sun_shine
Age: 124
Total Posts: 13494
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Afghanistan, Afghanistan
Assalam O Alaikum
* Starting Life
"May Allah be the guardian of the couple! After Lot, Othman is the first man who, with his wife, has given up the comfort of his home for the cause of Allah."
Thus said the Holy Prophet when his son-in-law, Othman, left Mecca for Abyssinia, to excape persecution at the hands of the Meccans.
Othman was born some six years after the birth of the Holy Prophet. His father's name was Affan. Arwa was the name of his mother. His grandaughter, Baiza, was a daughter of Abdul Muttalib and therefore an aunt of the Holy Prophet. Othman belonged to the Omayya branch of the Quraish. Banu Omayya were thought to be the equals of Banu Hashim. The national flag of the Quraish was in their keeping.
When Othman grew up, he became a cloth merchant. His business grew rapidly and he came to be looked upon as a top business man of the city. He often visited Syria in connection with his business. Flourishing business brought him both wealth and position.
However, Othman was an extremely kindhearted man. He looked upon wealth as a means of helping others. If money could remove suffering, Othman was always ready to help.
Acceptance of Islam
It was Abu Bakr who won Othman for Islam. He and Othman were great friends. The Holy Prophet belonged to Banu Hashim and Othman belonged to Banu Omayya. There was old rivalry between the two tribes. This did not keep back Othman from accepting the truth. As soon as he heard the message of Islam, he accepted it. He was one of the first Muslims. The Holy Prophet gave to him his daughter, Ruaqayya in marriage.
By becoming a Muslim, Othman drew upon himself the anger of his relatives. His uncle, Hakam, tied his hand and foot. He then shut him up in a dark room. Othman gladly underwent all kinds of torture, but refused to give up Islam.
The Quraish who once loved Othman now became his enemies. His own relatives would have nothing to do with him. This made Othman feel miserable. He went to the Holy Prophet and asked permission to go to Abyssinia. The permission was given. Othman was the first Muslim to leave for Abyssinia. He and his wife crossed the Red Sea and sought refuge in Abyssinia. They were the first to give up their home and all they had for the cause of Allah.
When migration from Mecca began, Othman and his wife Ruqayya also went to Medina and settled there.
Closeness to the Prophet SAW
Othman was among those who were very close to the Holy Prophet. He fought by the side of the Prophet in all battles except Badr. He could not go to Badr because his wife, Ruqayya, was very ill. The Prophet himself told Othman to stay back at Medina and attend to his ailing wife. Ruaqayya died of this illness.
Othman took the death of Ruqayya very much to heart. He was all the more sad because he no longer enjoyed the honor of being the son-in-law of the Prophet. The Holy Prophet saw this. So he married to Othman his second daughter, Umm Kulthum. This was a rare honor. It earned for Othman the title of "Zun-Noorain," or "the possesor of two lights."
In the sixth year of Hijra was signed the treaty of Hudaibiya. Othman played an important part in the peace talks. It was he who was sent by the Holy Prophet to contact the Quraish. The Quraish said they had no objection if Othman alone visited the Kaaba, but they were unwilling to let the Messenger of Allah enter Mecca. To this Othman replied: "It is unthinkable that I take preference over the Prophet. If he can't visit the House of Allah, I too, will not visit it." Othman's firm stand at last forced the Quraish to yield ground.
In the meantime, a rumor got afoot. It was given out that Othman had been killed by the Quraish. The report shocked the Prophet. He determined to avenge the death of Othman. He stood under a tree and took a pledge from his followers. He struck his hand on each man's hand and the man said, "I will fight unto death for the sake of Othman."
Such was the regard in which Othman was held by the Prophet! However, the rumor proved to be untrue. Othman came back safe and sound.
When the Muslim refugees first came to Medina, they had great difficulty in getting drinking water. There was just one well but it was owned by a Jew. The Jew would not allow the refuges to get water from it. So the holy Prophet said, "who is there that will buy this well for the Muslims? Allah will reward him a fountain in Paradise." Othman at once responded. He brought the well for twenty thousand dirhams and gave it away for the free use of Muslims.
When the Muslims grew in numbers, the Prophet's Mosque became too small for them. The holy Prophet said, "Who will spend money for the extension of the mosque?" Othman again came forward. He bought the adjoining piece of land for the extension.
In the ninth year of Hijra, reports reached the Holy Prophet that the Emperor of Byzantium was preparing a march on Medina. These reports disturbed the Muslims. The Holy Prophet began to counter preparations. He appealed to people to give whatever they could. Othman gave one thousand camels, fifty horses and one thousand pieces of gold. The holy Prophet looked at the heap of gold and declared, "Whatever Othman does, from this day on, will do him no harm."
Othman was one of the scribes of the Prophet. He was one of the men who wrote portions of the Qur'an as they were revealed. He was also one of the ten Companions whom the holy Prophet gave the good news of the kingdom of Heaven.
Closeness to the Prophet won Othman a high place among the Companions. He was one of the advisors of Abu Bakr and Omar during their Caliphate.
Othman's Election
Omar had nominated a six-man council to choose a Caliph from among its members. These members were: Ali, Othman, Abdur Rehman bin Auf, Saad bin Abi Waqaas, Zubair bin Awwam and Talha bin Obaidullah. The electors were to meet and finish their task within three days of Omar's death. Such was the will of the late Calpih.
The electors met. Talha had been out of Medina for some days, so he could not attend the meeting.
The council of electors had a long sitting. It could not come to an agreed decision. There was an impasse. So Abdur Rehman bin Auf said, "If any man is willing to withdraw his name, he will have the right to nominate the Caliph. Who will withdraw?" All kept silent. Then Abdur Rehman said, "I withdraw my name."
All except Ali said they were ready to accept Abdur Rehman's decision. Abdur Rehman asked Ali what he had to say. He replied, "Promise to be just. Promise not to be partial on account of kinship. Promise to be led by the welfare of the people alone. If you promise these things, I agree to abide by your decision."
Abdur Rehman promised all these things. The election of the Caliph now rested with Abdur Rehman bin Auf.
Abdur Rehman was fully alive to the heavy responsibility he had placed upon himself. The news of Omar's death had drawn to Medina the leaders of public opinion from all ov
