'Uthmaan Ibn 'Affan (May Allah be pleased with him)

Ameer-ul-Mu'mineen 'Uthmaan ibn 'Affaan (May Allah be pleased with him) was (also known as) Dhu-An-Noorain. Abu Bakr (May Allah be pleased with him) invited 'Uthmaan to Islam and he was one of the fist people to embrace the religion. And 'Uthmaan used to say that he was the fourth person to enter into Islam. He was also one of the ten companions that were given the good tidings of paradise during their lifetimes.

 

After 'Uthmaan embraced Islam he married Ruqayyah, the daughter of the Messenger of Allah peace be upon him. And the two of them migrated to Ethiopia twice (in order to escape the persecution of the disbelievers in Mecca). Later they returned to Mecca and then immigrated to Medina. After Ruqayyah (died) he married Umm Kulthoom (another) daughter of the Messenger of Allah peace be upon him. When Umm Kulthoom died the Messenger of Allah said: "If I had third daughter I would wed you to her (also)."

 

THE VIRTUES OF 'UTHMAAN IBN 'AFFAAN(May Allah be pleased with him)

 

In a hadith narrated upon the authority of Abu Musa Al-Ash'aree (May Allah be pleased with him) who said: "I performed ablution in my house and then went out and said: 'Today I shall stick to the Messenger of Allah peace be upon him all this day of mine (in his service).' I went to the Mosque and asked about the Prophet peace be upon him. They said: 'He has gone in this direction.' So I followed his way, asking about him till he entered a place called Bi'r Aris. I sat at its gate made of date-palm leaves till the Prophet peace be upon him finished answering the call of nature and performed ablution. Then I went up to him and saw him sitting at the well of Aris at the middle of its edge with his legs uncovered, hanging in the well. I greeted him, went back, and sat at the gate. I said: 'Today I will be the gatekeeper of the Prophet (May Allah be pleased with him).

 

Abu Bakr came and pushed the gate. I asked: 'Who is it?' He said: 'Abu Bakr.' I told him to wait, then I went in and said: 'O Messenger of Allah! Abu Bakr asks permission to enter.' He said: 'Admit him and give him the glad tidings that he will be in Paradise.' So I went out and said to Abu Bakr: 'Come in, and the Messenger of Allah peace be upon him gives you the glad tidings that you will be in Paradise.' Abu Bakr entered and sat on the right side of the Messenger of Allah peace be upon him on the built edge of the well as the Prophet peace be upon him did and uncovered his legs said and he praised Allah, entered (the garden), and greeted (the Prophet ), and sat down.

 

I returned and sat (at the gate). I had left my brother performing ablution and he intended to follow me. So I said to myself: 'If Allah wants good for so and so (i.e. my brother) He will bring him here.' Suddenly somebody moved the door. I asked: 'Who is it?' He said: ' 'Umar ibn Al-Khattaab.' I asked him to wait, went to the Messenger of Allah peace be upon him, greeted him and said: ' 'Umar ibn Al-Khattaab asks permission to enter.' He said: 'Admit him and give him the glad tidings that he will be in Paradise.' I went to 'Umar and said: 'Come in, and the Messenger of Allah peace be upon him gives you the glad tidings that you will be in paradise.' So he entered and sat beside the Messenger of Allah peace be upon him on the built edge of the well on the left side and hung his legs in the well.

 

I returned and sat (at the gate) and said (to myself): 'If Allah wants good for so and so, He will bring him here.' Somebody came and moved the door. I asked: 'Who is it?' He replied: ' 'Uthmaan ibn 'Affaan.' I asked him to wait and went to the Prophet peace be upon him and informed him. He said: 'Admit him and give him the glad tidings of entering Paradise after a calamity that will befall him.' So I went to him and said: 'Come in. The Messenger of Allah peace be upon him gives you the glad tidings of entering Paradise after a calamity that will befall you.' 'Uthmaan then came in and found that the built edge of the well was occupied, so he sat opposite to the Prophet peace be upon him on the other side."

