UTHMAN IBN AFFAN
The death of a messenger is often deemed as a declaration of war and the Prophet went about to prepare for a confrontation in Mecca. The Prophet SAW called upon his followers to take an oath that they will remain on the battlefield and to fight unto death, that they would not flee and will stand or fall together to avenge Uthman’s death. With one hand on the other, the Prophet said, “this is the pledge on behalf of Uthman”. The pledge had pleased Allah but thankfully it need not be acted upon for Uthman emerged soon after. Allah revealed a verse in Surah Al-Fath referring to the sanctity of the covenant:
“Verily, those who give Bay’ah (pledge) to you (o Muhammad SAW) they are giving Bay’ah to Allah. The Hand of Allah is over their hands. Then whosoever breaks his pledge, breaks it only to his own harm; and whosoever fulfils what he has covenanted with Allah, He will bestow on him a great reward.” [Al- Fath 48:10]
• The Expedition to Tabuk
The ninth year after hijrah saw the Prophet SAW preparing an army for battle with the Romans who were plotting to disrupt the State of Islam. With limited resources and the near impossible task of adequately equipping the army in the middle of a very hot summer, the Prophet sought the assistance of his companions to donate as much as they could. Uthman immediately obliged and was credited to have provided nine hundred and forty camels along with sixty horses for the Tabuk expedition. He had also given ten thousand dinars to the Prophet SAW to ensure that the army was well equipped. The Prophet SAW remarked, “Whatever Uthman does from this day onward, he will suffer no harm.”
The caliphate rule of Uthman bin Affan
Uthman ibn Affan was elected the third Caliph after the passing of Umar bin Al-Khattab. The reaction to the election of Uthman was favourable. After the stern rule of Umar, the people welcomed the mild rule of Uthman.
After receiving the pledge of allegiance, he stood up and said: “This world implied vanities, so let not the world mislead you and let no deceiver seduce you. Treat this world as Allah deals with it, and seek for the hereafter, for Allah gives an example of this world when He said: “Set forth to the similitude of the life of this world: it is like the rain which we send down from the skies: the earth’s vegetation absorbs it, but soon it becomes dry stubble, which the winds do scatter: it is (only) Allah who prevails over all things. Wealth and sons are allurements of the life of this world: but the things that endure, good deed, are best in the sight of thy Lord, as rewards, and best as (the foundation for) hopes.””
During Uthman’s rule, the characteristics of Abu Bakr’s and Umar’s caliphate, comprehensive justice for аll, and humane policies where adhered to. He continued to strive in the Cause of Allah and the expansion of Islam continued.
• Collection of the Noble Qur’an:
Uthman was deeply attached to the Holy Qur’an. Abu ‘Abd al-Rahman al-Sulami narrated how he learned it from the Prophet SAW and his words indicate how he greatly loved to live with the Book of Allah. Those who taught the Qur’an – such as ‘Uthman ibn ‘Affan, ‘Abd-Allah ibn Mas’ood and others – told us that when they learned ten verses from the Prophet SAW they would not go beyond them until they had learned the knowledge contained in them and how to apply it in deed. They said: So we learned the Qur’an and knowledge and its application together. Hence they would spend a while to memorize a surah.
Reports had surfaced that some Muslims were disputing the Qur’anic text, each claiming theirs to be the authentic version. Furthermore, with the conquests of many nations and the acceptance of Islam by many different people with various languages and varying Arabic dialects, Uthman was keen to maintain the language of the Qur’an as it had been revealed from Allah to the Prophet. In the twenty-fifth year of Hijra Uthman ordered the collection of all the copies of the Qur’an available and chose to compile the Qur’an in a standard format in the dialect of the Quraish. Uthman entrusted Zaid bin Thabit, himself an authority on Qur’anic text, to work with other trustworthy companions of the Prophet.
Upon completion of the whole Qur’an, he then ordered four true copies to be made. Each one was sent to each major region of the empire and ordered them to destroy any other copies. Thus the standard copy of the Qur’anic text came into being. The Al-Mushaf Al-Uthmani is considered the master copy of the Qur’anic text from which all subsequent authentic copies of the Qur’an have been made.
• The expansion of the Islamic State
Upon his appointment, Uthman sent letters to his governors outlining his proposed policies and reminding them that as rulers, Allah had reminded them that their role is to protect society and not become tax collectors. The interest of all Muslims should be taken to heart and even with the enemies, their conduct should be upright.
As some lands in Iraq and Iran that were conquered by the Muslims had rebelled after the death of Umar, Uthman had directed the governor of Kufah in Iraq, Al Waleed bin Uqbah to strengthen their force. Uprisings in Ray, Iran and Alexandria, Egypt were also quelled. Under the command of Salman Al Farsi ten thousand soldiers were sent to Syria to defeat the Romans who had attacked the Muslim frontiers. This paved the way for further conquests in Asia Minor and further afield to the shores of the Black Sea.
