Hazrat Usman bin

'Affaan
The Third Caliph of Islam

Early Life

May Allah be the guardian of the couple! After Lot, Usman is the first man who, with
his wife, has given up the comfort of his home for the cause of Allah."

Thus said the Holy Prophet when his son-in-law, Usman, left Mecca for Abyssinia, to
excape persecution at the hands of the Meccans.

Usman was born some six years after the birth of the Holy Prophet. His father's
name was Affan. Arwa was the name of his mother. His grandaughter, Baiza, was a
daughter of Abdul Muttalib and therefore an aunt of the Holy Prophet. Usman belonged
to the Omayya branch of the Quraish. Banu Omayya were thought to be the equals of
Banu Hashim. The national flag of the Quraish was in their keeping.

When Usman 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. He often visited Syria in
connection with his business. Flourishing business brought him both wealth and position.

However, Usman was an extremely kindhearted man. He looked upon wealth as a

means of helping others. If money could remove suffering, Usman was always ready to
help.
 Acceptance of Islam

It was Abu Bakr who won Usman for Islam. He and Usman were great friends. The
Holy Prophet belonged to Banu Hashim and Usman belonged to Banu Omayya. There
was old rivalry between the two tribes. This did not keep back Usman from accepting the
truth. As soon as he heard the message of Islam, he accepted it. He was one of the first
Muslims. The Holy Prophet gave to him his daughter, Ruaqayya in marriage.

By becoming a Muslim, Usman drew upon himself the anger of his relatives. His uncle,
Hakam, tied his hand and foot. He then shut him up in a dark room. Usman gladly
underwent all kinds of torture, but refused to give up Islam.

The Quraish who once loved Usman now became his enemies. His own relatives would
have nothing to do with him. This made Usman feel miserable. He went to the Holy
Prophet and asked permission to go to Abyssinia. The permission was given. Usman was
the first Muslim to leave for Abyssinia. He and his wife crossed the Red Sea and sought
refuge in Abyssinia. They were the first to give up their home and all they had for the
cause of Allah.

When migration from Mecca began, Usman and his wife Ruqayya also went to Medina
and settled there.

Closeness to the Prophet

Usman was among those who were very close to the Holy Prophet. He fought by
the side of the Prophet in all battles except Badr. He could not go to Badr because his
wife, Ruqayya, was very ill. The Prophet himself told Usman to stay back at Medina and
attend to his ailing wife. Ruaqayya died of this illness.

Usman took the death of Ruqayya very much to heart. He was all the more sad
because he no longer enjoyed the honor of being the son-in-law of the Prophet. The Holy
Prophet saw this. So he married to Usman his second daughter, Umm Kulthum. This was
a rare honor. It earned for Usman the title of "Zun-Noorain," or "the possesor of two
lights."
In the sixth year of Hijra was signed the treaty of Hudaibiya. Usman played an important
part in the peace talks. It was he who was sent by the Holy Prophet to contact the
Quraish. The Quraish said they had no objection if Usman alone visited the Kaaba, but
they were unwilling to let the Messenger of Allah enter Mecca. To this Usman replied:
"It is unthinkable that I take preference over the Prophet. If he can't visit the House of
Allah, I too, will not visit it." Usman's firm stand at last forced the Quraish to yield
ground.

In the meantime, a rumor got afoot. It was given out that Usman had been killed by the
Quraish. The report shocked the Prophet. He determined to avenge the death of Usman.
He stood under a tree and took a pledge from his followers. He struck his hand on each
man's hand and the man said, "I will fight unto death for the sake of Usman."

Such was the regard in which Usman was held by the Prophet! However, the rumor
proved to be untrue. Usman came back safe and sound.

When the Muslim refugees first came to Medina, they had great difficulty in getting
drinking water. There was just one well but it was owned by a Jew. The Jew would not
allow the refuges to get water from it. So the holy Prophet said, "who is there that will
buy this well for the Muslims? Allah will reward him a fountain in Paradise." Usman at
once responded. He brought the well for twenty thousand dirhams and gave it away for
the free use of Muslims.

