29/4. Chapter:
Sunan an-Nasai 3607 — Uthman's Service to the Muslim Community
An Endowment (Waqf) For Masjids
Uthman's Public Service Through Water, Worship, and Aid
Sunan an-Nasai : 3607
Sunan an-NasaiHadith Number 3607
أَخْبَرَنَا إِسْحَاقُ بْنُ إِبْرَاهِيمَ، قَالَ أَنْبَأَنَا عَبْدُ اللَّهِ بْنُ إِدْرِيسَ، قَالَ سَمِعْتُ حُصَيْنَ بْنَ عَبْدِ الرَّحْمَنِ، يُحَدِّثُ عَنْ عَمْرِو بْنِ جَاوَانَ، عَنِ الأَحْنَفِ بْنِ قَيْسٍ، قَالَ خَرَجْنَا حُجَّاجًا فَقَدِمْنَا الْمَدِينَةَ وَنَحْنُ نُرِيدُ الْحَجَّ فَبَيْنَا نَحْنُ فِي مَنَازِلِنَا نَضَعُ رِحَالَنَا إِذْ أَتَانَا آتٍ فَقَالَ إِنَّ النَّاسَ قَدِ اجْتَمَعُوا فِي الْمَسْجِدِ وَفَزِعُوا . فَانْطَلَقْنَا فَإِذَا النَّاسُ مُجْتَمِعُونَ عَلَى نَفَرٍ فِي وَسَطِ الْمَسْجِدِ وَإِذَا عَلِيٌّ وَالزُّبَيْرُ وَطَلْحَةُ وَسَعْدُ بْنُ أَبِي وَقَّاصٍ فَإِنَّا لَكَذَلِكَ إِذْ جَاءَ عُثْمَانُ بْنُ عَفَّانَ عَلَيْهِ مُلاَءَةٌ صَفْرَاءُ قَدْ قَنَّعَ بِهَا رَأْسَهُ فَقَالَ أَهَا هُنَا عَلِيٌّ أَهَا هُنَا طَلْحَةُ أَهَا هُنَا الزُّبَيْرُ أَهَا هُنَا سَعْدٌ قَالُوا نَعَمْ . قَالَ فَإِنِّي أَنْشُدُكُمْ بِاللَّهِ الَّذِي لاَ إِلَهَ إِلاَّ هُوَ أَتَعْلَمُونَ أَنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم قَالَ " مَنْ يَبْتَاعُ مِرْبَدَ بَنِي فُلاَنٍ غَفَرَ اللَّهُ لَهُ " . فَابْتَعْتُهُ بِعِشْرِينَ أَلْفًا أَوْ بِخَمْسَةٍ وَعِشْرِينَ أَلْفًا فَأَتَيْتُ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم فَأَخْبَرْتُهُ فَقَالَ " اجْعَلْهَا فِي مَسْجِدِنَا وَأَجْرُهُ لَكَ " . قَالُوا اللَّهُمَّ نَعَمْ . قَالَ فَأَنْشُدُكُمْ بِاللَّهِ الَّذِي لاَ إِلَهَ إِلاَّ هُوَ أَتَعْلَمُونَ أَنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم قَالَ " مَنْ يَبْتَاعُ بِئْرَ رُومَةَ غَفَرَ اللَّهُ لَهُ " . فَابْتَعْتُهُ بِكَذَا وَكَذَا فَأَتَيْتُ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم فَقُلْتُ قَدِ ابْتَعْتُهَا بِكَذَا وَكَذَا . قَالَ " اجْعَلْهَا سِقَايَةً لِلْمُسْلِمِينَ وَأَجْرُهَا لَكَ " . قَالُوا اللَّهُمَّ نَعَمْ . قَالَ فَأَنْشُدُكُمْ بِاللَّهِ الَّذِي لاَ إِلَهَ إِلاَّ هُوَ أَتَعْلَمُونَ أَنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم نَظَرَ فِي وُجُوهِ الْقَوْمِ فَقَالَ " مَنْ جَهَّزَ هَؤُلاَءِ اللَّهُ غَفَرَ لَهُ " . يَعْنِي جَيْشَ الْعُسْرَةِ فَجَهَّزْتُهُمْ حَتَّى مَا يَفْقِدُونَ عِقَالاً وَلاَ خِطَامًا . قَالُوا اللَّهُمَّ نَعَمْ . قَالَ اللَّهُمَّ اشْهَدِ اللَّهُمَّ اشْهَدْ .
Al-Ahnaf bin Qais Narrated from:
We set out for Hajj, and came to Al-Madinah intending to perform Hajj. While we were in our camping place unloading our mounts, someone came to us and said: 'The people have gathered in the Masjid and there is panic.' So we set out and found the people gathered around a group in the middle of the Masjid, among whom were 'Ali, Az-Zubair, Talhah and Sa'd bin Abi Waqqas. While we were like that, 'Uthman came, wearing a yellowish cloak with which he had covered his head.He said: Is 'Ali here? Is Talhah here? Is Az-Zubair here? Is Sa'd here? They said: Yes. He said: I adjure you by Allah, beside Whom there is none worthy of worship, are you aware that the Messenger of Allah said: Whoever buys the Mirbad of Banu so and so, Allah will forgive him, and I bought it for twenty or twenty-five thousand, then I came to the Messenger of Allah and told him, and he said: Add it to our Masjid and the reward for it will be yours? They said: By Allah, yes.He said: 'I adjure you by Allah, beside Whom there is none worthy of worship, are you aware that the Messenger of Allah said: Whoever buys the well of Rumah, Allah will forgive him, so I bought it for such and such an amount, then I came to the Messenger of Allah and told him, and he said: Give it to provide water for the Muslims, and the reward for it will be yours?' They said: By Allah, yes.He said: 'I adjure you by Allah, beside Whom there is none worthy of worship, are you aware that the Messenger of Allah said: Whoever equips these (men), Allah will forgive him, -meaning the army of Al-'Usrah (i.e. Tabuk)- so I equipped them until they were not lacking even a rope or a bridle?' They said: By Allah, yes. He said: O Allah, bear witness, O Allah, bear witness.
Reference : Sunan an-Nasa'i 3607In-book reference : Book 29, Hadith 14English translation : Vol. 4, Book 29, Hadith 3637
Summary of Sunan an-Nasai Hadith 3607
This narration describes Uthman addressing a gathering in the mosque and asking respected Companions to confirm three acts. He had purchased a plot after the Messenger of Allah called for it to be added to the mosque. He had also bought the well of Rumah and placed its water at the service of the Muslims. In addition, he equipped the army of hardship until even small needs, such as ropes and bridles, were covered. The people he questioned answered that these events were true. The hadith highlights practical public charity. One contribution created more room for worship, another supplied drinking water, and another provided equipment during a demanding time. Uthman asked Allah to witness the testimony given in his presence.
What we learn from this hadith
- Public charity may meet religious, daily, and emergency needs.
- A charitable contribution can include both major assets and small necessary supplies.
- Making water available to others is an important form of service in this narration.
- The Companions openly confirmed the actions about which Uthman questioned them.
