Dr. Bilal A. Bhat & Intizar Ahmad
The era that followed the death of holy Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) is called the era of the Four Caliphs. During this period, Islam flourished and spread far beyond the limits of the Arabian Peninsula. The four Caliphs (Khulafaa-e-Rashidun” or the ” Rightly Guided Caliphs.”) in Islam are attributed to Mercy & Respect. It has been famously mentioned: ” The fountain of Kawthar possesses four pillars, commanded by Abu Bakr ( Abdullah ibn Abi Qahafa ), Umar Ibn Al-Khattab, Uthman Ibn Affan. and Ali Ibn Abu Talib (r.a). The Rashidun Caliphate greatly expanded Islam beyond the Middle East. In this article, we discuaa in brief about the life of third khalifa, Uthman Ibn Affan (r.a). Uthman (r.a), was born some seven years after the birth of the Holy Prophet Muhammad (may the mercy and blessings of Allah be upon him). His father’s name was Affan and Arwa was the name of his mother. Uthman (r.a) belonged to the Omayya branch of the Quraish who were thought to be the equals of Banu Hashim. The national flag of the Quraish was in their keeping. When Uthman (r.a) grew up, he became a cloth merchant. His business grew rapidly and he came to be looked upon as a top business man of the city. Uthman (r.a) was able to read and write which was an unusual skill in pre Islamic Arabia. He often visited Syria in connection with his business and flourishing business brought him both wealth and position. Throughout his life he was known as a kind, generous man and even before his reversion to Islam he would freely give money to help those in need. It was Abu Bakr (r.a) a close friend of Prophet Muhammad (s.a.w.w) who introduced Uthman (r.a) to Islam and he embraced the religion Islam at the age of thirty-four. This was during the very early days of Islam when the men of Mecca were systematically abusing and torturing any reverts to Islam. In spite of the abuse and torture, Uthman (r.a) would not give up his Islam and in time Uthman (r.a) was married to Prophet Muhammad’s daughter, Ruqiayah, thus strengthening his relationship to the Prophet Muhammad (s.a.w.w). The continual bad treatment by his close family led Uthman and his wife to participate in the first migration to Abyssinia. Prophet Muhammad (s.a.w.w) praised his forbearing character and said “After Lot, Uthman is the first man who, with his wife, has given up the comfort of his home for the sake of Allah”. After some time Uthman and Ruqiayah (may Allah be pleased with them) returned to Mecca to be with the struggling Muslims and their beloved father and Prophet (s.a.w.w). Uthman (r.a) formed a very close relationship with Prophet Muhammad (s.a.w.w), and he gained intricate knowledge about the religion of Islam. He (r.a) narrated 146 traditions directly from the Prophet (s.a.w.w) himself and was one of very few people who were able to write down Quran. Uthman (r.a) also became a reference point for those trying to learn the rituals of worship. He understood and was able to instruct others in the rituals of ablution, prayer, and other Islamic obligations. Uthman (r.a) also participated in the migration to Medina and here he assisted Prophet Muhammad (s.a.w.w) in establishing the Muslim nation. Uthman (r.a) is one of the Companions of Prophet Muhammad (s.a.w.w ), who was given the reward of Heaven by Prophet Muhammad (s.a.w.w) in the world. Prophet Muhammad (s.a.w.w) even referred to him as his assistant. In Medina, water was scarce and control of the wells was tightly held by several men. Because he was a skilful trader and negotiator, Uthman (r.a) set about trying to procure a well for the use of the Muslims. He negotiated a price for half a well; he would have control one day and the other owner the next day. However, Uthman(r.a) gave his water to the Muslims freely, so nobody wanted to pay for the water on the alternate days. The original owner of the well had no choice but to sell his half of the well to Uthman (r.a) who nevertheless paid a fair price for it. Uthman (r.a) continued to allow the water to be used