Hadhrat Uthman Bin Affan

Allah Ta’ala has granted great qualities and great stations ( Maqamat ) to the 3rd Caliph of Islam, the compiler of the Holy Quran, the open-handed and generous Hadhrat Uthman Bin ‘Affan (May Allah be well pleased with him), Dhun Noorain (the one with the 2 lights).

 

His lineage

 

His blessed name is Uthman and his Kunniyah is Abu Abdullah. After Abde Munaf, his lineage joins the lineage of the Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam).

 

His lineage is: Uthman Bin ‘Affan Bin Abil A’as Bin Ummayya Bin Abde Shams Bin Abde Munaf Bin Bin Qasi Ibn Kilab Bin Marrah Bin Ka’ab Bin Luwai Bin Ghalib Al Qarashi Al Amwi Al Makki Thummal Madani

 

(Tarikh Ul Khulafa, Vol. 1, Pg. No. 60)

 

His birth

 

Hadhrat Uthman (May Allah be well pleased with him) was born the 6th year after the A’amul Feel

 

(Tarikh Ul Khulafa, Vol. 1, Pg. No. 60)

 

His mother is Arwa who is the maternal granddaughter of Hadhrat Abdul Muttalib (May Allah be well pleased with him) as given in Ma’arifatus Sahabah Li Abi Na’eem

 

He is among the earliest people to embrace Islam and among the earliest to perform Hijrah. He is among those great people whom the Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) gave the glad tidings of Jannah in this worldly life.

 

He embraced Islam on the invitation and urging of Hadhrat Abu Bakr Siddiq (May Allah be well pleased with him) and he also has the privilege of performing 2 Hijrah – one to Abyssinia and the second to Madinah Munawwarah.

 

There is a Hadith in Mo’jam Kabeer Tabarani:

 

Translation of Hadith: It has been narrated on the authority of Hadhrat Anas Bin Malik (May Allah be well pleased with him), he said that the Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) said: Indeed, after Prophet Lut (Peace be upon him), Uthman is the first person to perform Hijrah with his wife for the sake of Allah Ta’ala.

 

(Mo’jam Kabeer, Vol. 1, Pg. No. 61, Hadith No: 141)

 

His marriage:

 

Hadhrat Uthman is also distinguished in that one after the other, his marriage occurred with 2 daughters of the Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) Himself. For this reason, he is called Dhun Noorain i.e. the one with 2 radiances (Noor).

 

Reason behind the title of Dhun Noorain

 

Imam Jalaluddin Suyuti (May Allah shower His mercy on him) has narrated a Tradition about the title of Dhun Noorain in “Tarikh Ul Khulafa” that 2 daughters of the Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) are in his marriage, for this reason he is called Dhun Noorain and from Prophet Adam (Peace be upon him) until the Day of Judgment, nobody has ever got this privilege that 2 daughters of the same Prophet are in the marriage of 1 person.

 

His excellence and superiority

 

There is a Hadith in Jame’ Tirmidhi:

 

Translation of Hadith: It has been narrated on the authority of Hadhrat Abdur Rahman bin Khubbab (May Allah be well pleased with him), he says that once I went to the Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam). He was encouraging people to help the Jaish ‘Usrat i.e. army for the Battle of Tabuk, so called because they were in great need at that time.

 

Hadhrat Uthman (May Allah be well pleased with him) stood and said: O Prophet of Allah (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam)! I am responsible for 100 camels, their saddles and their walkers in the path of Allah Ta'ala. The Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) again encouraged people about helping the army. Hadhrat Uthman (May Allah be well pleased with him) stood up and said: O Prophet of Allah (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam)! I am responsible for 200 camels their saddles and their walkers in the path of Allah Ta'ala. The Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) again encouraged the people. Hadhrat Uthman (May Allah be well pleased with him) again stood up and said: O Prophet of Allah (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam)! I am responsible for 300 camels their saddles and their walkers in the path of Allah Ta'ala. The narrator says: I saw the Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) that He was stepping down from the pulpit and saying: After this there is no sin on Uthman, no matter what he does.

