A Brief Biography of Hazrat Uthman ؓ – The Third Righteously Guided Caliph of Muslims

Our predecessors are our mentors. Knowing them strengthens our Imaan. 12th or 18th Zilhajj marks the martyrdom of Hazrat Uthman (ra). So here we bring to you his biography in brief.

Name: Uthman (ra) ibn Affan

Birth: He was born six years after the Year of the Elephants Ref: Al Isabah by Imam Ibn Hajar Asqalani. Hazrat Uthman was thus six years younger to Prophet Muhammed ﷺ.

Relation with Prophet Muhammed ﷺ: The lineage of Hazrat Uthman (ra) meets with that of Prophet Muhammed ﷺ in Abd Munaf bin Qusai (ra) – the great grandfather of Prophet Muhammed ﷺ. Ref: Tabqat by Ibn Sa’ad

Kuniya (Teknonym): Abu Abdullah

Nick name: Dhun Noorain (the possessor of two lights). Nobody else except Hazrat Uthman (ra) was married to two daughters of a prophet, one after the demise of the other. They being Sayyida Ruqaiyyah (ra) and then Sayyida Umm Kulthoom (ra) Ref: Sunan Bayhaqi

Hazrat Uthman before Islam: Hazrat Uthman (ra) himself reported: “I had no interest in songs, I never committed immoral deeds, my right hand never touched private parts since I swore allegiance to the Messenger of Allah ﷺ. I did not drink alcohol during Jahiliyyah or in the days of Islam, and I did not commit zina during Jahiliyyah or in the days of Islam.” Ref: Hilyat al-Awliya by Imam Abu Nuaim Isfahani

Towards Islam: Hazrat Uthman (ra) was 36 years old when he accepted Islam. Hazrat Abu Bakr Siddiq (ra) called him towards Islam and Hazrat Uthman (ra) didn’t hesitate to accept it. According to Ibn Ishaq, the first person to accept Islam (amongst males) after Hazrat Abu Bakr, Hazrat Ali, Hazrat Zaid bin Haritha (Allah be pleased with them) was Hazrat Uthman (ra) Ref: Ibn Hisham

Among the first to migrate: Hazrat Uthman (ra) was first amongst those who migrated from Makkah to Abyssinia with his family. Ref: Sawaiq al-Mursalah

Financial contributions for Islam: Donated 20 thousand Dirhams for Bi’r Roomah to acquire a well of drinking water, which was later used by the rich, poor and travelers. Hazrat Uthman (ra) also contributed money for the extension of Masjid Nabawi Shareef and also a great deal of wealth on the army which went to Tabook.

Hazrat Uthman (ra) with the Holy Quran in his final hours: The third Caliph (ra) Hazrat Uthman was deeply attached to Quran. In fact, in his final days, he was busy reciting the Noble Quran. When he was martyred, his blood spill on these Quranic verse which says: “Allah will suffice you…” (Quran 2:137). He was buried in Jannatul Baqi near Masjid Nabawi Shareef.

Sayyiduna Uthman (ra) was the scribe of the Quran. During the times of Caliphate, he also assembled the holy Quran which was by then restricted to scribes on parches, leaves etc.; Hazrat Uthman (ra) compiled it as a book. For this reason he is called as Jaami ul-Quran. He was very rich financially, utmost modest and very shy. During the time of the first two Caliphs (ra), he was their confidante and advisor. His reign as a caliph was just, and was in accordance of the Quran and Hadith, and that of the first two caliphs (ra). During his caliphate, Islamic era saw the advent of naval forces. The regions which came under Hazrat Uthman’s caliphate were: Makkah, Madinah, Bahrain, Yamamah, Yemen, Hadramawt, Syria, Armenia, Egypt, Basrah and Kufa.

A mere single article cannot suffice to mention the virtues of Hazrath Uthman (ra). Innumerable hadiths and historical incidents drive us to the respectability of Hazrat Uthman (ra). May Allah bless Hazrat Uthman (ra) according to His own Sacred Pride and Will. May we be blessed to follow the great people like Hazrath Usman (ra) who had strong Iman, and may Allah protect us against going astray. Aameen.

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