Who was ʿUthmān ibn ʿAffān?
The companion of the two lights, the one who compiled the Qur'an into the single codex we recite today. His wealth, his modesty, and the tragedy of his murder.
10 passages from 8 books in the library
In the cited passages ʿUthmān ibn ʿAffān appears as a Companion and transmitter of sobering teachings about the hereafter. Al-Ghazali, in the Iḥyāʾ, relates his words that "the grave is the first of the hereafter's stages," and his description of the standing on the Day of Judgment. ʿUthmān is also remembered as the third caliph whose era and later tribulation the scholars recall, and Ibn Battuta records his honoured grave being visited. The passages present him chiefly through his narrations on death, the grave, and the meeting with Allah, rather than a full biography.
Drawn from the classical sources below — in the scholars' own words.
The classical approach.
These passages are drawn from 8 books by Imam al-Ghazali, Ibn Battuta, and Ibn Kathir — part of the classical Sunni tradition that carries over a thousand years of reflection on the Qurʾān, the authentic Sunnah, and the consensus of the early community. Nothing below is a paraphrase. The words are the scholars' own, translated from the original Arabic manuscripts.
11th–12th century · Ṭūs, Khurāsān
Reviving the inner life of Islam through the Iḥyāʾ ʿUlūm al-Dīn — one of the most influential works ever written in any religious tradition.
More on Imam al-Ghazali →
· Provenance →
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"The hadith of Uthman bin Affan, The grave is the first of the hereafter's stages, was transmitted"
11th–12th century · Ṭūs, Khurāsān
Reviving the inner life of Islam through the Iḥyāʾ ʿUlūm al-Dīn — one of the most influential works ever written in any religious tradition.
More on Imam al-Ghazali →
· Provenance →
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"This Hadith, narrated by Ibn Majah from Uthman Ibn Affan, describes that on the Day of Judgment"
14th century · Tangier, Morocco
The Riḥlah — a 30-year, 75,000-mile journey across three continents, and the most important travel account of the pre-modern world.
More on Ibn Battuta →
· Provenance →
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"of Uthman ibn Affan al-Misri, the Muslim leaders there, received us, carrying a white banner"
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"We stayed at the house of the sons of Uthman ibn Affan al-Misri, a prominent merchant who"
11th–12th century · Ṭūs, Khurāsān
Reviving the inner life of Islam through the Iḥyāʾ ʿUlūm al-Dīn — one of the most influential works ever written in any religious tradition.
More on Imam al-Ghazali →
· Provenance →
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"Al-Bazar records from the narration of Uthman ibn Affan, God has one hundred and seventeen"
11th–12th century · Ṭūs, Khurāsān
Reviving the inner life of Islam through the Iḥyāʾ ʿUlūm al-Dīn — one of the most influential works ever written in any religious tradition.
More on Imam al-Ghazali →
· Provenance →
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"this man was Uthman ibn Affan, and its chain is good. Al-Tirmidhi, ibn Majah, and Al-Hakim"
14th century · Tangier, Morocco
The Riḥlah — a 30-year, 75,000-mile journey across three continents, and the most important travel account of the pre-modern world.
More on Ibn Battuta →
· Provenance →
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"during the time of Uthman ibn Affan, may God be pleased with him, and made a covenant with"
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"At the far end is the grave of the commander of the faithful, Uthman ibn Affan, may God"
11th–12th century · Ṭūs, Khurāsān
Reviving the inner life of Islam through the Iḥyāʾ ʿUlūm al-Dīn — one of the most influential works ever written in any religious tradition.
More on Imam al-Ghazali →
· Provenance →
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"It is also reported from the hadith of Uthman ibn Affan, I surely know a word that if a"
14th century · Bosra, Syria
Monumental history Al-Bidāyah wa al-Nihāyah, the world's most widely read Qurʾanic commentary, and the classical Stories of the Prophets.
More on Ibn Kathir →
· Provenance →
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"the tribulation of Uthman Ibn Affan, I bear witness that the Messenger of Allah, peace"
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