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 6 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 6 books by Ibn Kathir, Imam al-Dhahabī, and Imam al-Ghazali — 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.
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 →
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""You have the reward of a man who was present at Badr, and his share." As for his absence from the Pledge of Good Pleasure, had there been anyone more honored in the heart of Mecca than Uthman, he would have sent him in his place; so the Messenger of God, God's peace and blessings be upon him, sent Uthman, and the Pledge of Good Pleasure took place after Uthman had gone to Mecca, and the Prophet, God's peace and blessings be upon him, said, with his right hand, "This is the hand of Uthman," and struck it upon his other hand and said, "This is for Uthman."' Then Ibn Umar said to him, 'Take this away with you now.'" He alone related it, without Muslim."
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"Al-Waqidi said: In it Uthman ibn Affan, may God be pleased with him, led the people on the pilgrimage. Others said: In it Uthman ibn Abi al-As conquered Sabur by treaty, for three million three hundred thousand. Then Came the Year Twenty-Seven Al-Waqidi and Abu Ma'shar said: In it Uthman dismissed Amr ibn al-As from Egypt and appointed over it Abdullah ibn Sa'd ibn Abi Sarh, who was Uthman's brother through his mother, and the one for whom he interceded on the day of the Conquest, when the Messenger of God, God's peace and blessings be upon him, had declared his blood forfeit."
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"In it Uthman ibn Affan dismissed Abu Musa al-Ash'ari from Basra after he had governed it six years, or, it is said, three, and appointed over it Abdullah ibn Amir ibn Kurayz ibn Rabi'a ibn Habib ibn Abd Shams, the son of Uthman ibn Affan's maternal uncle. He joined for him the army of Abu Musa and the army of Uthman ibn Abi al-As, and he was twenty-five years old; he remained there six years."
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"Mistah ibn Uthatha also died, and Ghafil ibn al-Bukayr. In this year Uthman ibn Affan, may God Most High be pleased with him, led the people on the pilgrimage. Then Came the Year Thirty-Five In It Was the Killing of Uthman ibn Affan, May God Be Pleased With Him The cause of it was that when Uthman dismissed Amr ibn al-As from Egypt, he appointed Abdullah ibn Sa'd ibn Abi Sarh over it."
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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"He said: I mentioned that to Uthman al-Akhnas, and he said: "I think you have erred. Umar died with four nights remaining of Dhu al-Hijja, and allegiance was pledged to Uthman with one night remaining of Dhu al-Hijja, so that he entered upon his caliphate with Muharram of the year twenty-four." Abu Ma'shar said: Umar was killed with four nights remaining of Dhu al-Hijja, at the completion of the year twenty-three; his caliphate was ten years, six months and four days, and allegiance was pledged to Uthman ibn Affan."
13th–14th century · Damascus, Syria
Siyar Aʿlām al-Nubalāʾ — the monumental biographical dictionary of Islamic scholarship, from the companions of the Prophet ﷺ through al-Dhahabī's own era. A working-scholar reference used for seven centuries.
More on Imam al-Dhahabī →
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"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."
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"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,"
13th–14th century · Damascus, Syria
Siyar Aʿlām al-Nubalāʾ — the monumental biographical dictionary of Islamic scholarship, from the companions of the Prophet ﷺ through al-Dhahabī's own era. A working-scholar reference used for seven centuries.
More on Imam al-Dhahabī →
· Provenance →
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"glad tidings of paradise. Among them, the best are Abu Bakr, then Umar ibn al-Khattab, then Uthman ibn Affan, then Ali ibn Abi Talib, may Allah be pleased with them all. Only an innovator, hypocrite, or vile person would doubt this. The Prophet, peace be upon him, stated in the Hadith of Irbaad ibn Saria, adhere to my Sunnah and the Sunnah of the rightly guided Caliphs after me, hold on to it tightly and beware of newly invented matters. The rightly guided Caliphs are Abu Bakr, Umar, Uthman, and Ali, may Allah be pleased with them all. Allah revealed verses in praise of Abu Bakr, may Allah be pleased with him. Allah the Exalted"
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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"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"
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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"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"
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