Uthman ibn Hunayf

Surveyor of Iraq

Umar wrote to the people of Kufa: “I have sent Ammar ibn Yasir as your Amir and Abdullah ibn Mas’ud as your teacher and minister. They are both among the chosen Companions of the Messenger of Allah ﷺ and veterans of Badr… I have also sent Uthman ibn Hunayf to survey the rural areas of Iraq. I have stipulated that their wages should be a goat every day. Half the goat and its innards should be given to Ammar… and the other half should be shared between the other three men — Abdullah ibn Mas’ud, Uthman ibn Hunayf and Hudhayfa ibn al-Yaman, who was sent as an assistant surveyor.” 1 Hayatus Sahaba · Vol 2 · pp. — — Kandhlawi — Umar's letter dispatching Uthman ibn Hunayf as surveyor of Iraq, with Hudhayfa as assistant.

Governor of Basra Under Ali

“Ali appointed Uthman ibn Hunayf for Basra, Umara ibn Shihab for Kufa, Ubaydullah ibn Abbas for Yemen, Qays ibn Sa’d for Egypt, and Sahl ibn Hunayf for Syria.” 2 History of Islam · Vol 1 · pp. — — Najeebabadi — Ali appoints Uthman ibn Hunayf governor of Basra. Eventually Talha and Zubayr’s force “captured Basra; Uthman ibn Hunayf…” and his governorship ended. 3 History of Islam · Vol 1 · pp. — — Najeebabadi — Basra captured by Talha and Zubayr; Uthman ibn Hunayf's rule ends.

Ali’s Reproach Over the Banquet

Ali wrote to him after he attended a lavish feast in Basra: “O Ibn Hunayf, I have come to know that a young man of Basra invited you to a feast and you leapt towards it. Foods of different colours were chosen for you and big bowls were presented to you. I never thought that you would accept the feast of a people who turn out the beggars and invite the rich. Look at the morsels you take. Leave that about which you are in doubt and take only that about which you are sure that it has been secured lawfully.” 4 Nadwi — Life of Caliph Ali · pp. 186 — Nadwi — Ali's letter reproaching Uthman ibn Hunayf for accepting the lavish banquet.

The Blind Man’s Du’a

Uthman ibn Hunayf transmitted the famous du’a the Prophet ﷺ taught a blind man who came asking him to restore his sight. The Prophet ﷺ offered him patience or supplication; the man chose the supplication, and the Prophet ﷺ instructed him to make wudu and then say:

اللَّهُمَّ إِنِّي أَسْأَلُكَ وَأَتَوَجَّهُ إِلَيْكَ بِنَبِيِّكَ مُحَمَّدٍ نَبِيِّ الرَّحْمَةِ

”O Allah, I ask You and turn to You through Your Prophet Muhammad ﷺ, the Prophet of mercy…”

Jami at-Tirmidhi 3578 · Chapters on Supplications · narrated by Uthman ibn Hunayf · graded Hasan Sahih (Tirmidhi); Sahih (Darussalam)