When the Muslims grew in numbers, the Prophet's Mosque became too small for them.
The holy Prophet said, "Who will spend money for the extension of the mosque?" Usman
again came forward. He bought the adjoining piece of land for the extension.

In the ninth year of Hijra, reports reached the Holy Prophet that the Emperor of
Byzantium was preparing a march on Medina. These reports disturbed the Muslims. The
Holy Prophet began to counter preparations. He appealed to people to give whatever they
could. Usman gave one thousand camels, fifty horses and one thousand pieces of gold.
The holy Prophet looked at the heap of gold and declared, "Whatever Usman does, from
this day on, will do him no harm."

Usman was one of the scribes of the Prophet. He was one of the men who wrote
portions of the Qur'an as they were revealed. He was also one of the ten Companions
whom the holy Prophet gave the good news of the kingdom of Heaven.
Closeness to the Prophet won Usman a high place among the Companions. He was one
of the advisors of Abu Bakr and Omar during their Caliphate.

Usman's Election

Omar had nominated a six-man council to choose a Caliph from among its members.
These members were: Ali, Usman, Abdur Rehman bin Auf, Saad bin Abi Waqaas, Zubair
bin Awwam and Talha bin Obaidullah. The electors were to meet and finish their task
within three days of Omar's death. Such was the will of the late Calpih.

The electors met. Talha had been out of Medina for some days, so he could not attend
the meeting.

The council of electors had a long sitting. It could not come to an agreed decision.
There was an impasse. So Abdur Rehman bin Auf said, "If any man is willing to
withdraw his name, he will have the right to nominate the Caliph. Who will withdraw?"
All kept silent. Then Abdur Rehman said, "I withdraw my name."

All except Ali said they were ready to accept Abdur Rehman's decision. Abdur Rehman
asked Ali what he had to say. He replied, "Promise to be just. Promise not to be partial on
account of kinship. Promise to be led by the welfare of the people alone. If you promise
these things, I agree to abide by your decision."

Abdur Rehman promised all these things. The election of the Caliph now rested with
Abdur Rehman bin Auf.

Abdur Rehman was fully alive to the heavy responsibility he had placed upon himself.
The news of Omar's death had drawn to Medina the leaders of public opinion from all
over the empire. Abdur Rehman went to each one of them and held long talks. The Banu
Hashim were for Ali. All others favored Usman. Other candidates were out of the picture.

Abdur Rehman now talked to the two likely candidates.

 " Who do you think is the fittest person after you?" he asked Ali.
" Usman," was the reply.

He put Usman the same question and he named Ali.

At last the third night came. In the morning Abdur Rehman was to announce his
decision. He sat up whole night, holding long talks with the other four members of the
council. He made a last effort to get a unanimous decision. But he failed in this effort.
The differences between Banu Hashim and Banu Omiyyah could not be patched up. At
last the call to the morning prayer brought these talks to an end.

When the prayer was over, people in the mosque were all ears to hear what Abdur
Rehman had to say.

Abdur Rehman stood up. For some minutes he prayed to Allah to guide his thoughts.
Then he said, "O people," I have given my best thought to the matter. I have talked to
different people and got their opinion. I hope you will not differ with my decision."

Then Abdur Rehman called Usman and said, "Promise that you will act according to the
commandments of the Qur'an and the example set by the Holy Prophet and his two
Caliphs."

I
" promise to do that to the best of my knowledge and ability," declared Usman.

Thereupon Abdur Rehman bin Auf pledged loyalty to Usman. His example was
followed by all present. Ali also pledged loyalt to the new Caliph. Usman became the
third Caliph of Islam.
 First Address

When the pledge was over, Usman rose to address the gathering. All were eager to hear
what the new Caliph had to say. But the weight of the new responsibility made Usman's
body shake. All he could say was, "O people, it is not easy to manage a new horse. There
will be several occasions to speak to you. If I live, I will address you some other day. But
you know, I am not very good at speech-making."

The First Case

The first case that came up before Usman was the case of Obaidullah the second son of
Omar. Obaidullah had slain to Persians, Hurmuzan and Jafina. That was because he
believed them to be co-plotters with Abu Lolo. Abu Lolo was the murderer of his father.

