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.
3 passages from 3 books in the library
The classical approach.
These passages are drawn from 3 books by Imam al-Ghazali and Ibn Battuta — 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 →
-
"I never wished for anything to happen to Uthman except it befell me, so much so that if I had wished for his killing, I might have been killed."
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 →
-
"The city's judge is Fakhr al-Din Uthman, a generous and virtuous man, and the chief of the hospice there is Sheikh Shihab al-Din al-Khazrooni,"
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 →
-
"I was present at the residence when Uthman appeared above them is recorded by al-Tirmidhi who said it is sound and by al-Nasai"
Want a different angle?
Type your question below — JM Scholar will ground its answer in the same sources.