From Egypt and on to the African coast right till the far west, Abdullah bin Abi As-Sarh ensured the conquest of the Muslim army. With the expansion of the Islamic State, it seemed necessary to establish a naval force to facilitate the armies’ passage across the Byzantine Empire and to Europe and Africa. Uthman granted permission to the Governor of Syria, Mu’awiyah bin Abi Sufyan to form a fleet by the 28th year after Hijrah. This formation of the naval force led to the conquest of Cyprus.
While the Islamic State had expanded in every direction, most of the inhabitants of the conquered lands had accepted Islam. Those who had chosen to keep their religion were treated justly and mercifully. Uthman gave his commands that the conquests should go beyond those rebellious areas to borders much farther and more distant, so that there would remain по sides ог farthest regions of the state, which could easily rebel whenever they so like. Не personally chose the leaders of armies which would undertake those tasks. Surprisingly, nоnе of them lost а single battle, excluding only оnе.
The rebellion and the end
Uthman ruled for twelve years. While the first six years were marked by internal реасе and tranquility, rebellion rose during the second half of his caliphate. As the Islamic state expanded greatly under his rule, so did the pool of hypocrites who had pretended to accept Islam but sought to disrupt and destroy the state. Rebels had gathered thousands to revolt against Uthman’s rule.
Тhe Jews and the Magians, taking advantage of dissatisfaction among the people, began conspiring against Uthman, and publicly aired their complaints and grievances. They gained sympathy and soon it was difficult to distinguish friend from foe. By that time Uthman was 82.He did not expect a revolt and was ultimately reluctant in having to see bloodshed within his state.
A rebellion in Kufah and Egypt seemed destined to create turmoil within the state. Vicious allegations abounded and were rampantly circulated against Uthman. In keeping this article brief, we will not be examining these in detail but suffice to say all of these accusations were baseless or out of context.
The ripple of discontent and dissension spread, but Uthman refused to acknowledge such reports and his advisors’ request to quell the riots. Because of his honesty and forthright personality, he did not use the funds from the treasury to employ additional guards to him and his home.
A group of armed rebels marched to Medina and was met by Ali ibn Abi Talib at the outskirts, who explained the gravity of the error and the falsehood of the rumours to them. The plea fell on deaf ears, and they went ahead to confront Uthman and put his household under a long siege. Ali bin Abi Talib sent his sons Al-Hasan and Al-Husain along with several others to defend Uthman but they refused to fight the rebels for fear of causing death of Muslims.
Тhe rebels demanded that Uthman abdicate, and indeed some of the Companions advised him to do so. He replied “By Allah, I would not be the first successor of the Messenger of Allah SAW to lead his nation to bloodshed … I would not depart from the homeland of my migration, or the neighbourhood of the Messenger of Allah SAW as long as I am living.”
Muslim ibn Sa’eed, a freed slave of Uthman, reported that one day during the long siege, Uthman freed twenty slaves. Thereafter he said, “I saw the Messenger of Allah SAW in a dream, as well as Abu Bakr and Umar, and they said to me ‘Be patient, for you are going to break your fast with us soon.’ ” Then he requested for a copy of the Qur’an and he opened it in front of him.
The rebels then broke into Uthman’s house by burning down the door and entering when none of the Companions were with him. The first assassin’s sword struck Uthman while the Qur’an was still in his hand, and in more than one report, the first drop of his blood fell upon the words “Verily, Allah sufficeth thee; Не is the All-Hearing, the All-Knowing.” [2:138]
Ibn Asakir reported that when Uthman received the first blow, he said “Bismillah, tawakaltu ala Allah” (In the name of Allah, and upon Allah I do rely). When his blood poured forth, he said “Subhanallah Al-Adhim” (Glory be to Allah, the Majestic).
Uthman breathed his last breath оп Friday afternoon, 17 Dhul-Hijjah, 35 А.Н.
The rebels, wanting to loot his wealth, opened his cabinet and found a box in which there was a note that read:
“This is the testament of Uthman’s before Allah: In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful. Uthman bin Affan bears witness that there is no true deity but Allah and that Muhammad is Allah’s Messenger. Paradise is true and Hell is true, and Allah will resurrect everyone on the Day of Judgment, for Allah will never break His promise.”
Тhe power of the rebels was so great that Uthman’s body lay unburied, kept inside his house for three days until the people of Medina could bury it, still in his blood-stained clothes, without a shroud.
Thus ended the life of another great martyr and hero of Islam. He is one of the ten companions of the Prophet foretold by him to be among the dwellers of Paradise.
May Allah be pleased with Uthman for the great services he rendered to Islam and Muslims. It was enough for Uthman to be praised by the Prophet’ “Uthman is bashful to the extent that angels get bashful when they see him.”
Acknowledgement: Most of the information for this work has been obtained from
“Shining Stars Among the Prophet’s Companions Volume One” by Abdul Basit Ahmad
“Heroes of Islam” by Mahmoud Esma’il Sieny
“The Sealed Nectar” by Safi-ur-Rahman Al Mubarakpuri
“The Biography of ’Uthman Ibn ‘Affan- Dhun-Noorayn” by Dr Ali Muhammad Sallabi
“The Successors of the Messenger” by Khalid Muhammad Khalid