The evening before Omar was mortally wounded, Abdur Rehman son of Abu Bakr had
seen Abu Lolo standing with Hurmuzan and Jafina. The three were whispering to one
another. As Abdur Rehman passed by, the three got startled. A double edge dagger had
falled on the ground. After his father's death, Obaidullah examined the dagger of the
asassin. It answered exactly to the description given by Abdur Rehman. Obaidullah felt
sure that Abu Lolo alone was not responsible for killing his father. He flew into a rage
and killed the other two partners in the plot.

The case came up before Usman. He put the matter before the leading Companions. Ali
said that the evidence of one man was not enough to prove Huramuzan and Jafina guilty.
The other Companions differed with this view. Usman found a way out of the difficulty.
He himself laid the bloodmoney for the two Persians. As they had no relatives, the Caliph
had the legal right to act in their behalf. The decision of Usman was liked by all.

Expansion of the Empire

The First Directive

The new Caliph issued a directive to all civil and military officers. It said that they
should be just in their dealings, honest in money matters and tolerant towards non-
Muslims. Further, the officers were told to keep their word, even with the enemy. They
were reminded that they were no more than the servants and guardians of the people not
their masters and rulers.

Saad bin Waqqas was the Governor of Kufa. He took a loan from the public treasury
and foiled to return it in time. The Treasury Officer, Abdullah bin Masud, reported the
matter to the Caliph. Usman dismissed Saad bin Waqqas. This was in the year 26 A.H.

A Woman Warrior

Azarbaijan and Armenia were conquered during Omar's time. But these provinces were
afterwards lost. Both provinces were under the Governor of Kufa. When Saad bin
Waqqas was removed from governorship, Azarbaijan rebelled. Usman ordered military
action against it and the province was once again under the Muslim flag.

Usman deputed Salmab bin Rabia and Habib bin Muslima to reconqure Armeina.
In this campaign Habib's wife also went with him. On day Habib came to know that the
commander of the Armenian army was preparing to strike. Habib did not have enough
troops, so he decided to carry out a night raid, before the enemy could strike.

Habib's wife saw him put on armour one evening. She asked him what made him
buckle on armor at a such late hour. "My goal tonight is the ten of the Armenian
commander of the Garden of Paradise," replied the husband. A suddent thought struck the
lady. "When should not I share the honor with my husband?" she said to herself. As soon
as her husband was gone, she dressed like a soldier and rushed off to the enemy camp.

At the dead of the night Habib carried out his raid. The enemy was taken by complete
surprise. Killing the Armenian guard, Habib reached the commander's tent. He was
amazed to find his wife already waiting for him at the tent door. She was dressed like a
soldier and was fully armed. Together the couple fell on the enemy commander and
killed him.
 Cypress Occupied

Muawia was the Governor of Syria under Usman. Anatolia was still under Byzantium.
Skirmishes with the Byzantine troops were common. In the year 26 A.H., Muawia led an
army into Anatolia and took the city of Amuria. He wanted to advance, but troop
movement by land seemed difficult. So he had to stop short.

Muawia now turned his attention to the Mediterranean. He saw the importance of the
islands in this sea and made plans to occupy them.

Muawia had a strong liking for the sea. He foresaw the Islam could not be strong
without a powerful navy. During Omar's caliphate he put this plan before the Calpih, but
Omar was opposed to sea fighting. He did not think it was wise to risk the lives of
Muslims in sea-battles. So he did not approve of Muawia's plan. When Usman became
Caliph, Muawia again took up the question of the navy with the Caliph. Usman agreed to
Muawia's plan, on condition that no one was to be forced against his will to take part in
the naval campaign.

In 28 , Muawia prepared a fleet of ships. The Governor of Egypt joined him with his
A.H.

own fleet. The two fleets jointly invaded Cypress. The people of the island fought bravely
but had to give in at last. They made peace with the Muslims. The victors undertook to
defend the island. In return they got the right to use the island as a military base.

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