 

(Jame’ Tirmidhi, Abwab Ul Manaqib, Babi Fi Manaqibi ‘Uthman Bin ‘Affan Raziallahu anhu, Hadith No: 4064)

 

On the occasion of the Treaty of Hudaibiyah, the Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) sent Hadhrat Uthman as an envoy to the Quraish. The clansmen of Hadhrat Uthman were present in Makkah and because of his affluence and the support of his clan, Hadhrat Uthman was looked upon with respect by the Quraish. The Quraish told him to perform Tawaf and perform Umrah. Hadhrat Uthman (May Allah be well pleased with him) said: I will never perform Tawaf of the Holy Ka’aba without the Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam).

 

Then the Quraish held him and among the Muslims, news spread that the Quraish had martyred Hadhrat Uthman (May Allah be well pleased with him). The Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) took the pledge ( Bait ) from the Sahabah. Then He (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) kept His right hand on His left and said: O Allah! This hand is on the behalf of Uthman and this is the pledge of Uthman as he is in fulfillment of Your and Your Prophet’s commands.

 

Here an objection is raised that the if the Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) has knowledge of the unseen ( Ghaib ), He would not have taken the pledge after getting the false news of the martyrdom of Hadhrat Uthman (May Allah be well pleased with him).

 

The answer is that if the Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) did not have the knowledge of the unseen, He would not have taken the pledge on the behalf of Uthman, as pledge of allegiance is not taken from those who are martyred. That the Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) took the pledge on the behalf of Hadhrat Uthman is a clear sign that the Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) was aware of the true state of affairs.

 

Glad tidings of martyrdom to Hadhrat Uthman

 

There is a Hadith in Sahih Bukhari:

 

Translation of Hadith: It has been narrated on the authority of Hadhrat Anas Bin Malik (May Allah be well pleased with him), he said that the Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) graced the mountain of Uhud with His presence along with Hadhrat Abu Bakr Siddiq, Hadhrat Umar Farooq and Hadhrat Uthman (May Allah be well pleased with them). The mountain of Uhud started swaying out of happiness. The Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) tapped it with His foot and said: O mountain! Be steady! The Prophet is on you and 1 Siddiq and 2 Shaheed (martyrs)

 

(Sahih Bukhari, Hadith No: 3686)

 

Imam Jalaluddin Suyuti (May Allah shower His mercy on him) has narrated a Hadith on the authority of Ibn Asaker:

 

Translation of Hadith: It has been narrated on the authority of Hadhrat Zaid Bin Thabit (May Allah be well pleased with him), he said that I heard the Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) say: Uthman passed by Me. At that time, an angel was present before Me. He said: Hadhrat Uthman is a Shaheed . His own people will martyr him. All us angels, are shy of Uthman.

 

(Tarikh Ul Khulafa, Vol. 1, Pg. No. 62)

 

Glad tidings of Jannah

 

Hadhrat Uthman is from among the Ashra Mubasshira i.e. those 10 people who have been glad tidings of Jannah in this world and Hadhrat Uthman bought Jannah from the Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) 2 times, as given in Mustadrak Alas Sahihain :

 

It has been narrated on the authority of Hadhrat Abu Hurairah (May Allah be well pleased with him), he said that Hadhrat Uthman (May Allah be well pleased with him) bought Jannah definitely bought Jannah from the Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) 2 times: At the time when “Birr Mau’oona” was dug and on providing for the Jaish ‘Usrat . Imam Hakim (May Allah shower His mercy on him) said that this Hadith has a rigorously authenticated ( Sahih ) chain of narration.

 

(Mustadrak Alas Sahihain, Hadith No: 44564)

 

His progeny

 

Hadhrat Uthman got 1 son from Hadhrat Ruqaiyyah (May Allah be well pleased with her), whose name is Hadhrat Abdullah (May Allah be well pleased with him).

 

His caliphate

 

Hadhrat Uthman (May Allah be well pleased with him) was seated on the caliphate the 3rd day after the burial of Hadhrat Umar Al Farooq (May Allah be well pleased with him), as per “Tarikh Ul Khulafa” and his caliphate was for 12 years.

 

His martyrdom

 

He was martyred in Dhul Hijjah, 35 Hijri, Friday after Salaat Ul ‘Asr. His blessed grave is in Jannatul Baqee.