Hazrat Uthman (ra)

Hazrat Uthman (ra), one of the handful of peoplewho first embraced
Islam, had been one of the closest people to ourProphet (saas)
throughout his life. He was the son-in-law of our Prophet (saas) and
the third Caliph. Becausehe 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 wasone 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, healso 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
grantedhim 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 ahundred
loads of wheatthat 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 bythe 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
themorality of Islam during his Caliphate by orderingthe production of
multiple copies of the text of the Qur'an as it exists today, and
sending them to all the Muslim provinces. Duringthe time of Hazrat
Uthman (ra), the copies of the Qur'an were produced, a copy was left
in Medina and otherswere 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 "theone
who spreads the Qur'an."
During his Caliphate, Hazrat Uthman (ra) achieved many other great
accomplishments, one of which was the establishment of the firstMuslim
navy on the coasts of Syria that madeits first expedition to Cyprus.
Following this first naval triumph, other expeditions were made to
other islands in the Mediterranean in thefollowing years, with great
victories followingthese 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 thecity 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
createdeverything 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. Beaware 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 manyothers were included in
the territories of the Islamic state.
The first Sermon of Hazrat Uthman (ra)
When Hazrat Uthman (ra) came to the pulpit topreach 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? Hasthis 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 followingverse" 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 thenbecome dry chaff scattered by the winds. Allah has
absolute powerover 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 notgrant it to you so that you feel
inclined to it!"
"Hurry for the good deeds you can do beforedeath 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 oneable
to see. A single word is sufficient for theone 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 byour Prophet (saas)
Our Prophet (saas) sent amessenger 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, andI am from Uthman."