Uthman Ibn Affan: Generous and Pious

Uthman ibn Affan was the third of Prophet Muhammad’s successors.  He was known as the
leader of the faithful and ruled for approximately 12 years.  The first six years were times of
relative tranquillity and peace,however the last years of his reign were marred by internal
conflict, and pockets of rebels trying to cause havoc throughout the Caliphate. Uthman is
remembered as a pious, gentle, and kind man, known for his modesty and shyness, and
admired for his generosity. He ruled with impartial justice and mild and humane policies, based
on his obedience to God and his love for Prophet Muhammad and the Muslim nation.

Uthman, may God be pleased with him, was born seven years after Prophet Muhammad, may
the mercy and blessings of God be upon him, and belonged to the Umayyad branch of the
Quraish tribe.  The Umayyads were the most influential clan of the Quraish, they were the
strongest and wealthiest, and Uthman was their “golden child”, the most beloved, due to his
good manners and shyness.  Like his predecessor Omar ibn Al Khattab, Uthman was able to
read and write.  This was an unusual skill in pre Islamic Arabia and Uthman became a
successful trader and cloth merchant.  Throughout his life he was known as a kind, generous
man and even before his conversion to Islam he would freely give money to help those in need.

It was his close friend Abu Bakr who introduced Uthman to Islam and he embraced the new
religion at the age of thirty-four.  This was during the very early days of Islam when the men of
Mecca were systematically abusing and torturing any converts to Islam.  In spite of the abuse,
Uthman would not give up his Islam and in time Uthman was married to Prophet Muhammad’s
daughter, Ruqiayah, thus strengthening his relationship to the Prophet.
The abuse and torture continued and Uthman’s wealthy family and status in society as a
merchant did not protect him.  He was abused and tortured even by members of his own family;
his uncle shackled his hands and feet and shut him in a dark enclosed room.  The continual bad
treatment by his close family led Uthman and his wife to participate in the first migration to
Abyssinia.  Prophet Muhammad praised his forbearing character and said “After Lot, Uthman is
the first man who, with his wife, has given up the comfort of his home for the sake of God”. 
After some time Uthman and Ruqiayah returned to Mecca to be with the struggling Muslims and
their beloved father and Prophet.

Uthman formed a very close relationship with Prophet Muhammad, and he gained intricate
knowledge about the religion of Islam.  He narrated 146 traditions directly from the Prophet
himself and was one of very few people who were able to write down Quran.  Uthman also

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Uthman Ibn Affan: Generous and Pious

became a reference point for those trying to learn the rituals of worship.  He understood and
was able to instruct others in the rituals of ablution, prayer, and other Islamic obligations. 
Uthman also participated in the migration to Medina and here he assisted Prophet Muhammad
in establishing the Muslim nation.  Prophet Muhammad even referred to him as his assistant.

In Medina, water was scarce and control of the wells was tightly held by several men.  Because
he was a skilful trader and negotiator, Uthman set about trying to procure a well for the use of
the Muslims.  He negotiated a price for half a well; he would have control one day and the other
owner the next day.  However, Uthman gave his water to the Muslims freely, so nobody wanted
to pay for the water on the alternate days.  The original owner of the well had no choice but to
sell his half of the well to Uthman who nevertheless paid a fair price for it.  Uthman continued to
allow the water to be used freely by all and never reminded the people of his charity.  He was
humble and modest.
Uthman gave freely from his wealth to please God and His messenger Muhammad.  Historical
Islamic stories mention that every Friday Uthman would buy slaves for the purpose of setting
them free and that although he was wealthy he was often without servants because of this
habit.  When Prophet Muhammad and the Muslim armies were going to fight the Byzantines at
Tabuk, he called on the wealthier people to give from their wealth and property to support and
equip the soldiers.  Uthman presented 200 saddled camels and 200 ounces of gold.  He also
gave 1,000 dinars.  Prophet Muhammad kept asking for donations hoping to inspire others to
give as freely as Uthman.  However, it was Uthman who surpassed them all and gave a total of
900 equipped camels.[1]

The portrait we are able to build of Uthman is that of a generous, unassuming, and kind man. 
He was known for his humbleness, modesty, and piety.  Uthman would often spend the nights
in prayer and he was known to fast often, sometimes on alternative days.  In spite of his wealth,
he lived simply and would often sleep, wrapped in a blanket, on the sand of the mosque. 
Uthman was appointed as the third leader of the Muslims after Prophet Muhammad by a council
of six men.  He continued the humane and just rule of Prophet Muhammad, Abu Bakr, and
Omar.  He cared for the Muslims and expanded the Muslim Caliphate into Morocco,
Afghanistan, and Azerbaijan.  For six years, his reign was one of peace and calmness, but the
winds of change were blowing over the empire.

