Outline
- Introduction
- The Beginning…
- Who is Sayyidunā Uthman ibn ‘Affān?
- Sayyidunā Uthman Migrates to Abyssinia
- Sayyidunā Uthman in Madīnah
- Sayyidunā Uthman During the Caliphates of Abū Bakr and ‘Umar
- The Next Section
Introduction
We hear about humble people. But the truth is, some humble are only humble because they’re materially poor. We also hear about wealthy people. But they are hardly humble.
However, Sometimes, we come across wealthy people who are truly and genuinely humble. If you want to be one of them, then you must pay attention to the life story of this Shining Star.
He was truly sincere, genuine and trustworthy. So much so, that the Prophet took a pledge of allegiance (bay’ah) on his behalf during Bay’ah al-Riḍwān (which came before the treaty of Hudaybiyah while he was absent.
After 1400 years, his Sadaqah Jāriyah (continuous charity) is still running until this very moment in Madinah.
He married a daughter of the Prophet. When she passed on, the Prophet married him another daughter of his. When she also passed on, the Prophet ṣallā Allāhu ‘alayhi wa sallam said to him, “if I have an unmarried daughter, I would have married her to you.“
Yes, he was Dhū al-Nūrayn (the companion of two lights, for marrying the two daughters of the Prophet). He was the third Caliph of Islam. He was Sayyidunā Uthman ibn ‘Affān.
Sayyidunā Uthman ibn ‘Affān is our Shining Star in this episode of The Shining Stars Series brought to you by GSalam.Net and Al-Bushra by GSalam.
The Beginning…
In his book, Usd al-Ghābah, ibn Sa’d reports, that Uthman ibn ‘Affān related to the Prophet, an experience they encountered on their way back from Syria. They felt like sleepy. They then heard a voice that said to them, “O you sleeping ones, wake up, for Ahmad has appeared in Makkah.” True enough, when they returned to Makkah, they heard about Muhammad calling to Islam.
After Sayyidunā Abū Bakr al-Ṣiddīq accepted Islam, he succeeded in making wise use of his network to spread Islam. So, he approached the ones he trusted, not only for their friendship but for their preference of faithfulness, sincerity and willingness to accept the truth, regardless.
In a short period, he succeeded in inviting some personalities, who later became heavyweights in Islam. One of them was Sayyidunā Uthmān ibn ‘Affān.
It’s believed that Sayyidunā Uthman was the first to accept Islam in the hands Sayyidunā Abū Bakr raḍiya Allāhu ‘anhu. Thus, we count him the sixth to have accepted Islam. He comes after
- Sayyidatunā Khadījah
- Sayyidunā Zayd ibn Ḥārithah
- Sayyidatunā Barakah Ummu Ayman
- Sayyidunā Abū Bakr al-Ṣiddīq and
- Sayyidunā ‘Ali ibn Abī Ṭālib
Now, who is Sayyidunā Uthman ibn ‘Affān?
Who is Sayyidunā Uthmn ibn ‘Affān?
Sayyidunā Uthman is known as Uthman ibn ‘Affān (‘Uthmān ibn ‘Affān) ibn Abī al-Āṣ ibn Umayyah ibn ‘Abd Shams ibn ‘Abd Manāf ibn Quṣay ibn Kilāb ibn Murrah ibn Ka’b ibn Lu’ay ibn Ghālib ibn Fihr ibn Mālik ibn al-Naḍr.
His father, Abū al-‘Āṣ who was a cousin to Abū Sufyan ibn Ḥarb raḍiya Allāhu ‘anhu died before Islam, in the childhood of Sayyidunā Uthman.
His mother was Arwā bint Kurayz, ibn Rabī’ah ibn Ḥabīb ibn ‘Abd Shams ibn ‘Abd Manāf ibn Quṣay. Arwā bint Kurayz was a cousin to the Prophet ṣallā Allāhu ‘alayhi wa sallam. She embraced Islam and died during the caliphate of her son, Sayyidunā Uthman.
Some reports say that he was born in Tā’if, while some insist he was born in Makkah. Either way, he was born six years after the birth of the Prophet ṣallā Allāhu ‘alayhi wa sallam. This means he was 34 years when he embraced Islam in response to Sayyidunā Abū Bakr’s call for him to Islam.
Sayyidunā Uthman inherited trading and business from his father. With that, he became a hefty rich and wealthy person.
