It is narrated from Sayyiduna Amir bin Wathilah (may Allah be pleased with him) that once at a place called ‘Usfan, Nafi‘ bin ‘Abd al-Harith met Sayyiduna ‘Umar (may Allah be pleased with him). Sayyiduna ‘Umar (may Allah be pleased with him) had appointed him as the governor of Makkah Mukarramah. Sayyiduna ‘Umar (may Allah be pleased with him) asked him,“Whom have you appointed as your deputy in your absence?”He replied,“‘Abdur Rahman bin Abza.”Sayyiduna ‘Umar (may Allah be pleased with him) asked,“Who is Ibn Abza?”He replied,“He is one of our freed slaves.”Sayyiduna ‘Umar (may Allah be pleased with him) said,“You have appointed a slave as your deputy?”He replied,“He is a reciter of the Noble Qur’an, knows the laws of inheritance and obligations, and has the ability to judge.”Sayyiduna ‘Umar (may Allah be pleased with him) said,“Your Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) has already said regarding such people that indeed Allah will honor many people through this Book and will abase many others through it.”