freely by all and never reminded the people of his charity. He was humble and modest. Historical Islamic stories mention that every Friday Uthman (r.a) would buy slaves for the purpose of setting them free and that although he was wealthy he was often without servants because of this habit. When Prophet Muhammad (s.a.w.w ) and the Muslim armies were going to fight the Byzantines at Tabuk, he called on the wealthier people to give from their wealth and property to support and equip the soldiers. Uthman (r.a) presented 200 saddled camels and 200 ounces of gold. He (r.a) also gave 1,000 dinars. Prophet Muhammad (s.a.w.w) kept asking for donations hoping to inspire others to give as freely as Uthman. However, it was Uthman (r.a) who surpassed them all and gave a total of 900 equipped camels. In spite of his wealth, he lived simply and would often sleep, wrapped in a blanket, on the sand of the mosque. Uthman (r.a) also known as Uthman-E-Gani (r.a) was appointed as the third leader of the Muslims after Prophet Muhammad (s.a.w.w) by a council of six men. He continued the humane and just rule of Prophet Muhammad (s.a.w.w), Abu Bakr, and Omar (may Allah be pleased with them). He (r.a) cared for the Muslims and expanded the Muslim Caliphate into Morocco, Afghanistan, and Azerbaijan. For six years, his reign was one of peace and calmness, but the winds of change were blowing over the empire. Uthman ibn Affan (r.a), like his predecessors was a man of the people. He was modest, shy, and humble but still his later reign was marred by infighting and rebellion. Allh had chosen Uthman (r.a) to be the third leader but the people of dissension plotted to remove him from this noble position. Prophet Muhammad (s.a.w.w) had prophesized that Uthman (r.a) would be placed in a very difficult situation when he said, “Perhaps Allah will clothe you with a shirt, Uthman, and if the people want you to take it off, do not take it off for them.” Uthman (r.a) did not remove his shirt, his love for Allah and His Messenger (s.a.w.w) kept him both strong and humble in the face of old age and extreme difficulties. Uthman ibn Affan (r.a) was a man so loved by Prophet Muhammad (s.a.w.w), that he was called the possessor of two lights. Uthman (r.a) was married to Prophet Muhammad’s daughter Ruqiayah and when she died, he married Muhammad’s other daughter, Um-e-Kalsoom (r.a), thus possessing the two lights. When Um-e-Kalsoom (r.a) died, Prophet Muhammad (s.a.w.w) said: If I would have another daughter, I would have also married her with Uthman. (Mishkawt) Uthman ibn Affan (r.a) was appointed Caliph (leader of the Muslim nation) through a process of consultation and careful deliberation. On his deathbed, Umar ibn Al Khattab (r.a) appointed a council of six men to choose a new leader. It was a time of confusion and chaos for the Muslims, small disagreements were becoming obstacles. Some people wanted to appoint Ali ibn Abu Talib (r.a) because he was from Prophet Muhammad’s family, others wanted to appoint Uthman (r.a) because he was from one of the great tribes of Mecca. Ibn Kathir, the respected Islamic scholar of the 14th century suggests that the leader of the council, Abdu Rahman ibn Awf questioned both men and then chose Uthman. Both men were amongst several who were eminently qualified to lead the Muslim nation. Ali (ra) did nothing that might have harmed Uthman. Immediately after being elected, Uthman ibn Affan (r.a) addressed the people from the minbar previously used by Prophet Muhammad (s.a.w.w). He looked at the Muslims and praised Allah, sent blessings upon Prophet Muhammad (s.a.w.w), and reminded the people that this world was full of deception. He advised the people to shun living luxurious lives and to seek a place in the hereafter, full of happiness and peace. “And present to them the example of the life of this world, [its being] like rain which We send down from the sky, and the vegetation of the earth mingles with it and [then] it becomes dry remnants, scattered by the winds. And Allah is ever, over all things, Perfect in Ability.
