Sayyiduna Usman (RadhiAllahu Anhu)

Early life

Sayyiduna 'Uthman (RadhiAllahu Anhu) belonged to the Ummayah tribe of the Quraish. He was a very rich cloth merchant. He was known as "Al Ghani" or "The Generous." His father's name was Affan and his mother was Urwa.

He accepted Islam at the invitation of Sayyiduna Abu Bakr (RadiAllahu Anhu) and migrated to Abyssinia with his wife, Sayyadah Ruqayyah (RadhiAllahu Anha), who was also the daughter of Sayyiduna Rasulullah (Sallallaahu Alaihi wasallam).

After she passed away, he married Sayyadah Umme Kulthum (RadhiAllahu Anha), another daughter of Sayyiduna Rasulullah (Sallallaahu Alaihiwasallam). Because of this, he earned the title "Zun Noorain" or "Possessor of Two Lights." He took part in all the battles with Sayyiduna Rasulullah (Sallallaahu Alaihiwasallam) except the Battle of Badr.

Conquests

During the Khilaafat of Sayyiduna 'Uthman (RadhiAllahu Anhu), the rebellion in Azerbhaijaan and Armenia was silenced.

Sayyiduna Mu'awiyah (RadhiAllahu Anhu), with the help of Sayyiduna Abi Sarah (RadhiAllahu Anhu), captured Cyprus by naval attack and brought it under Islamic rule. Vast areas of North Africa including Tripoli, Tunisia and Morocco were also brought under the Islamic rule.

The Romans, although defeated several times by the Muslims in the past, made another attempt, during the Khilaafat of Sayyiduna 'Uthman (RadhiAllahu Anhu), to recapture the lands they had already lost. Constantine, the Emperor of Rome, made great preparations and attacked Alexandria with a naval fleet five to six thousand strong. But, the Romans were defeated by the Muslim naval forces under the command of Sayyiduna Abi Sarah and Sayyiduna Mu'awiyah (Radhi Allahu Anhuma).

Rebellion

The Governors of the provinces, appointed by Sayyiduna Umar (RadhiAllahu Anhu), were removed and replaced by members of the new Caliph's clan. The majority of the new governors were inspired by worldly means rather than by piety and interests of their subjects. People started to demand the removal of these Governors, but the Caliph did not respond to their appeals. Delegates mainly from Iraq and Egypt, submitted their demands to the Caliph. The situation, however got out of control.

Assasination

In the turmoil, Sayyiduna 'Uthman (RadhiAllahu Anhu) himself was made Shaheed by rebels while he was reading the Holy Quran inside his house. This happened on Friday, the 17th of Zil Hajj in 35 A.H.. He was 84 years old.

Character

Sayyiduna 'Uthman (RadhiAllahu Anhu) was a very simple and very kind person. His simplicity and kindness did not alow him to take strong action against the trouble makers and rioters. Above all, because of his simple-mindedness, his administration was not as disciplined as it had been during the Khilaafat of Sayyiduna Umar (RadhiAllahu Anhu).

Sayyiduna 'Uthman (RadhiAllahu Anhu) was a generous man. He used to spend a lot of money for Islam and to free the slaves. He was a great and pious man who feared and loved Almighty Allah and Sayyiduna Rasulullah (Sallallaahu Alaihiwasallam) above everything else. Although he was very rich, his living was very simple. He did not indulge in luxury. He was ever mindful of death. Major parts of the night were spent in Salaah. He also fasted every second or third day.

The Holy Quran

A major achievement of Sayyiduna 'Uthman (RadhiAllahu Anhu) was the duplication of the Holy Quran from the records kept by Sayyiduna Abu Bakr (RadhiAllahu Anhu), who handed it to Sayyiduna Umar (RadhiAllahu Anhu), who then handed it to his daughter, Sayyadah Hafsa (RadhiAllahu Anha), the wife of Sayyiduna Rasulullah (Sallallaahu Alaihi wasallam).

Sayyiduna 'Uthman (RadhiAllahu Anhu) made copies of the Holy Quran from the original and sent it to capitals such as Kufa, Damascus, Makkatul Mukarramah and Basrah, each accompanied by a Sahabi for the guidance of the readers.