In addition to his wealth, Sayyidunā Uthmn ibn ‘Affān was knowledgeable, experienced and above all, he was social and a man of good conduct and character. He was an easygoing, generous and a person of great patience.
Likewise Sayyidunā Abū Bakr and Sayyidunā ‘Ali and others, Sayyidunā Uthman has never taken wine nor prostrated to idols in his life.
Sayyidunā Uthman was a very shy person to the extent that even the Angels were shy of Uthman.
Spiritually, Sayyidunā Uthman was a devoted person, who was known to be very consistent in Qiyāmullayl. He was also known to be fond of reading the Qur’an most of the time.
Sayyidunā Uthman Migrates to Abyssinia
When Islam came, the Prophet and his followers were tortured in the hands of the people of Makkah. Not for anything, other than their choice to abandon polytheism and their embrace of Islam where purity in faith and true salvation lies in front of the son of Adam.
Each Muslim was tortured by his family members or relatives. Despite his wealth, Sayyidunā Uthman was not an exception. His uncle Al-Ḥakam ibn Abī al-‘Āṣ tied him up, and tortured him brutally. When he realized Uthmn’s firmness in his faith he decided to let go of him.
Sayyidunā Uthman became free from the torture, but other Muslims continued to face hostility in the hands of their blooded relatives. The hostility worsened and grew to severe torture, that the Prophet advised his companions to migrate to Abyssinia where there’s a king who didn’t allow injustice in his land.
This happened in the fifth year after the arrival of Islam.
Sixteen Muslims, 12 men, and 4 women participated in this Hijrah. Sayyidunā Uthman and his wife, Sayyidatunā Ruqayyah were among them. And they became the first household to migrate for the sake of Allah after Sayyidunā Lūṭ and his family.
Among those who migrated in this Hijrah were Abu Salamah and his wife Umm Salamah, Abd al-Rahman ibn ‘Awf, Muṣ'ab ibn ‘Umayr, al-Zubayr ibn al-Awwām, Uthman ibn Maẓ’ūn, ‘Āmir ibn Rabī’ah and his wife Laylā bint Abī Hathmah, and later on some others joined them, including Ja’far ibn Abī Ṭālib.
The number of those who migrated including children who born in Abyssinia mounted up to 83.
Sayyidunā Uthman in Madīnah
When the Prophet ṣallā Allāhu ‘alayhi wa sallam allowed the companions to migrate to Madīnah, Sayyidunā Uthman was among the early batches to take part.
As an easygoing person, rich and generous, Sayyidunā Uthman has a milestone almost every other day. Milestones that kept him close to Allah. These milestones outshined in Madīnah as the Muslims found a place they called home and place of settlement.
In the Team of Those Who Documented Revelation
Sayyidunā Uthman was one of those who documented revelation and the Qur’an. He had also memorized the entire Qur’an.
Freeing A Slave Every Week
As a continuous habit in seeking Allah’s pleasure, Sayyidunā Uthman used to free a slave every Friday. It’s said that he has freed 2400 slaves since his Islam.
Sayyidunā Uthman’s Participating in Badr Despite His Absence
Sayyidunā Uthman witnessed all battles with the Prophet. In fact, he participated in Badr, without physical presence. His wife Ruqayyah was sick but he was determined to join in the battle. As he was preparing, the Prophet commanded him to stay back and attend to his sick wife. The Prophet counted him among the participating ones.
Sadly, his wife, Sayyidatunā Ruqayyah raḍiya Allāhu ‘anhā passed on while the Prophet and the companions were still away at Badr.
Uthman’s Role in Hudaybiyah
In the sixth year after Hijrah, the Prophet intended to go for Umrah. With him were 1400 of his companions. They moved from Madinah until they were close to Makkah, in Ḥudaybiyah when the elders of Makkah denied them entry to Makkah to perform their ‘Umrah.
In the process of negotiations, the Prophet sent Uthman as an envoy to negotiate with the elders of Makkah. While there was no means of rapid communication (like we have today), rumours were created in Makkah and had spread to reach the Prophet and his companions, that Uthman was killed.
Here, the Prophet ṣallā Allāhu ‘alayhi wa sallam decided to fight. But he needed only the truthful among the companions to fight with him. Thus, he called for a pledge of allegiance. This is what is called bay’ah.
