Hazrat Uthaman E Ghani (RA), the Third Caliph of Muslims
By: Raqif Makhdoomi.
Uthman ibn Affan [RA] was the third Caliph of Muslims .Born 573/576 in Hejaz, Arabia. The Caliphate of Hazrat Uthman [RA] lasted for 12 years. From 644 to 656 CE. The longest Caliphate is of Hazrat Uthman ibn Affan [RA].
The Caliphate of Hazrat Uthman [RA] ended with his assassination in 656. Abdul Ibni Saba a Jewish, a Persian slave played a major role in the assassination of Hazrat Uthman (ra). Abdul Ibni Saba took cover of Islam to make people rebel against Hazrat Uthaman (ra) and finally got him assassinated.
On 17 June 656, rebels found the gate of Uthman’s house strongly guarded by his supporters. Some of the rebels scaled the neighboring houses and jumped into Uthman’s. Then one rebel approached Uthman 9RA), grabbed and shook his beard. Uthman (RA) prayed to God for protection from killing, the rebel stabbed him in the head, and the other rebels followed suit
According to a narration regarded as likely to be a legend by Madelung, Uthman’s wives threw themselves on his body to shield him. Na’ila bint al-Furafisa, one of his wives, extended her hand to block a blade. Her fingers were severed, and she was shoved aside. The following strike killed Uthman (RA).
A few of Uthman’s (RA) slaves retaliated, and one of them succeeded in killing one of the assassins before being murdered by the rebels. When they finally attacked Hazrat Uthaman {ra}. He was reciting Quraan , and when he was martyred his blood fell on Ayat of Surah Al Baqarah 2:137 which reads “ So Allah will Suffice for you against them . And He is the All Hearer, The All Knower”.
Hazrat Uthaman (ra) took over to Caliphate after Hazrat Umar [RA] passed away. The election of Hazat Uthman [RA] was done by a Committee, known as Shura. While Hazrat Umar [RA] was on deathbed he formed a committee in which Hazrat Ali [RA], Hazrat Uthman [RA], Hazrat Abd al-Rahman [RA], Hazrat Sa’d Abi Waqqas [RA], Hazrat Zubayr ibn al-Awwam and Hazrat Talha ibn Ubayd Allah [RA]. All these were Muhjirun [early Meccan converts] .
Uthman ibn Affan [RA] the second cousin of Prophet Muhammad and a notable companion of the Prophet [PBUH]. Hazrat Uthman [RA] has played a great role in all the battles that were fought during the life of Prophet [PBUH]. Hazarat Uthaman (ra) was married to two daughters of Hazrat Muhammed (saw). Hazrat Ruqayyah [ra] and Hazrat Umm Kulthum [ra]. Hazrat Uthman is also known as Dhun-Noorayan
Narrated Muhammad bin Al-Hanafiya “I asked my father [Ali nin Abi Talib] “who are the best people after Allah’s Messenger [PBUH] ? “He said “Abubakar”. I asked, “Who then?” He said, “Then Umar”. I was afraid he would say “Uthman , so I said, “Then you?” He said, “I am only an ordinary person.
Hazrat Uthman Ibn Affan was then 68-71 aged when he took to the Caliphate.
Hazrat Uthman [RA] is known as Shaheed E Mazloom of Islam. After the assassination of Hazrat Uthman [RA] his body was lying in the house and no one was ready to assist in burial. It was only after his wife Hazrat Na’ila [ra] went out to request people for help, some dozen of people responded. His body was lifted in dusk and buried. While his body was lifted he was not lifted in Coffin because of the Blockade.
He’s known for his charity. During the Battle of Tabooku Prophet {saw} called upon people to give donation for war. Hazrat Uthaman [ra] gave 900 camels, 100 horses and 5 kgs of Gold. He never stepped back from giving charity and came to be known as Ghani , The Giver .
Uthman participated in all major battles which took place in the early period of Islam except for Badr and that too because the Prophet of Islam commanded him to stay back and tend to his wife who was unwell at the time.
Regarding this, there is a hadith which states, “You (Uthman) will have the reward and the share of booty of a man who was present at Bade”.
Furthermore, during the campaigns of Ghatafan and Dhat al-Riqa the Prophet of Islam left Uthman (RA) in charge of Madinah when the Muslim army ventured out of the city.
In about 650, Uthman began noticing slight differences in recitations of the Quran as Islam expanded beyond the Arabian Peninsula into Persia, the Levant, and North Africa.
In order to preserve the sanctity of the text, he ordered a committee headed by Zayd ibn Thabit to use caliph Abu Bakr’s copy and prepare a standard version of the Qur’an. Thus, within 20 years of Muhammad’s death, the Qur’an was committed to written form. That text became the model from which copies were made and promulgated throughout the urban centers of the Muslim world, with the other versions ordered to be burnt by Uthman.
There are people who object to the Caliphate of Hazrat Uthman [ra] with very flawed reasons . Hazrat Ali [ra] was the Advisor and Counsellor to Hazrat Uthman [ra] when he was the caliph . Hazrat Ali [ra] was also the committee member of the committee that Appointed Hazrat Uthman as the Caliph.
(The author is law student)
