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Assalam
You will find him amongst the Huffaadh, for he memorised the entire Qur’aan and recited it daily.
You will find him amongst the Mujahideen , for he participated eagerly in each battle, only missing Badr due to his wife’s illness.
You will find him amongst the leaders, for his twelve years of khilafah placed him far beyond many.
You will find him amongst the Aabideen, for he spent his nights in the worship of Allah.
And you will find him amongst the Martyrs, for his blood bore testimony to his honourable death…
_He is Uthmaan bin Affaan (radhiyallaahu anhu) , of noble descent, an Arab warrior with a wide variety of skills. He had a pleasant countenance and spoke only when necessary, yet in those moments of speech, produced words of such profound wisdom that those present would seldom forget it.__
Even before the advent of Islam, the Messenger (sallallaahu alayhi wa sallam) had noticed his praiseworthy qualities and thus, when the time came for his daughter, Ruqayya, to get married, the Prophet (sallallaahu alayhi wa sallam) happily gave her in marriage to Uthmaan (radhiyallaahu anhu). Theirs was a love that surpassed that of Romeo and Juliet or Majnoon and Layla for their love for each other was based on their mutual love for Allah and Islam.
He was one of the first few people to accept Islam, recognising the trustworthiness of the Prophet (sallallaahu alayhi wa sallam) and the authenticity of his divine message. Thus, he experienced the difficulties which the first Muslims experienced and shared in their torture and hardships. He and his beloved wife was the first couple from this ummah to migrate for the sake of Allah, leaving their home and belongings to practice Islam in Abyssinia.
Uthmaan (radhiyallaahu anhu) eventually returned to Makkah after having been falsely informed that the kuffaar had eased up on the Muslims. He spent a few years there and later migrated a second time with his wife to Madinah, where he spent liberally in the cause of Allah. Despite being extremely wealthy, he never allowed the world to enter his heart, giving generously to anyone in need.
Uthmaan (radhiyallaahu anhu) was a very pious man with an exceptionally high character. He was the most modest of all the sahaabah (radhiyallaahu anhum). Once the Prophet (sallallaahu alayhi wa sallam) was sitting with some of his companions and the shin of his leg was not covered. In the meantime somebody informed him about the arrival of Abu Bakr (radhiyallaahu anhu) and then Hadhrat Umar (radhiyallaahu anhu) but he kept his shin uncovered. Then he was informed about the arrival of Uthmaan (radhiyallaahu anhu). Nabi (sallallaahu alayhi wa sallam) immediately covered it and remarked: “Even the angels have regard for the modesty of Uthmaan.”
His piety was on a different level. When reciting the Qur’aan, tears would flow down his cheeks and he would be inconsolable. When passing by a grave, he would weep severely and when asked the reason, he responded: ‘the grave is the first stage of the hereafter. If one is successful there, one will be successful in the hereafter as well and if one is faced will difficulty there, the stages following it will be even more difficult.’
Despite his high status and wealth, he remained humble and soft-spoken, never responding harshly even to those who offended him. Once, while delivering a khutbah before jumu’ah, a person shouted at him: ‘O Uthmaan! Repent for Allah’s sake and keep away from wrong!’ He turned his face to the qiblah and exclaimed: ‘O Allah, I am the first to repent and turn towards You!’
When the Muhaajireen had migrated to Madinah, the Muslims had great difficulty finding drinking water. The only available drinking water was the well of a jew who demanded exorbitant prices in return for a little water. Nabi (sallallaahu alayhi wa sallam) asked: ‘who will purchase a well of water for the Muslims and in return I guarantee Jannah for him.’ It was Uthmaan (radhiyallaahu anhu) who stood up to this challenge, paying an extreme amount to the Jew and giving the we