 

And in another hadith Abd-ur-Rahmaan ibn Al-Akhnaas said that when he was in the mosque, a man mentioned 'Ali (May Allah be pleased with him) so Sa'eed ibn Zaid stood up and said: 'I bear witness that I heard the Messenger of Allah peace be upon him say:

 

"Ten people will go to Paradise: The Prophet peace be upon him is in Paradise, and Abu Bakr is in Paradise, and 'Umar is in Paradise, and 'Uthmaan is in Paradise, and 'Ali is in Paradise, and Talha is in Paradise, and Az-Zubair ibn Al-Awaam is in Paradise, and Sa'd ibn Maalik is in Paradise, and Abd-ur-Rahmaan ibn 'Awf is in Paradise." And (then Sa'eed ibn Zaid said:) 'if you wish I will tell you the (name of) the tenth (companion).' The people asked: 'Who is he?' Then he (Sa'eed ibn Zaid) kept silence so the people asked (again): 'Who is he?' Then he said: 'He is Sa'eed ibn Zaid!'" In another hadith narrated upon the authority of Anas ibn Maalik (May Allah be pleased with him) who said:

 

The Prophet Once climbed mount Uhud with Abu Bakr, 'Umar and 'Uthmaan. The mountain shook with them. The Prophet said (to the mountain): "Be firm O Uhud! For on you there are no more than a Prophet and a Siddeeq and two martyrs."

 

In another hadith upon the authority of Hassaan ibn 'Atiyyah who said that the Messenger of Allah peace be upon him said: "O 'Uthmaan! Allah has forgiven you your previous sins as well as your future sins, what you have hidden, as well as what you have made public and whatever is until the Day of Judgement."

 

And 'Uthmaan (May Allah be pleased with him) provided two hundred camels for the impoverished army of the Muslims complete with saddle blankets and reins. In addition, he distributed thousands of dinars in the cause of Islam so the Messenger of Allah peace be upon him said that after that day nothing would harm 'Uthmaan from any (bad) deeds that he might do.

 

'Uthmaan also bought a well called Ruumah and donated it to the Muslims so that they might have fresh water. And he purchased the land adjacent to the Prophet's masjid in order to expand the masjid of the Messenger of Allah peace be upon him.

 

In another hadith narrated upon the authority of Ibn 'Umar (May Allah be pleased with him) who said:

 

"The masjid during the lifetime of the Messenger of Allah peace be upon him was built of adobes, its roof of the leaves of date-palms and its pillars of the stems of date-palms. Abu Bakr did not alter it. 'Umar expanded it on the same pattern as it was in the lifetime of the Messenger of Allah peace be upon him by using adobes, leaves of date-palms, and changing the pillars into wooden ones. 'Uthmaan changed it by expanding it to a great extent and built its walls with engraved stones and lime and made its pillars of engraved stones and its roof of teak wood."

 

And in another hadith narrated upon the authority of 'Aisha (May Allah be pleased with her) who said:

 

"The Messenger of Allah peace be upon him was reclining in his house with his legs uncovered. Abu Bakr asked permission to enter and he permitted him to enter while he was in that state and they began talking. Then 'Umar asked talking. Then 'Umar asked permission to enter and he permitted him to enter while he was in the same state and they began talking. Then 'Uthmaan asked permission to enter and the Messenger of Allah peace be upon him sat up and adjusted his clothes and then he ('Uthmaan) entered and they began talking. When they departed, 'Aisha said: "(When) Abu Bakr entered you did not become enlivened and you did not (change your) state, and when 'Umar entered you did not become enlivened and you did not change your state, (but) when 'Uthmaan entered, you sat up and adjusted your clothing." He (the Messenger of Allah peace be upon him) replied: "Should I not be bashful in front of one who the angels are bashful in front of?"

 

Also from the virtues of 'Uthmaan (May Allah be pleased with him) and one of his greatest deeds was his compilation of the Qur'an which unified the people upon one script based on the Prophet's recitation of the Qur'an to Jibreel near the end of his life peace be upon him.