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Othman Ibn Affan Mosque in Boumerdes.jpg Photo by Acildz –

Top 10 Intriguing Facts about Uthman

His name was Uthman ibn Affan, he was a Muslim champion of the Islamic prophet Muhammad who lived between 鈥�573/576 鈥� June 17, 656. The Turkish and Persian spelled his name as Osman. He was the second cousin of Prophet Muhammad.

He was also the third of the Rightly Guided Caliphs referred to by the Islamic region as 搁腻蝉丑颈诲耻苍.

He was born and raised into a prominent Meccan clan known as Banu Umayya of the Quraysh tribe.

In addition, he played a major role in early Islamic history and is known for having ordered the compilation of the standard version of the Quran.

When Caliph Umar ibn al-Khattab died in office aged 60 or 61 years approximately, Uthman, aged 68鈥�71 years, succeeded him and was the oldest to rule as Caliph.

1. He Expanded the Islamic Empire

The Prophet, ‘Ali, Husayn and Hasan in Paradise; ‘Uthman, ‘Umar and Abu Bakr are in the foreground. Miniature from a 17th century manuscript of Khavarnama, a poem on the deeds of ‘Ali; Punjab, 1686 (BL).jpg Photo by Unknown author –

On returning from a business trip to Syria in 611, Uthman learned of Muhammad’s declared mission. After a discussion with Abu Bakr, Uthman decided to convert to Islam, and Abu Bakr brought him to Muhammad to declare his faith.

Uthman thus became one of the earliest converts to Islam, following Ali, Zayd, Abu Bakr, and a few others. His conversion to Islam angered his clan, the Banu Umayyah, who strongly opposed Muhammad’s teachings.

However, the family did not stop him from joining Muhammad. He actually became one of the early leaders.

Under Uthman’s leadership, the Islamic empire expanded into Fars (present-day Iran) in 650, and some areas of Khor膩s膩n (present-day Afghanistan) in 651.

The conquest of Armenia had begun in the 640s. His reign also saw widespread protests and unrest that eventually led to armed revolt and his assassination.

2. The Interesting Married Life

Uthman was married to Ruqayya, and upon her death, married Umm Kulthum. Both his wives having been elder daughters of Muhammad and Khadija earned him the honorific title Dh奴 al-Nurayn meaning The Possessor of Two Lights.

Thus, he was also the brother-in-law of the fourth 搁腻蝉丑颈诲耻苍 Caliph Ali whose own wife, F膩timah, was Muhammad’s youngest daughter.

It is interesting that when Ali married Fatimah, Uthman bought Ali’s shield for five hundred dirhams. Four hundred was set aside as mahr (dower) for Fatimah’s marriage, leaving a hundred for all other expenses.

In addition, Uthman presented the armor back to Ali as a wedding present

3. He Moved to Ethiopia

Uthman and his wife, Ruqayya, migrated to Abyssinia, currently Ethiopia in April 615. However, they did not migrate alone. Rather, they moved along with ten Muslim men and three women. Scores of Muslims joined them later.

As Uthman already had some business contacts in Abyssinia, he continued to practice his profession as a trader, where he succeeded very well.

4. News about his Convert to Islam

Uthman Koran-RZ.jpg Photo by Wiggum –

After four years, the news spread among the Muslims in Abyssinia that the Quraysh of Mecca had accepted Islam, and this acceptance persuaded Uthman, Ruqayya, and 39 Muslims to return.

However, when they reached Mecca, they found that the news about the Quraysh’s acceptance of Islam was false. Nevertheless, Uthman and Ruqayya re-settled in Mecca.

Uthman had to start his business afresh, but the contacts that he had already established in Abyssinia worked in his favor and his business prospered once again.

5. He also Moved to Medina

In 622, Uthman and his wife, Ruqayya, were among the third group of Muslims to migrate to Medina.

Upon arrival, Uthman stayed with Abu Talha ibn Thabit before moving into the house he purchased a short time later.

Uthman was one of the richest merchants of Mecca, with no need of financial help from his Ansari brothers, as he had brought the considerable fortune he had amassed with him to Medina.

Most Muslims of Medina were farmers with little interest in trade, and Jews conducted most trading in the town.

Uthman realized there was a considerable commercial opportunity to promote trade among Muslims and soon established himself as a trader in Medina. With hard work and honesty, his business flourished, making him one of the richest men in Medina.

6. Muhammad’s View on Uthman

Mossquee othmane ibn afane – panoramio.jpg Photo by Omar Ilyes –

Uthman was not so well known during Muhammad’s reign. However, according to R. V. C. Bodley, he was not assigned to any authority nor did he earns any distinct recognition during Muhammad’s campaigns. 

During the Battle of Badr, Muhammad ordered him not to participate in the battle. Muhammad would get at Uthman’s lack of military prowess and whenever he had an excuse to take Uthman out of a battle he would send him off to another task.

7. He Protected his Family Members

Uthman had a reputation for favoring family members. One way he displayed this was his habit of splitting war booty among his relatives to the exclusion of the combatants.

During the Invasion of Hamra al-Asad a Meccan spy, Muawiyah bin Al Mugheerah, the cousin of Uthman ibn Affan, had been captured.

According to the Muslim scholar Safiur Rahman Mubarakpuri, Uthman gave him shelter after getting permission from Muhammad, and Muhammad told him that if he was caught again after 3 days he would be executed.

As such, Muawiyah was given a grace period of three days and arranged a camel and provisions for his return journey to Mecca.

Uthman departed with Muhammad for Hamra-al-Asad, and Muawiyah overstayed his grace. Though he fled by the time the army returned, Muhammad ordered his pursuit and execution. The orders were carried out.

8. His Election as Caliph

Balami – Tarikhnama – the election of ‘Othman as the caliphate of Medina (cropped).jpg Photo by Bal’ami –

Umar asked that, after his death, the committee reach a final decision within three days, and the next caliph should take the oath of office on the fourth day.

If Talhah joined the committee within this period, he was to take part in the deliberations, but if he did not return to Medina within this period, the other members of the committee could proceed with the decision.

Abd al-Rahman bin Awf withdrew his eligibility to be appointed as caliph in order to act as a moderator and began his task by interviewing every member of the committee separately.

He asked them for whom they would cast their vote. When Ali was asked, he didn’t reply. When Uthman was asked, he voted for Ali, Zubayr said for Ali or Uthman and Saad said for Uthman.

9. He Was a Prosperous Trader

Uthman was a rich merchant who used his wealth to support Islam yet at no time before his caliphate had he displayed any qualities of leadership or actually led an army.

But despite this, according to Wilferd Madelung, he was chosen by the electors as the only strong counter candidate to Ali as he alone could to some extent rival Ali’s close kinship ties with Muhammad.

10. Uthman Accepted Terms which his Friends Turned Down

It is interesting that R. V. C. Bodley believed that after Umar’s assassination, Ali rejected the caliphate as he disagreed with governing according to regulations established by Abu Bakr and Umar.

However, Uthman accepted those terms, which he failed to honor during his ten-year caliphate.