All the companions present pledged allegiance to fight with the Prophet ṣallā Allāhu ‘alayhi wa sallam except one person. That one person was al-Jidd ibn Qays, who eventually found to one of the heads of the Munāfiqūn (the hypocrites).
Obviously, Sayyidunā Uthman was absent. So, the Prophet put his other hand and pledged on behalf of Uthmān. An indication of the trust he had in him. Also, an indication of Uthmān’s strong belief.
Sayyidunā Uthman Buys the Well of Rūmah
When the Prophet ṣallā Allāhu ‘alayhi wa sallam arrived in Madīnah. There was limited access to clean drinking water. The only water well that had desired water was owned by a Jewish man. It was called the well of Rūmah.
The man used to sell the water of his well to the Muslims at a high price when not many among them could afford that price. The Prophet ṣallā Allāhu ‘alayhi wa sallam called among his companions,
مَن يَشتَرِي بِئرَ رُومَةَ فيَجعَلَ دَلوَه معَ دِلاءِ المُسلِمينَ بخيرٍ له مِنها في الجنَّةِ
“Who will purchase the well of Rūmah and place his bucket alongside the buckets of the Muslims, in exchange for better than that in Paradise?”
Sayyidunā Uthman took up the challenge. He approached the Jewish man. After tedious negotiations, they agreed that Uthman buys half of the well. This means the Jew and Sayyidunā Uthman will have ownership of the well on alternate days. That way, each partner has full control over whatever he wants to do with the water on his day of ownership.
The Jewish man continued to charge for a high price on his day of ownership. But Sayyidunā Uthman offered the water to the people of Madinah, on his day of ownership, for free.
People decided to support Uthman’s business model and boycotted the Jew’s. Thus, they avoided fetching (buying) water on the days of the Jew’s ownership. Instead, they will fetch the water they needed when it’s Sayyidunā Uthman’s turn of ownership.
The man’s share become of no value. Despite that, when he offered to sell his share to Sayyidunā Uthman, he agreed and bought it at a hefty price.
Now with full ownership over the well of Rūmah, Sayyidunā Uthman raḍiya Allāhu ‘anhu endowed the well for the benefit of the people of Madinah.
The people of Madinah continued to benefit from the water of the well, which was later named after Sayyidunā Uthman. The water from the well did not only quench the people, but it also watered the palm trees surrounding it. It has been more than 1400 years now… and the well continues to operate and benefit the people of Madinah until the present day.
The Expansion of the Prophet’s Mosque
A time came when the Prophet’s mosque couldn’t accommodate the number of Muslims. So the Prophet ṣallā Allāhu ‘alayhi wa sallam appealed for someone to take the challenge and buy a piece of land that was next to the mosque from its owners. He said:
مَنْ يَشْتَرِي بُقْعَةَ آلِ فُلاَنٍ فَيَزِيدُهَا فِي الْمَسْجِدِ بِخَيْرٍ لَهُ مِنْهَا فِي الْجَنَّةِ
“Who will purchase the land of the family of so-and-so, and add it to the Mosque in exchange for better than that in Paradise?”
Sayyidunā Uthman was there. And he took up the challenge and bought the land and funded the expansion of the mosque.
It’s needless to say, that the piece of land Uthman bought and donated for the expansion of the mosque still stands, not only as part of the mosque but in the middle of the mosque today.
Sayyidunā Uthman Financing the Battle of Tabūk
In the 9th year of Hijrah, the Prophet led his final battle in his life on this earth. That was the Battle of Tabūk. Also known as the Battle of Distress. This was probably the most challenging battle experienced by the Prophet and the Believers. That’s why not a single hypocrite among the Munāfiqūn participated in it.
In the fundraising drive the battle, Sayyidunā Uthman made multiple contributions. He loaded 950 camels fully ready for the battle. And he completed it with 50 horses to make it 1000. He also donated 1000 coins of Dinars, and 300 ounces of gold.
