“Such a man was ‘Uthmaan.”

“Such a man was ‘Uthmaan.”

Ibn ‘Abbaas read the verse:

”Is such a man equal to one {believer} who commands

justice and is himself on the Straight path?”

[Soorah an-Nahl: 76]

Then he said, “Such a man was ‘Uthmaan.”

[Tafseer Ibn Katheer: 2/579]

‘Uthmaan As The Khaleefah

‘Uthmaan As The Khaleefah

Al-Hamdaanee said: “I saw ‘Uthmaan sleeping in the masjid, wrapped in a blanket with no one around him, when he was the Khaleefah.” [Kitaab az-Zuhd lil-Imaam Ahmad]

Sharahbeel bin Muslim narrated that ‘Uthmaan used to offer the people fine food, then he would go into his own house and eat vinegar and olive oil. ["at-Taareekh al-Islaamee"; 48/17]

One day ‘Uthmaan was called to catch some people who were engaged in some suspicious activity, so he went to catch them red-handed, but they dispersed before he reached them. So, he freed a slave in gratitude to Allaah that no Muslim had been shamed at his hands. [‘Uluww al-Himmah; 5/481]

‘Urwah bin az-Zubayr said: “I lived at the time of ‘Uthmaan and there was not a single Muslim who did not have a right to the wealth of Allaah [i.e. the bayt al-maal].” ["al-Musannaf fil-Hadeeth": 3/1023]

“May they perish!”

When Talhah bin ‘Ubaydillaah – radiyallaahu ‘anhu – heard about the murder of ‘Uthmaan, he said, “May Allaah have mercy on ‘Uthmaan. Innaa lillaahi wa innaa ilayhi raaji‘oon.”

It was said to him, “The people are regretting it.”

He said: “May they perish!”

And he recited the Words of Allaah [which translate as]:

“They await only but a single Sayhah which will sieze them while they are disputing! Then they will not be able to make bequest, nor will they return to their family.”

[Soorah Yaa-Seen: 49-50]

["Al-Bidaayah wan-Nihaayah": 7/197]

Ibn Taymiyyah on Uthmaan.

Shaykhul-Islaam Ibn Taymiyyah On ‘Uthmaan

“It is known through mutawaatir reports that ‘Uthmaan was among the most careful of people to avoid bloodshed and among the most patient towards those who impugned his honour and those who plotted to shed his blood, so they besieged him and sought to kill him. He knew of their intention to kill him, and the Muslims came to defend him and advised him to fight them, but he told the people to refrain from fighting and ordered those who should obey him not to fight them.

It was said to him, “Will you go to Makkah?”

And he said, “I will not be one of those who cause the Sanctuary to be violated.”

It was said to him, “Will you go to Syria?”

And he said, “I will not leave the land to which I migrated.”

It was said to him, “Then fight them!”

But he said, “I will not be the first of the successors of Muhammad - sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam - to rule his ummah by the sword.”

The patience that ‘Uthmaan showed until he was killed is amongst the greatest of his virtues in the eyes of the Muslims.”

["Manhaaj as-Sunnah"; 3/202]

“Should I not feel shy before a man whom the angels feel shy from?”

“Should I not feel shy before a man whom the angels feel shy from?”

One day the Messenger of Allaah was lying down in his house with his thigh or shin uncovered. Aboo Bakr asked for permission to enter and he let him in whilst he was in that state, and he spoke to him.

Then ‘Umar asked for permission to enter and he let him in whilst he was in that state, and he spoke to him.

Then ‘Uthmaan asked for permission to enter and the Messenger of Allaah sat up and straightened his garment and he came in, and he spoke to him.

When he left ‘Aa’ishah said, “Aboo Bakr came in and you did not stir for him or pay too much attention, and ‘Umar came in and you did not stir for him or pay too much attention, then ‘Uthmaan came in and you sat up and straightened your garment.”

He said, “Should I not feel shy before a man whom the angels feel shy from?”

[Saheeh Muslim: 2401]

“‘Uthmaan is a shy man…”

‘Aa’ishah narrated that one day Aboo Bakr asked for permission to enter upon the Messenger of Allaah when he was lying down on his bed, wrapping himself in the cover of ‘Aa’ishah. He gave permission to Aboo Bakr to enter when he was like that, and he fulfilled his need then went away.

Then ‘Umar asked for permission to enter and he gave him permission to enter when he was like that, and he fulfilled his need then he went away.

‘Uthmaan then asked for permission to enter and he sat up and said to ‘Aa’ishah, “Cover yourself properly.” ‘Uthmaan fulfilled his need then went away.

‘Aa’ishah said, “O Messenger of Allaah, why did I not see you stirring for Aboo Bakr and ‘Umar as you did for ‘Uthmaan?” The Messenger of Allaah said, “‘Uthmaan is a shy man, and I was afraid that if I gave him permission to enter when I was in that state, he would not tell me of his need.”

[Saheeh Muslim: 2402]