The biography of `Uthman ibn `Affan

All praise be to Allah, and peace be upon the Messenger of Allah. I bear witness that there is no god but Allah alone who has no partner and I bear witness that Muhammad is His Servant and Messenger.

These are parts from the biography of this celebrity, the great caliph, and the venerable Companion to take lessons and examples therefrom.

`Uthman was born six years before the Year of the Elephant, according to the correct view.

He embraced Islam at the hand of Abu Bakr As-Siddiq and was one of the first Companions who embraced Islam. The Prophet (peace be upon him) gave him his daughter Ruqayyah in marriage and when she died, he married her sister Um Kulthum, therefore, he was nicknamed by "Dhun-Nurayn".

Scholars said: There was no one married two daughters of a Prophet but`Uthman. The Prophet (peace be upon him) said: "Shall not I be shy of a man from whom angels are shy."[1] And he also said: "Give him glad tidings of Paradise for an affliction to hit him."[2]

He was one of the ten men who were given glad tiding of Paradise and one of the six people about whom the Prophet (peace be upon him) died while he was pleased. He was the Rightly-Guided Caliph, the Emir of the believers: `Uthman ibn `Affan Abu Al `As Al Qurashy Al Umawy.

The compilers of biographies described him as being of medium-hight, not tall not short, of bright face, white-colored impregnated with redness, with thick beard, of wide shoulders, and the best smiley person.

There are great situations refer to his virtue and support for this religion. He migrated two times: The first to Abyssinia and the second to Medina, as he equipped the army of the hardship, dug the Rumah Well and gave it in charity for Muslims, and he expanded Al Masjid Al Nabawy (the Prophet's Mosque in Madinah). In his time, the Glorious Qur'an was collected, the conquests of Muslims were expanded and reached the East and the West.

At-Tirmidhy reported from the Hadith of `Abdur-Rahman ibn Samurah that he said: `Uthman (may Allah be pleased with him) came to the Prophet (peace be upon him) with one thousand dinars in his hand then spread them in the Prophet's lap. `Abdur-Rahman said: I saw the Prophet (peace be upon him) moving them in his lap saying: "Nothing will harm `Uthman after today (twice)."[3]

Az-Zuhry said: `Uthman ibn `Affan equipped the Muslim army in the battle of Tabuk with 940 camels and 60 horses.

At-Tirmidhy reported in his Sunan from the Hadith of Thumamah ibn Hazn Al Qushayry who said: I was present in a house when `Uthman approached them and said: Bring me your two friends who incited you against me. He said: They were brought to him as if they were two camels or two donkeys. He said: `Uthman approached them and said: I ask you by the name of Allah and Islam, do you know that the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) came to Medina while there was no fresh water therein but Rumah Well? Then, the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) said: "Who would buy the Rumah Well and give water to Muslims for a better well in Paradise? Thereupon, I bought it from my money, but today you prevent me from drinking therefrom and you force me to drink from salty water. They said: By Allah, this is true. He said: I ask you by the name of Allah and Islam, do you know that the Masjid did not encompass the people who were offering Salah therein, thereupon, the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) said: "Who would buy the land of so and so to expand the Masjid for a better land in Paradise? Then, I bought it from my money, but today you prevent me to offer two Rak`ahs therein. They said: By Allah, this is true.

He said: I ask you by the name of Allah and Islam, do you know that I equipped the army of hardship from my money? They said: By Allah, this is true. Then he said: I ask you by the name of Allah and Islam, do you know that the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) was on Thabir (a mountain between Makkah and `Arafah) with Abu Bakr, `Umar, and me, then the mountain moved until its rocks fell down. He said: He (the Messenger of Allah) kicked it with his leg and said: "O Thabir, calm down, for there is a Prophet, a truthful person, and a martyr on you." They said: By Allah, this is true. He said: Allahu Akbar, by the Lord of Ka`bah, they bear witness that I am a martyr (he said it three times).[4]

