ask you to bring them souvenirs from here?” They would reply, “Yes.” He would ask, “What did they request?” They would mention specific items, and he would buy them. Upon reaching Mecca, he would do the same. Whatever they desired, he would purchase for them.
On the journey back, as they neared Marw, he would send someone ahead to each of their homes to renovate, plaster, and beautify them. After three days, he would invite them to a feast, provide them with food, and gift them new clothes. Then, he would have the chest brought, open it, and return to each of them the exact amount they had contributed at the beginning of the journey.
His servant once said:
“The last feast of this kind he held included 25 dining spreads, all serving falooda (a type of dessert).”
His Support for Jihad
He would travel to al-Massisah (in northern Syria, a significant frontier region against the Romans) for jihad. Once, a group of Sufis who desired to join the battle accompanied him. He told them: “You are people who feel shy about receiving charity.” He called for a basin, covered it with a cloth, and said: “Put whatever money you have under the cloth.” Each contributed—one gave ten dirhams, another twenty. When they arrived at al-Massisah, he said: “This is a land of struggle; we shall now divide the remaining funds.” He then gave each of them 25 dinars. One of them objected, saying, “But I only gave 20 dirhams!” He replied: “Do you doubt that Allah blesses the wealth of a warrior in His cause?”
His Acts of Kindness
A man once came to him requesting repayment of a loan. He wrote to his agent, instructing him to pay the debt. When the letter reached the agent, he asked, “How much is your loan?” The man replied, “700 dirhams.” The agent looked at the letter and saw that the amount written was 7,000 dirhams. He wrote back, “You have written 7,000, but the actual loan is 700, and there is little left in our earnings.” Ibn Al-Mubarak replied: “The days of life are also passing, and little remains. Give him what my pen has written.”
Whenever he traveled to Raqqa, he would stay at a caravanserai (a travelers’ inn). A young man there would regularly visit him, serve him, and listen to his Hadith. One time, when Ibn Al-Mubarak returned to Raqqa, he did not find the young man. Since he was in a hurry, he proceeded to the frontier. Upon returning to Raqqa, he inquired about the young man and was told, “He is in prison due to debt.”
Ibn al-Mubarak searched for the creditor, found him, and secretly called him at night. He gave him 10,000 dirhams and instructed him to release the young man. He also made him swear not to reveal this act as long as he was alive.
The young man was released. People told him, “Abdullah ibn Al-Mubarak was here and has left.” He hurried to catch up with him and said, “Abu ‘Abd al-Rahman, where were you? I did not see you at the caravanserai!” Ibn Al-Mubarak replied, “Yes, I was imprisoned for debt.” “How did you get released?” he asked. The young man said, “A man I did not know came and paid my debt, and I was freed.” Ibn Al-Mubarak responded, “Young man, thank Allah for granting him the means to help you.”
That young man never revealed the truth of the matter until after Ibn al-Mubarak’s passing.
On one of his Hajj journeys, he passed through a land where a chicken they had brought with them died. He ordered it to be thrown in the garbage. His companions walked ahead while he remained behind. Suddenly, he saw a young girl come out of a nearby house, pick up the dead chicken, wrap it up, and rush back inside. Ibn Al-Mubarak approached her and asked why she had taken the chicken.
She explained: “My brother and I live here, and we own nothing but the clothes on our backs. We have no food except what is thrown away in this garbage heap. It has been days since carrion has become permissible for us. Our father was wealthy, but he was wronged, his wealth was seized, and he was killed.”
Ibn Al-Mubarak immediately ordered their supplies to be unloaded. He asked his agent, “How much money do we have?” “A thousand dinars,” the agent replied. Ibn Al-Mubarak said, “Set aside twenty dinars for our journey back to Marw and give the rest to this girl. This is better than our Hajj this year.” Then he turned back, abandoning the pilgrimage.
