Rightly Guided Caliph

ʿUthmān ibn ʿAffān

عثمان بن عفان

Dates: 576–656 CE / 47 BH–35 AH
Relation to the Prophet ﷺ: Son-in-law twice over — married the Prophet's ﷺ daughters Ruqayyah then Umm Kulthūm

Dhū al-Nūrayn (Possessor of Two Lights)The Third Caliph

Known for

The caliph who unified the Qurʾanic script. The standard muṣḥaf used today descends directly from his committee's edition.

Life

ʿUthmān was among the wealthiest Qurayshī merchants. He bought the well of Rūmah and gave it to the Muslims of Madinah; he equipped the army of Tabūk almost single-handedly. The Prophet ﷺ said: after today, nothing will harm ʿUthmān, whatever he does.

His caliphate lasted twelve years. When regional recitations of the Qurʾan began to diverge, ʿUthmān commissioned a committee — including Zayd ibn Thābit — to produce one authoritative text. The resulting muṣḥaf is the Qurʾan every Muslim in the world now reads. He was assassinated in his own house in Madinah while reading the Qurʾan, surrounded by rebels he refused to let his guards fight. His blood fell on the page open before him — preserved in the Topkapi muṣḥaf.

References in the library

Passages that mention ʿUthmān

"Sa'd then went to Umar and said, "O Commander of the Faithful! Has something new happened in Islam?" Umar asked, "What is that?" Sa'd explained the situation, and Umar sent for Uthman. When Uthman came, Umar asked, "What prevents you from returning your brother's greeting?" Uthman replied, "I did not do so." After some discussion, Uthman remembered and said, "Indeed, I seek forgiveness from Allah and repent to Him."

Source in Volume 1 →
"and his tears flowed onto the cheek of 'Uthman. This narration was authenticated by Al-Tirmidhi. When the funeral of 'Uthman ibn Maz'un was passing by, the Messenger of Allah, peace be upon him, remarked: "You have departed and did not partake in anything of this world." Umm Al-Ala, one of those who pledged allegiance, mentioned that 'Uthman ibn Maz'un fell ill with them, and they nursed him until he passed away. The Messenger of Allah, peace be upon him, came, and she said: "My testimony upon you, O Abu Al-Sa'ib, is that Allah has honored you!" The Messenger of Allah replied: "And what makes you know?" She said: "I do not know,"

Source in Volume 1 →
"I frequently heard the Prophet peace and blessings be upon him saying I went with Abu Bakr and Umar I came out with Abu Bakr and Umar and I entered with Abu Bakr and Umar Now regarding the death of Uthman, may Allah be pleased with him. The hadith about his murder is well known Abdullah Ibn Salam said I came to my brother Uthman to greet him while he was besieged I entered and he said welcome my brother I saw the messenger of Allah peace and blessings be upon him last night in this small window He pointed to a window in the house and said Oh Uthman they will besiege you. I said yes He said they will make you thirsty I said yes"

Source in The Book of the Remembrance of Death and the Afterlife →
"his knowledge of it, and his voice reaching them was among the great miracles. Anas Ibn Malik, may Allah be pleased with him, recounted an encounter with Uthman, may Allah be pleased with him. Anas had looked intently at a woman on his way, admiring her beauty. When he entered, Uthman said, one of you enters with the trace of fornication apparent in his eyes. Do you not know that the fornication of the eyes is the gaze? You must repent or I will punish you. Anas asked, is there revelation after the Prophet? Uthman replied, no, but insight, evidence, and truthful intuition. Abu Sa'id al-Kharaz shared an experience in"

Source in The Book of the Wonders of the Heart →
"who had forsaken women, that the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, sent for him and said, O Uthman, I have not been commanded with monasticism. In this narration, it is mentioned, Whoever turns away from my sunnah is not of me. It is said that the Messenger of Allah rebuked Uthman bin Mazun for celibacy, and if he had permitted it, they would have emasculated themselves. Al-Baghawi and al-Tabarani narrate from Uthman bin Mazun that he said, O Messenger of Allah, I find celibacy during military expeditions difficult, so will you permit me to emasculate myself? The Prophet replied, No, but observe"

Source in The Book of the Wonders of the Heart →
"So I chose to break my fast with him and he was killed that day. May Allah be pleased with him Abdullah Ibn Salam then addressed those present during the throes of Uthman and death as he was wounded What did Uthman say while struggling in death? They said we heard him say Oh Allah unite the nation of Muhammad peace and blessings be upon him three times By the one in whose hand is my soul if he had called upon Allah for them never to unite They would not have reunited until the Day of Judgment Thumama Ibn Hazan Al-Khushairi recounted an event involving Uthman. May Allah be pleased with him"

Source in The Book of the Remembrance of Death and the Afterlife →

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