Caliph 'Uthman (RA)

1. A short life history

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2. His personal qualities

• He took part with the Prophet ﷺ in all matters; among the Companions he was ranked next after Abu Bakr and 'Umar (RA).
• He was promised Paradise many times; he is one of al-'Asharah al-Mubashsharah (the ten given the good news of Paradise).
• Because he could read and write, he was given the task of preserving the revelation in writing (he was one of the kuttab al-wahy – the scribes of revelation).

Dhun-Nurayn (ذو النورين)

• He married two of the Prophet's ﷺ daughters, one after the other, and lived with them in an excellent way, so he received the special title "Dhun-Nurayn" (the possessor of two lights).

Modesty (haya')

• "Why should I not feel shy before one before whom the angels feel shy?" (Muslim) – the best evidence of his deeply modest nature.

Other contributions

• He took part in the first hijrah made by the Muslims (to Abyssinia) and in the other hijrahs.
• During the 'umrah journey of 6 AH he was sent to the Quraysh as the Prophet's envoy for peace.
• In the administration of Caliph Abu Bakr (RA) he contributed as a leading member of the shura council, in the position of a minister.
• In the time of Caliph 'Umar (RA) too he stayed very close to him and gave advice.

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3. His appointment as caliph

• When 'Umar (RA) was gravely wounded by Abu Lu'lu'ah's attack, the Companions said: "Amir al-Mu'minin! Make your will (wasiyyah); appoint someone as caliph after you."
• 'Umar (RA) said, "I see none more fit for it than one of these six" (the remaining living ones of those promised Paradise), and appointed six people, instructing them to choose one from among themselves:

• After 'Umar (RA) died and was buried, the six met; after long discussion, 'Uthman (RA) was chosen as caliph.
• 'Abd ar-Rahman (RA) gave bay'ah first, and the other Companions followed.

How the first three caliphs were chosen – comparison

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4. His services and contributions

(1) Preserving the Quran

• He was one of the kuttab al-wahy who wrote down the revelation at the Prophet's ﷺ side.
• Later, as many non-Arabs accepted Islam, confusion arose in the recitation of the Quran.
• On the basis of the copy compiled in Abu Bakr's (RA) time and kept by Hafsah (RA), he had eight copies made.
• This work was carried out under the leadership of Zayd ibn Thabit (RA) (a scribe of revelation in the Prophet's time and head of the committee that put the Quran into writing in Abu Bakr's time).
• He sent the copies together with qaris (reciters) trained to recite them correctly → differences in recitation were removed and everyone recited in the same way.
• This earned him the special title "Jami' al-Quran" (the one who gathered the Quran).

(2) Building a navy

• To carry the message of Islam across the sea, beyond the Arabian Peninsula, and to face the enemies' challenges, he approved the founding of a navy.
• Under the leadership of Mu'awiyah (RA), governor of Sham, in 27 AH.
• The honour of building the first navy in the Islamic world belongs to 'Uthman (RA).

(3) Expanding the state

• The security measures of the first two caliphs were continued.
• Areas to which Islamic rule spread: many parts of North Africa such as Alexandria, the southern parts of Egypt, Tunisia and Morocco; the Mediterranean islands; Persian regions.

(4) Political and administrative contributions

• He carried forward, excellently and with the necessary changes, the administrative work begun by the two caliphs before him.

(5) Development work

• Expansion of Masjid al-Haram in 26 AH.
• Expansion of Masjid an-Nabawi in 29 AH.
• He extended the work of the Bayt al-Mal.
• Infrastructure such as canals, roads and public wells.

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5. The unrest and his martyrdom

• Enemies wrongly criticised the changes he made in administration to suit the times, stirred up unrest among the Muslims and tried to weaken the Islamic state; some Muslims who did not understand the situation were also caught up in it.
• 'Abdullah ibn Saba', a Jew, played the full part in creating this unrest.
• Surrounded by the rebels, he was martyred in 35 AH at the age of 82.

Note: The textbook gives eight copies of the Quran, the navy in 27 AH and his age at death as 82. Historical reports differ on these details (for example, the number of copies is also reported as four to seven, and other ages at death are reported). Learn the textbook figures for the exam.

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6. Key Arabic terms

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Quick revision

• "A man before whom even the angels feel shy" (Muslim).
• Umayyah clan; 576 CE; merchant, wealthy; accepted Islam at 34 through Abu Bakr (RA); one of the first ten.
• Al-'Asharah al-Mubashsharah; katib al-wahy; Dhun-Nurayn (married two of the Prophet's daughters).
• 6 AH – envoy for peace to the Quraysh.
• Committee of six: 'Uthman, 'Ali, Talhah, az-Zubayr, 'Abd ar-Rahman, Sa'd – 'Abd ar-Rahman gave bay'ah first.
• Contributions: 8 copies of the Quran (Zayd ibn Thabit) – Jami' al-Quran; first navy (27 AH, Mu'awiyah); expansion in North Africa; al-Haram (26 AH) and an-Nabawi (29 AH) expanded.
• Unrest by 'Abdullah ibn Saba' (a Jew); martyred in 35 AH aged 82.