Al Bukhari reported in his Sahih from the Hadith of Ibn Mawhab who said: An Egyptian man came to perform Hajj and saw some people sitting around the Ka`bah. He inquired: "Who are these people?" Somebody said: "They are some people from the tribe of Quraysh." He said: "Who is the old man sitting amongst them?" The people replied: "He is `Abdullah ibn `Umar." He said: "O Ibn `Umar! I want to ask you about something; could you tell me about something? Do you know that `Uthman escaped the Battle of Uhud?" Ibn `Umar said: "Yes." The (Egyptian) man said: "Do you know that `Uthman was absent in the Battle of Badr and did not take part in?" Ibn `Umar said: "Yes." The man said: "Do you know that he failed to attend Ar-Ridwan pledge and did not witness it (i.e. Al Hudaybiyah pledge of allegiance)?" Ibn `Umar said: "Yes." The man said: "Allahu Akbar!" Ibn `Umar said: "Let me explain to you (all these three things). As for his escape from the Battle of Uhud, I testify that Allah has excused him and forgiven him; and as for not taking a part in the Battle of Badr, it was due to the fact that the daughter of Allah's Messenger (peace be upon him) was his wife and she was sick at that time. Allah's Messenger (peace be upon him) said to him: "You will receive the same reward and share (of the booty) as anyone of those who participated in the Battle of Badr (if you stay with her)." As for his absence in Ar-Ridwan pledge of allegiance, had there been any person in Makkah more respectable than `Uthman (to be sent as a representative), Allah's Messenger (peace be upon him) would have sent him instead. No doubt, Allah's Messenger (peace be upon him) had sent him, and the incident of Ar-Ridwan pledge of Allegiance happened after `Uthman had gone to Makkah. Allah's Messenger (peace be upon him) held his right hand saying: This is `Uthman's hand. He stroke his (other) hand with it saying: This (pledge of allegiance) is on the behalf of `Uthman. Then Ibn `Umar said to the man: Bear (these) excuses in mind.[5]

It was reported in Sahih Al Bukhari from the Hadith of Qatadah that Anas (may Allah be pleased with him) said to them: The Prophet (peace be upon him) ascended the mountain of Uhud and Abu Bakr, `Umar and `Uthman were accompanying him. The mountain gave a shake (i.e. trembled underneath them). The Prophet (peace be upon him) said: "O Uhud ! Be calm." I think that the Prophet (peace be upon him) hit it with his foot, adding: "For upon you there are none but a Prophet, a Siddiq and two martyrs." [6]

`Uthman had great manners and high qualities, and he was very modesty. Imam Muslim reported in his Sahih from the Hadith of `A'ishah that she said: The Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) was lying down in my room with his thigh uncovered when Abu Bakr asked for permission to enter. He gave him permission to enter, remaining as he was. Then `Umar asked for permission to come in and he gave him permission, remaining as he was. Then `Uthman asked for permission to enter and the Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, sat up and arranged his garment and then came in and spoke. When he left, I said: O Messenger of Allah, Abu Bakr came in and you did not exert yourself nor concern yourself with him. Then `Umar came in and you did not exert yourself nor concern yourself with him. Then `Umar came in and you sat up and arranged your garment. He said: Should I not be modest before a man from whom the angels are shy? [7]

He was known for generosity and spending in the way of Allah, and we previously mentioned some of that.

As for his worship, he frequently fasted and stayed up at night for worship. Ibn `Umar commented on the saying of Allah: "Is one who is obedient to Allâh, prostrating himself or standing (in prayer) during the hours of the night, fearing the Hereafter and hoping for the Mercy of his Lord (like one who disbelieves)?" [Surat Az-Zumar: 9] saying: That is the description of `Uthman.

Of his great sayings which indicate his devoutness and piety that he used to say: I have not committed adultery nor theft neither in Jahiliyyah (pre-Islamic time of ignorance) nor in Islam.

He (may Allah be pleased with him) was killed in 35 AH when the rebels besieged his house in the events of sedition when he was eighty years old.

He sacrificed himself and was martyred unjustly where he could have asked for the help of the Companions of the Prophet to defend him, but he did not desire that a drop of blood is being spelled because of him.

The Prophet (peace be upon him) informed him that he shall be killed unjustly and that was a Prophetic sign. At-Tirmidhy reported in his Sunan from the Hadith of Ibn `Umar who said: The Prophet (peace be upon him) mentioned a sedition and said: "(pointing at `Uthman) this will be killed therein unjustly."[8]

At-Tirmidhy reported in his Sunan from the Hadith of `A'ishah that the Prophet (peace be upon him) said: "O `Uthman, perhaps Allah shall make you wear a garment however if they want you to take it off, do not give it to them."[9]

May Allah be pleased with `Uthman, and reward him the best for Islam and Muslims. We ask Allah to combine between him and us in the abode of His Honor with the Prophets, the truthful, martyrs, and righteous people; indeed those have the best companionship. Praise be to Allah, the Lord of the worlds [i.e., people], and peace be upon our Prophet Muhammad, his family, and all his Companions.