“I have found the sweetness of worship in four things. The first is in performing the obligatory acts of worship enjoined by Allah; the second is in avoiding the things forbidden by Allah; the third is enjoining that which is good, seeking the reward of Allah; and the fourth is forbidding that which is evil, fearing the wrath of Allah.” Uthman Ibn Affan (R.A)
Wealth and children are [but] adornment of the worldly life. But the enduring good deeds are better to your Lord for reward and better for [one’s] hope. (Quran 18: 45 – 46) Uthman (r.a) was a pious man who loved and trusted Allah completely, thus his first action as leader was to assure the people that he would guide them according to the way of the Prophet and Caliphs Abu Bakr and Umar ibn Al Khattab (may Allah be pleased with them). Uthman (r.a) was turning 70 when he became leader of the Muslims and for many years, he had refrained from the pleasures of this life in order to seek nearness to Allah. After setting a tone of piety and concern for Muslims that would be the hallmark of his reign, Uthman (r.a) turned his attention to giving direction to the governors and the Muslim armies. To the governors Uthman (r.a) expressed his desire for them to serve the people, and never to exploit them. He sent prominent companions of Prophet Muhammad (s.a.w.w), as his personal deputies to the provinces to scrutinize the conduct of officials and the condition of the people. Uthman (r.a) reminded the armies to follow the clear guidelines set down by Umar ibn Al Khattab (r.a) and asked them never to forget that they were defending the believers. Extensive conquests were made during the reign of Uthman, including parts of Spain, Morocco, and Afghanistan. Uthman (r.a) was also the first Caliph to organise a navy. He (r.a) reorganised the administrative divisions of the Muslim Caliphate, expanded, and initiated many public projects. Perhaps Uthman’s most astounding contribution to the Muslims was his compilation of the Quran. After the death of Prophet Muhammad (s.a.w.w), and during the time of the Caliphs, hundreds of thousands of non-Arabs reverted to Islam. Consequently, the Quran began to be recited and written in various different dialects and scripts. One of Prophet Mohammad’s companions, and Uthman’s friend Hudhaifah, whilst on a journey noticed that there were many different recitations of Quran throughout the Muslim Empire. Hudhaifah suggested to Uthman that there be an official version written in the style used in Medina. Uthman (r.a) knew the Quran by heart and had intimate knowledge of the context and circumstances relating to each verse. The Quran had been gathered during the time of Abu Bakr (r.a) and was in the safekeeping of Prophet Muhammad’s wife Hafsah (r.a). Uthman (r.a) took possession of the originals and ordered some of the most trusted companions to make careful copies. He then ordered all other unofficial copies to be burned or otherwise destroyed. Five official copies were sent to the greatest cities of the Muslim Caliphate. Original copies exist to this day in Tashkent, Uzbekistan and the Topkapi Palace in Istanbul, Turkey. The final six years of Uthman’s reign were marked by rebellion. Conspiracies arose and it was difficult for Uthman (r.a) to discern friend from foe. He was reluctant to shed the blood of any Muslim however rebellious they may be. Uthman (r.a) preferred to persuade with kindness and generosity for he always remembered the words of Prophet Muhammad (s.a.w.w): “Once the sword is unsheathed among my followers, it will not be sheathed until the Last Day.” The rebels called for Uthman to step down and indeed many of the companions advised him to do so. Uthman (r.a), now an old man of more than 80 years, heard the words of his beloved prophet ringing in his ears and refused to stand down from his position. Oh Uthman!, if ALLAH some day give you this government and the hypocrites want you to put off this shirt (government) which ALLAH gave you, then you should not put it off. [Prophet Muhammad (s.a.w.w) repeated these words three times] (Ibn-e-Majah, Tirimzi) The rioters were using Ali’s (r.a) name to fan the fire of discontent. The rioters who have evil plans refused to listen to Ali (r.a) and he could do nothing. So he left the city. However, he ordered his sons to stand guard at the gate of the Caliph. On the last day of his life, there was a fighting between the rioters and the guards at the gate. The rioters wanted to force an entry into the house. The sons of Ali (r.a), Zubaid and Talha put up a stiff fight. Uthman (r.a) came to know of it. “No,” he exclaimed, “I do not want to spill the blood of Muslims, to save my own neck.” Saying these words, he sent them all home. If civil war could be stopped at the cost of his life, Uthman (r.a) was most happy to pay that price. He believed that by laying down his life he could delay the advent of the cursed sword foretold by the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him). So he would neither use sword to hit back, nor flee from the city of the Prophet (s.a.w.w). The rebels broke into his house and murdered him. As the assassin’s sword struck, Uthman (r.a) was reciting the following verse of Holy Quran. “So if they believe in the same as you believe in, then they have been [rightly] guided; but if they turn away, they are only in dissension, and Allah will be sufficient for you against them. And He is the Hearing, the Knowing.”(Quran 2:137) For a great cause and a great conviction, he made the greatest sacrifice a man can possibly make. Thus he joined the ranks of the great martyrs of all time. He is one of the ten companions of the Prophet SAW foretold by him to be among the dwellers of Paradise. May Allah be pleased with Uthman (r.a) for the great services he rendered to Islam and Muslims. It was enough for Uthman (r.a) to be praised by the Prophet (s.a.w.w), “Uthman (r.a) is bashful to the extent that angels get bashful when they see him.”
(The authors write regularly on Islamic topics exclusively for “Kashmir Horizon”. Views are their own [email protected])