0/11.3. Chapter:
Sunan Ibn Majah 112 — Uthman and Authority
The Virtues of 'Uthman (ra)
Hadith About Uthman and Authority
Sunan Ibn Majah : 112
Sunan Ibn MajahHadith Number 112
حَدَّثَنَا عَلِيُّ بْنُ مُحَمَّدٍ، حَدَّثَنَا أَبُو مُعَاوِيَةَ، حَدَّثَنَا الْفَرَجُ بْنُ فَضَالَةَ، عَنْ رَبِيعَةَ بْنِ يَزِيدَ الدِّمَشْقِيِّ، عَنِ النُّعْمَانِ بْنِ بَشِيرٍ، عَنْ عَائِشَةَ، قَالَتْ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ـ صلى الله عليه وسلم ـ " يَا عُثْمَانُ إِنْ وَلاَّكَ اللَّهُ هَذَا الأَمْرَ يَوْمًا فَأَرَادَكَ الْمُنَافِقُونَ أَنْ تَخْلَعَ قَمِيصَكَ الَّذِي قَمَّصَكَ اللَّهُ فَلاَ تَخْلَعْهُ " . يَقُولُ ذَلِكَ ثَلاَثَ مَرَّاتٍ . قَالَ النُّعْمَانُ فَقُلْتُ لِعَائِشَةَ مَا مَنَعَكِ أَنْ تُعْلِمِي النَّاسَ بِهَذَا قَالَتْ أُنْسِيتُهُ وَاللَّهِ .
A'isha Narrated from:
The Messenger of Allah said: "O 'Uthman, if Allah places you in authority over this matter (as the caliph) some day and the hypocrites want to rid you of the garment with which Allah has clothed you (i.e., the position of caliph), do not take it off." He said that three times. (One of the narrators) Nu'man said: "I said to 'Aishah: 'What kept you from telling the people that?' She said: 'I was made to forget it.'"
Reference : Sunan Ibn Majah 112In-book reference : Introduction, Hadith 0English translation : Vol. 1, Book 1, Hadith 112
Summary of Sunan Ibn Majah Hadith 112
This hadith about Uthman and authority is narrated by Aishah. The Messenger of Allah told Uthman that if Allah placed him in authority over this matter one day, and hypocrites wanted him to remove the garment Allah had clothed him with, he should not remove it. The Prophet said this three times. The narration itself explains the garment as the position of caliph. It also includes Nu'man asking Aishah why she had not told people, and she answered that she was made to forget it. The explanation should stay close to these details. The core topic is Uthman's authority, pressure from hypocrites, and the Prophet's instruction to remain firm.
What we learn from this hadith
- The Prophet gave Uthman a repeated instruction in this narration.
- The garment is explained in the text as the position of caliph.
- The hadith mentions pressure from hypocrites.
- Aishah's answer shows that forgetting is mentioned as part of the report.
