Hadrath Uthman the Man

Paragon of virtues

As a man, Uthman was the paragon of virtues. He was a man of stainless character, very pious, very religious and very virtuous. He was an embodiment of all the Islamic values Even in the days of ignorance he never touched wine, never gambled, and never had an intimacy with a woman outside wedlock. According to the Holy Prophet among the Muslims, Uthman most resembled him (the Holy Prophet) and Ibrahim. Uthman had the look of a patriarch. There was a particular radiance about his personality. He observed all the injunctions of Islam faithfully. He would pray for a greater part of the night. He would recite the whole of the Quran in the course of a single prayer. He specialized in the performance of the Hajj ceremonies.

His modesty

He was conspicuous for his modesty. According to the Holy Prophet, after the prophets, Uthman was most conspicuous for his modesty. We have it on the authority of Ayesha that when the Companions like Abu Bakr and Umar visited the Holy Prophet, the Holy Prophet would receive them without any formality, but when Uthman visited him he took care to be very formal

That was because of the modesty of Uthman. The Holy Prophet said that unless he paid due regard to Uthman, a modest person like him was not likely to say what he wanted to say. The Holy Prophet also used to say that the angels of God stood abashed before Uthman as they stood abashed before the Prophets.

His humility

Uthman was the richest person among the Quraish. He had considerable wealth and owned a large number of slaves, but in spite of that he was most humble, and did not make any show of his wealth or power. lt is reported that one day he was seen coming out of his land estate carrying a bundle of logs of wood. He was asked that as he had so many slaves, why he had not asked any of his slaves to carry that burden for him. He said that he did so because he wanted to make a trial of himself. He would keep awake during a greater part of the night, and he would never ask any of his slaves or servants to help him in the performance of the ablutions or in any other way. When asked why he did not avail of the services of his servants and slaves he said that the night was meant for them to take rest, and he did not want to disturb them in their rest.

His generosity

He was most generous and for his generosity he was called Uthman, the Ghani. He helped his relatives liberally. He was very particular in helping the orphans and the widows He allowed them liberal stipends. On the occasion of the expedition to Tabuk, the Holy Prophet invited contributions from his followers. Uthman made the greatest contribution. The Holy Prophet gave Uthman the tidings of paradise for his unbounded generosity.

His wisdom and foresight

Uthman was a man of great wisdom and foresight During the time of Umar, Amir Muawiyah had sought his permission to invade Cypress. Umar refused the permission on the ground that he did not want to expose the Muslims to the perils of the sea. Amir Muawiyah repeated the request when Uthman became the Caliph Uthman gave the permission subject to the condition that in the case of such invasion Muawlyah should take his wife with him. The idea was that if Muawiyah took his wife with him that would be indicative of the fact that no peril was involved in the sea journey.

Once a person came to Uthman after he had made love to a woman. Seeing him Uthman said. "People come to me when their eyes betray their passion." The man said, "Has the revelation not ceased after the Holy Prophet; then how is it that you judge of what I have been doing?" Uthman said, "This is not revelation; this is insight born of faith'.

Fear of God

Uthman always had a great fear of God. He exhorted the functionaries of the State to fear God and do justice to all concerned. In his sermons Uthman always exhorted the people to do good deeds which could stand them in good stead in the world hereafter. Whenever Uthman passed a graveyard he would weep bitterly. When asked to explain the reason for his weeping he said that he had heard the Holy Prophet say that. the grave was the first stage to the next world, and if that stage passed off peacefully, there would be little trouble at the succeeding stages.

His munificence

Uthman was known for his munificence. He was very kind hearted. He could not bear to see any one in distress. He liberally helped those in distress or in straitened circumstances. He cared for widows and orphans. He was very kind and considerate to his relatives. He took pleasure in helping them. He was one of the most kind hearted rulers the world has ever seen. He was however in advance of his age. His kindness and generosity was misconstrued as his weakness. It is unfortunate that he was misunderstood and betrayed by the people for whom he was more than a father.

His beneficent activities

He was always in the forefront in the undertaking of beneficent activities. When the Muslims came to Madina there was only one well of sweet water in the city which belonged to a Jew who imposed restrictions on the use of the well by the Muslims. Uthman purchased the well from the Jew and dedicated it to the use of the Muslims. When after the conquest of Makkah, the people came to accept Islam in large numbers, and the need for the extension of the Prophet's mosque was keenly felt Uthman exclusively financed the project for the extension of the mosque. In the time of Umar a severe famine broke out in the country and there was a great scarcity of food grains. At that time a caravan arrived in Madina which brought a large stock of food grains belonging to Uthman. The traders in Madina rushed to the house of Uthman, and tried to prevail upon him to sell the goods to them at profit. Uthman asked them to offer their bid about the profit that they would give him. The highest bid offered provided for a cent per cent profit. Uthman said that he could not accept their offer as the bid was low. The traders said that no body could give a higher bid than that. Uthman said that he already had an offer often times profit. The traders wanted to know as to who had made such a high offer. Uthman said that Allah had made such offer to him. There upon Uthman donated the entire stock to the State for free distribution among the poor and the needy.

His steadfastness

Uthman was known for the firmness and steadfastness of his faith When he was converted to Islam. His uncle Hakam, his mother Urwa, and other family members put great pressure on him to recant from Islam and revert to the faith of his forefathers. Uthman did not yield to such pressure and remained firm and steadfast in his faith in Islam. When in his last days, Uthman was besieged by the rioters in his house at Madina he was assured that if he abdicated no physical harm would come to him. He refused to abdicate because he held that he could not divest himself of the robe with which God had vested him. He preferred to lay down his life rather than compromise with the principles for which he stood.

His principles

Uthman was a man of principles. He held fast to his principles through thick and thin. He refused to abdicate because such abdication was against his principles. When he was besieged and some persons devoted to him wanted to fight against the rebels he forbade them to take up arms in his defense, because as a matter of principle he did not want to involve his people in a civil war. When he was asked to escape from his house through the backdoor, he held that such a course was not in conformity with his dignity as the Caliph of the Muslims. When asked to go to Syria, he said that he could not leave the city of the Holy Prophet.