Uthman ibn Affan

Family & Early Islam

Uthman ibn Affan was of Banu Umayya of the Quraysh, born about six years after the Year of the Elephant — some five years younger than the Prophet ﷺ — and was among the earliest to embrace Islam. When persecution intensified he emigrated to Abyssinia with his wife Ruqayya, a daughter of the Prophet ﷺ. 1 The Life of Caliph Ali · pp. 114 — Nadwi — Uthman's birth, early conversion, and emigration to Abyssinia with Ruqayya. After Ruqayya’s death the Prophet ﷺ married him to a second daughter, Umm Kulthum — and for being the husband of two daughters of the Messenger of Allah ﷺ he was honoured as Dhun-Nurayn, “the possessor of two lights.” 2 History of Islam · Vol 1 · pp. 166 — Najeebabadi — the marriage to Umm Kulthum and the title Dhun-Nurayn.

Service and Generosity

Uthman’s wealth was matched only by his readiness to spend it for Islam. The Prophet ﷺ sent him as envoy to the Quraysh at Hudaybiyya — chosen, on Umar’s own suggestion, because Uthman had kinsmen in Makkah who could shield him. When the Quraysh offered to let him perform Tawaf alone, he refused to circle the Ka’ba without the Messenger of Allah ﷺ, and they detained him. A rumour that he had been killed reached the Muslims, and the Prophet ﷺ took the Pledge of Ridwan beneath the acacia tree — pledging on Uthman’s behalf by laying his own right hand over his left and declaring the pledge to be for Uthman, so that Uthman would later say the Prophet’s ﷺ hand was better for him than his own. 3 The Life of Caliph Ali · pp. 115 — Nadwi — Uthman as the Prophet's envoy at Hudaybiyya and the Pledge of Ridwan. 4 Seerat-e-Mustafa · Vol 1 · pp. 396–398 — Idris Kandhlawi — Uthman sent because he had kin in Makkah; his refusal to make Tawaf without the Prophet; his detention; the Bay'at al-Ridwan and the Prophet pledging on Uthman's behalf with his own hand. When the Army of Hardship (Jaysh al-Usrah) was raised for Tabuk, Uthman equipped a great part of it, and he bought the well of Ruma to give the Muslims its water freely — generosity the Prophet ﷺ honoured from the pulpit (see Virtues in the Hadith). 5 The Life of Caliph Ali · pp. 115 — Nadwi — Uthman equips the Army of Hardship and purchases the well of Ruma.

The Caliphate

When Umar was martyred he left the succession to a council of six; after their deliberation Uthman was chosen, and installed as the third Caliph. 6 Al-Farooq · pp. 295 — Shibli Nomani — the six-man shura appointed by Umar to choose the next Caliph. 7 History of Islam · Vol 1 · pp. 385 — Najeebabadi — Uthman's election and installation as Caliph. Under him the Muslim conquests reached their height, and the first Muslim navy was built. 8 The Life of Caliph Ali · pp. 116 — Nadwi — the conquests at their climax during Uthman's reign.

The Standardisation of the Qur’an

Uthman’s everlasting achievement was to safeguard the Qur’an’s unity. As Islam spread among many peoples, differences in recitation appeared; Uthman had the authoritative text — already collected under Abu Bakr — copied into a single standard codex, sent copies to the great cities, and established recitation upon one authoritative reading. 9 The Life of Caliph Ali · pp. 118 — Nadwi — 'An Everlasting Achievement': Uthman's standard codex of the Qur'an; Abu Bakr had first collected it. He also greatly extended the Prophet’s Mosque in Madinah. 10 The Life of Caliph Ali · pp. 119 — Nadwi — Uthman's extension of the Prophet's Mosque.

Virtues in the Hadith

The Prophet ﷺ showed Uthman a reverence he showed no other companion in private. Aisha relates that the Prophet ﷺ, reclining at ease as Abu Bakr and Umar entered, sat up and composed his garment when Uthman sought entry, saying:

أَلاَ أَسْتَحِي مِنْ رَجُلٍ تَسْتَحِي مِنْهُ الْمَلاَئِكَةُ

”Should I not feel shy before a man before whom even the angels feel shy?”

Sahih Muslim 2401 · Book of the Virtues of Uthman · In-book: Book 44, Hadith 39 · narrated by Aisha

And of Uthman’s equipping the Army of Hardship the Prophet ﷺ said, turning the gold over in his lap:

مَا ضَرَّ عُثْمَانَ مَا عَمِلَ بَعْدَ الْيَوْمِ

”Nothing Uthman does after this day will harm him” — repeated twice.

Jami’ at-Tirmidhi 3701 · Book of Manaqib · In-book: Book 49, Hadith 97 · narrated by Abd al-Rahman ibn Samura · graded Hasan (Darussalam)

Martyrdom

In 35 AH a body of rebels rose against Uthman in an uprising the historians judge wholly unjustified, and laid siege to his house. Refusing to let the Companions shed blood in his defence, Uthman met his end while fasting and reciting the Qur’an open before him — his blood falling upon its pages. 11 The Life of Caliph Ali · pp. 128–129 — Nadwi — the unjustified revolt and Uthman's martyrdom while fasting and reciting the Qur'an. The sources affirm him the rightful Caliph and a martyr, and remember his patience and fortitude through the ordeal. 12 The Life of Caliph Ali · pp. 130 — Nadwi — 'Character of Uthman': his fortitude; affirmation that he was the rightful Caliph and a martyr.