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 Uthman Ibn Affan: Generous and Pious

humble
to
position. 
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Abdurrahman
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Uthmani
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and will
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 Muhammad,
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knowledge
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the
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itthe
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others
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married
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council,
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hope
whose placed
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Kathir,
water
last,
way old
the
Khattab
reflection
-that
andlead from
through
and
decision
of
the
peopleto
this
and
to the
God
scatter. 
this
good
when
ofthe
hisand
that
this
Afghanistan. 
suggested
ofMohammad’s
Quran
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Caliphs,
were
took
time
officialof
as ofand
his
wanted
heart
same
act
seekhis
world had
age
modest,
wanted
Abdu
chaos
the
Muslim
and
praised
from
world. 
are
conquests
began
many
copies. 
day the
possession
context
in Al
his this
shirt,
in
Muhammad’s
mercy
was
(rain)
and ifwill
becomes
first
Uthman’s chosen
and
appointed
a
(Quran)
according
was
simple
awas better
governors
hethe
would
life And
became
divisions
Khattab
people. 
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and
hundreds
to
copies
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athem.” 
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action very
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respected
process
to
Rahman
to
question,for people
extreme
shy,
married
and
appoint
which
Prophet
in God
Uthman
never
companions,
to
Tashkent,
He Bakr be
then
were
ofwerewithlove
Uthman
appoint
the
deliberation. 
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place
the made
filled
nation. 
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andto
minbar
full
intalk,
order
be of
and difficult
ato
with
fresh
and
as
the
most
Uthman of
solely
sent
of
thehe
the
my
We
is
leader
and
toand
blessings
other
to
ibn
good
your
deputies
the
recited
ofthat made
circumstances
and
the
ordered for
Ali
love
Able
leader
the
asked
was
Uzbekistan
sentwas by
and
seek
there
and
and
originals
to in of
the
all
[2]Tragic
been
this
life
discern
they
remembered
followers,
The
do
“So that
2:137)
Such way,
ringing
with
Uthman
and final
may
so. 
murdered
rebels
God was End
appointed
friend
Uthman
six
the
shirt,be. 
Uthman,
remained
his
willthewill
years
seeds
the
from
Uthman
called
Uthman
earsnot
during
sufficehad
him. 
now
tragic for
andof
foe. 
be
of
truewarned
AsUthman’s
and dissension
sheathed
preferred
the
Uthman
foran
end
________________________________________
Footnotes:
[1] The
Based Sealed
on theNectar. 
work of
He
refused
tothe
you
of old
of
Safi Prophet
reign
his
Imam was
the against. 
reign
assassin’s
man
covenant
to reluctant
to
until
of
people
to
against
one
Ur spread
step
of of
stand
Rahman
Ibn theMuhammad. 
persuade
Uthman
were
the
moreConspiracies
down
want
them. sword
but
most
Kathir. Last
and
down
Al to
marked
than were
after
and
you
And shed
with
many
Day.”
struck,
pious,from
80 “Once
heavy
kindness
the
indeed
to
He
Mubarakpuri.
The a byarose
of
years,
long
Rightlytake
his
is
kind blood
rebellion.
the
Uthman
the handed
position. 
siege,
many
and heard
off,
All
Guided and
people
sword
and
ofdo
was
of
the
Hearer
selfless any Some
generosity
theand
was
the
not began
is
Muslim
“Perhaps
rebels
Caliphs. unsheathed
to
difficult
reciting
words some
companions
take
and
men itto
broke
the
in ofhowever
thefor
love
God
off governors
for
extent
his
All he the
Uthman
following
for
Islam. into among
always
beloved luxuries
rebellious
advised
Knower.” unjust.
clothe
his that
housemy
verse. In
prophet
him
you
(Quranhad
of
to

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