The Companions r.a. – Hazrat Uthman bin Affan r.a.

Jalees Ahmad, London

Background

Hazrat Uthman bin Affan^ra was born seven years after the Holy Prophet^sa. He belonged to one of the wealthiest tribes of Mecca. His father’s name was Affan and his mother’s name was Arwa. 

Hazrat Uthman^ra was among the few people who learnt to read and write at a young age. Just like his father, Hazrat Uthman^ra became a merchant and was among one of the wealthiest people in Mecca. Even before he accepted Islam he was known for his truthfulness and integrity. 

Acceptance of Islam

Hazrat Uthman^ra was around 34 years of age when he had first heard of Islam. His aunt informed him about the Holy Prophet^sa and the message of Islam which he was preaching. She told him that Islam would one day prevail. This was the first time Hazrat Uthman^ra had heard of the message of Islam. 

Hazrat Uthman^ra related this to his good friend Hazrat Abu Bakr^ra who then took the opportunity and began preaching to him the message of Islam. He said that if he wanted, he could meet with the Holy Prophet^sa. 

Thus, when Hazrat Uthman met with the Holy Prophet^sa, he started reciting the following verses of the Quran from Surah Al-Dhariyat:

“And in heaven is your sustenance, and also that which you are promised.

“And by the Lord of the heaven and the earth, it is certainly the truth, even as it is true that you speak.”

Then the Holy Prophet addressed Hazrat Uthman^ra and told him that he was the Prophet of Allah and sent for all of humanity.

Without any hesitation Hazrat Uthman^ra accepted Islam and performed Bai‘at at the hand of the Holy Prophet^sa. He thus became one of the earliest followers to accept Islam.

Migration

After accepting Islam, Hazrat Uthman^ra married Hazrat Ruqayyah^ra, daughter of the Holy Prophet^sa, thus having the good fortune of being the son-in-law of Prophet Muhammad^sa. 

When Hazrat Uthman^ra accepted Islam, he began to face the persecution that all Muslims faced. Even his relatives were not happy to hear the news of his conversion. 

Studying history, we find various examples of how the Muslims faced the persecution of Mecca. Hazrat Uthman^ra requested for permission from the Holy Prophet^sa to migrate to Abyssinia with a few other Muslims, upon which the Holy Prophet^sa agreed and thus made Hazrat Uthman^ra among the first of those who migrated. 

After some time, they heard of the rumors that the people of Quraish had accepted Islam. They then decided to return to Mecca, only to find out that the rumors were false.  

Service to Islam

Hazrat Uthman^ra committed his entire life in the service of Islam. Though his family was in command of the Quraish, he accepted Islam as he knew it to be right. His service to Islam is remembered even today all throughout history.

When the Muslims migrated to Medina, the first difficulty they faced was scarcity of water.

There was only one well in Medina which belonged to a Jew who would sell the water to the poor inhabitants of Medina at a high price.  Hazrat Uthman^ra decided to purchase the well and open it for the people of Medina to benifit from it as they pleased.  This was a means of easing the first difficulty that the Muslims faced.

On one occasion, the Holy Prophet^sa said that Uthman^ra had served Islam to such an extent that now he could have whatsoever he wished, and that God would not question him. This shows that he possessed so many good qualities that it was impossible for his actions to be against the teachings of Islam. 

The Holy Prophet’s^sa love for Hazrat Uthman^ra

The loss of a loved one is arguably one of the hardest things to deal with. It’s the kind of pain that has a lasting effect on a person. 

When Hazrat Ruqayya^ra passed away, it was difficult for Hazrat Uthman as he no longer remained the son-in-law of the Holy Prophet^sa. 

The love that the Holy Prophet^sa had for him can be seen on many occasions throughout his life. When Hazrat Ruqayyah^ra passed away the Holy Prophet^sa gave his second daughter in marriage to Hazrat Uthman^ra, thus receiving the title of Zun-Nurayn (the one who possesses two lights) by marrying two of the daughters of the Holy Prophet^sa. 

When the second daughter of the Holy Prophet^sa passed away, the Holy Prophet^sa remarked, “If I had another daughter I would marry her to Hazrat Uthamn as well.”

(Usdul-Ghabah Fi Marafatis-Sahaba, vol. 3, p. 481)

The status of Hazrat Uthman^ra

The Holy Prophet^sa had immense respect for Hazrat Uthman^ra. On one occasion, the Holy Prophet^sa was lying down in a room when suddenly Hazrat Uthman^ra entered. The Holy Prophet^sa instantly sat up and began adjusting his clothes. Later when Hazrat Aisha^ra asked the Holy Prophet^sa about this, he replied, “Should I not show modesty to one whom even the Angels show modesty.” 

(Sahih Al-Bukhari) 

Khilafat

Even before accepting Islam, Hazrat Uthman^ra was known among the people as trustworthy, kind and generous. He was a rich merchant and used his wealth in the service of Islam. However, before his Khilafat he was never known for, and never had he shown any, qualities of leadership. But despite this he was chosen as the third Khalifa of the Prophet^sa. 

During the Khilafat of Hazrat Uthman^ra, Islam had expanded a great deal with such efficiency that it spread all over the world into China.  

One of the major accomplishments was of the Holy Quran we see today which was compiled during his Khilafat and under his direct supervision. To date, the entire Muslim Umma benefits from this service.

Al-Ghani 

In Arabia, where drinking alcohol and gambling was a norm and where indulging in killing and raping young women was rampant, only a handful of people would refrain from such acts. Hazrat Uthman^ra was among the rare few who never took part in any such “norms” of the Arabian society. Hazrat Uthman^ra was a man with a gentle and kind heart. He was known among the people as Al-Ghani i.e. the generous, a quality which was against the norms of the Arabian society. 

Martyrdom

The sad demise of Hazrat Uthman^ra was a sad day for the Muslim Umma. He was brutally murdered by the munafiqin (hypocrites). Even during that period where members of his household were under threat due to the invasion of his house, immediately prior to his martyrdom, he bore all those afflictions with great patience and loyalty to the cause of Islam. He was, indeed, a true servant of the Holy Prophet Muhammad^sa. May his soul rest in peace. 

The detailed account of the sad demise of Hazrat Uthman^ra had many repercussions for the Muslim Umma. These details will Insha-Allah be given seperately in a later issue. For a detailed account of the events surrounding Hazrat Uthman’s^ra martyrdom, please see www.alislam.org/outset (Editor)