Sayyidunā ‘Abd al-Raḥmān ibn Samurah raḍiya Allāhu ‘anhu narrates as reported by Imām al-Tirmidhī:
جَاءَ عُثْمَانُ إِلَى النَّبِيِّ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ بِألْفِ دِينَارٍ فِي كُمِّه – حِينَ جَهَّزَ جَيْشَ العُسْرَةِ – فَنَثَرَهَا فِي حِجْرِهِ، فَرَأَيْتُ النَّبِيَّ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ يُقلِّبُها فِي حِجْرِهِ وَيَقُولُ: مَا ضَرَّ عُثْمَانَ مَا عَمِلَ بَعْدَ اليَوْمِ، مرتينِ
“Uthman went to the Prophet ṣallā Allāhu ‘alayhi wa sallam with 1000 Dinars in his garment when the ‘army of the Battle of Tabūk’ was being prepared. So, he poured them into his lap. I saw the Prophet ṣallā Allāhu ‘alayhi wa sallam turning them over in his lap, saying: ‘Whatever Uthman does after today will not harm him,’ two times.”
The contribution Sayyidunā Uthman made for the Battle of Tabuk is considered to have covered half of the needs of the army for this battle. Who on earth today can singlehandedly bear half of the budget of the army of a nation?
It’s not that no one can afford that. It’s just that no one possesses the trust, sincerity of Uthman to do that.
It’s worth remembering that this the Battle for which Sayyidunā ‘Umar brought half of his wealth, while Abu Bakr brought his entire wealth. Sayyidunā Uthman didn’t bring his entire wealth, but his contribution was significant enough to outweigh everyone else’s. On a side note, you can image how wealthy Allah has made Sayyidunā Uthman.
Sayyidunā Uthman During the Caliphates of Abū Bakr and ‘Umar
As a heavyweight in Islam, Sayyidunā Uthman was significantly sought after and consulted during the caliphate of both Sayyidunā Abū Bakr and Sayyidunā ‘Umar. Let’s take a look.
Sayyidunā Uthman During the Caliphate of Abū Bakr
During the caliphate of Sayyidunā Abū Bakr, when firmness was needed, Sayyidunā ‘Umar would be involved. But when leniency was needed, Sayyidunā Uthman would be involved.
Among others, Sayyidunā Abū Bakr preferred his opinion in sending a governor to Bahrain, when not many opined to that. He also preferred his opinion in choosing ‘Umar as the second caliph of Islam.
Sayyidunā Uthman saved the people of Madīnah from a deadly scarcity that hit Madīnah once upon a time during the Caliphate of Sayyidina Abū Bakr.
When his trade carrying foodstuffs came from Syria, traders gathered to buy them from him at a higher price. They offered two dinars for anything that worth one dinar. When he refused they offered three, four and five. Yet, he refused. Because someone has given him more. When they wondered who else he’s claiming to have given him more, he said to them,
“Allah has offered me 10 Dinars for every value of one dinar.”
He then gave all that foodstuffs in charity to the benefit of the people of Madinah.
Sayyidunā Uthman During the Caliphate of ‘Umar
Sayyidunā Uthman was the first to suggest to ‘Umar the idea of a central finance department. In Islamic communities, it’s called dīwān or dawāwīn.
Some reports also suggest that he was the one who suggested the idea of resetting the Hijri (Islamic) calendar and for it to start from Muharram.
Sayyidunā Uthman was one of the 6-member committee that was tasked to elect a successor who would be the third caliph after ‘Umar. This committee consisted of:
- ‘Uthmān ibn ‘Affān
- ‘Abd al-Raḥmān ibn ‘Awf
- ‘Ali ibn Abī Tālib
- Al-Zubayr ibn al-Awwām
- Sa’d ibn Abī Waqqāṣ
- Ṭalḥah ibn ‘Ubayd Allāh.
The six-member committee eventually elected Sayyidunā Uthman to be the third caliph of Islam after Sayyidunā ‘Umar ibn al-Khaṭṭāb.
The Next Section
The next section is a focused highlight on Sayyidunā Uthman himself, as the 3rd Caliph after the Prophet. It’s followed by a look at his legacies, as well as his virtues. After all that, we’ll look at Sayyidunā Uthman’s family, his children and his siblings. How many ḥadīth has narrated and some sample of them. We’ll also highlight the fitnah which led to the martyrdom of Sayyidunā Uthman raḍiya Allāhu ‘anhu. Also after will be the 10 interesting facts about Sayyidunā Uthman.
All that is coming your way, in our next episode, inshā Allah.
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Until we meet in our episode to take another glimpse of another shining star, I leave you in Allah’s protection.
Allah knows best.
Allahu Hafiz 🙂
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