Hisham bin Muhammad al-Kalbi narrates that when the command of zakah was revealed, the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) sent Sayyiduna Abu Bakr al-Siddiq (may Allah be pleased with him) to Sayyiduna Awf bin Malik al-Ashja'i (may Allah be pleased with him). Abu Bakr said to Awf: "Allah Almighty has revealed the command of sadaqah (zakah)." He asked: "What is sadaqah?" He said: "One camel out of every forty camels." Awf said: "Take any camel you choose from among these camels." Abu Bakr (may Allah be pleased with him) chose a camel that was suited for his saddle (for travelling). Awf said: "This is my own riding camel (that is, it is very valuable)." Abu Bakr (may Allah be pleased with him) said: "This is better for increasing your reward." Awf said: "Then take its young one along with it as well." So Abu Bakr (may Allah be pleased with him) brought that camel and its young one to the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) and described all of Awf's conduct. The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) said: "Go back to him and give him the glad tidings that Allah has built a palace for him in Paradise."

Muhammad bin Umar narrates that Sayyiduna Awf bin Malik al-Ashja'i (may Allah be pleased with him) took part in the Battle of Khaybar with the Muslims, and on the day of the Conquest of Makkah the banner of the tribe of Ashja' was with him. Then, during the caliphate of Sayyiduna Abu Bakr (may Allah be pleased with him), he moved to Syria and settled in Hims. He lived until the beginning of the caliphate of Abd al-Malik bin Marwan and died in the year 73 AH. His kunyah was Abu Amr.