Islam, had been one of the closest people to our Prophet (saas)
throughout his life. He was the son-in-law of our Prophet (saas) and
the third Caliph. Because he was twice honored with being the
son-in- law of our Prophet (saas), he was called "Thun-Nurayn"
(Zunnorain), meaning "the possessor of two lights." He participated
in all the struggles of our Prophet (saas) except for the Battle of
Badr. When Hazrat Uthman (ra) embraced Islam, he was subjected to
torture by the idolaters. When migration to Ethiopia was allowed,
he became one of the first immigrants to Ethiopia together with his
wife Mrs. Ruquayyah, our Prophet's (saas) daughter.
Hazrat Abu Bakr's (ra) communication of Islam became instrumental in
Hazrat Uthman's (ra) embracing Islam. He was one of the precious
companions of our Prophet (saas) who was exemplary to all Muslims
with his superior moral qualities and beautiful speech.
Apart from his refined and influential manner of speaking , he had
an extraordinarily retentive memory and he committed the Holy
Qur'an to memory. Having a very profound knowledge of hadith, he
also made great services to Islam by writing and recording the
revelations.
Hazrat Uthman's (ra) spending in the way of Allah
Hazrat Uthman (ra), who was engaged in commerce before converting
to Islam, was a wealthy and greatly respected merchant of his
tribe. When he was honored with Islam, he spent his entire wealth
which Allah had granted him for the spread of Islam and the welfare
of Muslims.
In a time when there was a water shortage in Medina, he paid twenty
thousand dirhems, which was quite a sum of money for that time, to
buy the Well of Ruma and donated it to the service of Muslims who
were paying for the water taken from this well. He was also the
person who met all the needs of the army, consisting of ten
thousand Muslims, who would participate in the expedition to Tabuk.
This aside, in a time when there was famine in Medina, Hazrat
Uthman (ra) purchased a hundred loads of wheat that arrived from
Damascus by camel and distributed them to the needy and the
companions of our Prophet (saas) in Medina.
Hazrat Uthman's (ra) Superior Services as a Caliphate
Following the martyrdom of Hazrat Umar (ra), Hazrat Uthman (ra) was
chosen as Caliph by a committee. Because he was considered
deserving of this duty by the Islamic community, nobody objected to
this decision and everyone offered allegiance to him. Hazrat Uthman
(ra) no doubt rendered one of his most important services in
spreading the morality of Islam during his Caliphate by ordering the
production of multiple copies of the text of the Qur'an as it
exists today, and sending them to all the Muslim provinces. During
the time of Hazrat Uthman (ra), the copies of the Qur'an were
produced, a copy was left in Medina and others were sent to Mecca,
Damascus, Kufa, Basra, Egypt and other provinces. Due to this
honorable and great service of Hazrat Uthman (ra), he was given the
name "Nashri al-Qur'an", meaning "the one who spreads the Qur'an."
During his Caliphate, Hazrat Uthman (ra) achieved many other great
accomplishments, one of which was the establishment of the first
Muslim navy on the coasts of Syria that made its first expedition to
Cyprus. Following this first naval triumph, other expeditions were
made to other islands in the Mediterranean in the following years,
with great victories following these expeditions.
During his military expeditions both on land and sea, and as a
requisite of the morality of Islam, Hazrat Uthman (ra) always
assumed a just and compassionate attitude. He observed the rights
of the People of the Book and treated them with compassion and
justice.
During the conquest of Dabil (Dvin), which was an Armenian city
during the Caliphate of Hazrat Uthman (ra), he granted indemnity to
the Christians, Jews and zoroastrians living in the city and
guaranteed the protection of their sanctuaries.
The following letter which Hazrat Uthman (ra) wrote to the
financial and administrative authorities when he became the Caliph
reveals his understanding, which was in full conformity with the
morality of the Qur'an:
"Almighty Allah had created nothing for a vain purpose. He created
everything as right. Therefore He accepts nothing but the right.
Take whatever you take as right; and give those things you give away
to the needy. Be especially attentive to honesty. Conduct yourself
honestly and don't be the one violating it, for those violating it
also undertakes the sins of those coming later. Be attentive to be
loyal; do not violate the rights of the orphan and comply with the
conventions. Be aware that Allah is hostile to those who oppress the
orphan."
This aside, he always allowed the repair of demolished churches
and the construction of new ministries and synagogues.
During the Caliphate of Hazrat Uthman (ra), the Muslim army had
great victories against the Byzantine Empire, and Armenia,
Caucasia, Khorasan, Marrakesh, Karman, Africa and many others were
included in the territories of the Islamic state.
The first Sermon of Hazrat Uthman (ra)
When Hazrat Uthman (ra) came to the pulpit to preach his first
sermon, he told the following after giving thanks to Allah:
"Muslims! You are indeed living in the blessings of peace and
security in Islam. You have come to the end of your lives with this
blessing. May your life end with goodness. Day and night, you have
struggled with all your might and main. But be well aware that the
yeast of this world is decisive. May the life of this world not
deceive you. Do not be proud towards Allah and take lessons from
those who preceeded you. Do not be idle and insensitive; be alert.
Allah is not heedless. Now where are those men of means who
preceeded us and loved this world, felt attached to it and had
palaces everywhere? Has this world ever remained faithful to them?
Take at least lessons from it, and do not overestimate this world
which Allah despises. Get prepared for the Hereafter, which is your
eternal abode."
Hazrat Uthman (ra) concluded his sermon saying, "There is a good
example in the following verse" and read:
I seek refuge in Allah from the accursed satan:
Make a metaphor for them of the life of the world. It is like water
which We send down from the sky and the plants of the earth combine
with it but then become dry chaff scattered by the winds. Allah has
absolute power over everything. (Surat al-Kahf, 45)
Wise words of Hazrat Uthman (ra)
"Take heed from the past and work for the good."
"Almighty Allah granted this world to you so that you can seek the
life of the Hereafter. He did not grant it to you so that you feel
inclined to it!"
"Hurry for the good deeds you can do before death catches up with you."
"O people! Avoid opposing the commandments of Allah, for avoidance
from opposing Allah's commandments is a loot… A servant of Allah
should fear from being resurrected blind although he was the one
able to see. A single word is sufficient for the one who understands
wisdom. Those who are deaf in soul already do not hear the right. Be
aware that that person fears nothing if Allah is with him."
The news of Hazrat Uthman's (ra) martyrdom was given by our Prophet (saas)
Our Prophet (saas) sent a messenger to Hazrat Uthman (ra) to call him
and when he came he told him:
"You will be murdered and die a martyr! Be patient. May Allah give
you patience."
"Never take off the shirt of Caliphate that Allah will put on you
for ten years and six months." While Hazrat Uthman (ra) was
leaving, our Prophet (saas) told him: "May Allah grant you
patience. You will be martyred while you will be fasting and you
will break your fast with me!" (Imam Suyuti, our Prophet (saas)
with his Extraordinary Features , Iz Publishing, Istanbul, 2003,
p.729)
Hazrat Uthman (ra) was martyred on 35 Hijr (the year 657 according
to the Gregorian Calendar) by some rebels in his home.
Our Prophet's (saas) words about Hazrat Uthman (ra)
"Uthman is the one with the most sense of shame in the ummah and the
most graceful."
"Every prophet has a companion in the Garden. My companion there is Uthman."
"My Lord! Remove Uthman's grief and sorrow on the Day of Judgment,
for he removed much of our grief."
"Uthman is from me, and I am from Uthman."
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