Virtues of Uthman ibn Affan
Total Hadiths 5
The Exalted Virtues of Uthman ibn Affan: A Legacy of Sacrifice
According to Islamic scholars, these powerful historical narratives highlight the high status, incredible selflessness, and spiritual virtues of Uthman ibn Affan. When facing a severe siege in his own home, Uthman called upon key companions—including Ali, Talhah, Az-Zubair, and Sa'd—to testify to his immense contributions to the early Muslim community. The provided texts outline how he single-handedly purchased the well of Rumah using his own capital to provide free drinking water for the Muslims and financed the extension of the Prophet's Masjid in Madinah with a promise of a house in Paradise. Furthermore, Uthman equipped the entire army of Al-Usrah during the difficult Tabuk expedition and was honored during the Pledge of Ridwan. Ultimately, these authentic accounts preserve the Prophet's profound prediction of Uthman's martyrdom, as the shaking mountain of Thabir was commanded to stay still since a Prophet, a truthful companion, and two future martyrs stood upon it.
أَخْبَرَنَا عِمْرَانُ بْنُ بَكَّارِ بْنِ رَاشِدٍ، قَالَ حَدَّثَنَا خَطَّابُ بْنُ عُثْمَانَ، قَالَ حَدَّثَنَا عِيسَى بْنُ يُونُسَ، حَدَّثَنِي أَبِي، عَنْ أَبِي إِسْحَاقَ، عَنْ أَبِي سَلَمَةَ بْنِ عَبْدِ الرَّحْمَنِ، أَنَّ عُثْمَانَ، أَشْرَفَ عَلَيْهِمْ حِينَ حَصَرُوهُ فَقَالَ أَنْشُدُ بِاللَّهِ رَجُلاً سَمِعَ مِنْ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم يَقُولُ يَوْمَ الْجَبَلِ حِينَ اهْتَزَّ فَرَكَلَهُ بِرِجْلِهِ وَقَالَ " اسْكُنْ فَإِنَّهُ لَيْسَ عَلَيْكَ إِلاَّ نَبِيٌّ أَوْ صِدِّيقٌ أَوْ شَهِيدَانِ " . وَأَنَا مَعَهُ فَانْتَشَدَ لَهُ رِجَالٌ ثُمَّ قَالَ أَنْشُدُ بِاللَّهِ رَجُلاً شَهِدَ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم يَوْمَ بَيْعَةِ الرِّضْوَانِ يَقُولُ " هَذِهِ يَدُ اللَّهِ وَهَذِهِ يَدُ عُثْمَانَ " . فَانْتَشَدَ لَهُ رِجَالٌ ثُمَّ قَالَ أَنْشُدُ بِاللَّهِ رَجُلاً سَمِعَ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم يَوْمَ جَيْشِ الْعُسْرَةِ يَقُولُ " مَنْ يُنْفِقُ نَفَقَةً مُتَقَبَّلَةً " . فَجَهَّزْتُ نِصْفَ الْجَيْشِ مِنْ مَالِي فَانْتَشَدَ لَهُ رِجَالٌ ثُمَّ قَالَ أَنْشُدُ بِاللَّهِ رَجُلاً سَمِعَ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم يَقُولُ " مَنْ يَزِيدُ فِي هَذَا الْمَسْجِدِ بِبَيْتٍ فِي الْجَنَّةِ " . فَاشْتَرَيْتُهُ مِنْ مَالِي فَانْتَشَدَ لَهُ رِجَالٌ ثُمَّ قَالَ أَنْشُدُ بِاللَّهِ رَجُلاً شَهِدَ رُومَةَ تُبَاعُ فَاشْتَرَيْتُهَا مِنْ مَالِي فَأَبَحْتُهَا لاِبْنِ السَّبِيلِ فَانْتَشَدَ لَهُ رِجَالٌ .
Abu Salamah bin 'Abdur-Rahman Narrated from:
'Uthman looked out over them when they besieged him and said: "By Allah, I adjure a man who heard the Messenger of Allah, on the day when the mountain shook with him, and he kicked it with his foot and said: 'Be still, for there is no one upon you but a Prophet or a Siddiq or two martyrs,' and I was with him." Some men responded and affirmed that.Then he said: "By Allah, I adjure a man who witnessed the Messenger of Allah, on the day of Bai'at Al-Ridwan, say: 'This is the Hand of Allah and this is the hand of 'Uthman.'" Some men responded and affirmed that. He said: "By Allah, I adjure a man who heard the Messenger of Allah say, on the day of the army of Al-'Usrah (i.e. Tabuk): 'Who will spend and it will be accepted?' And I equipped half of the army from my own wealth." Some men responded and affirmed that.Then he said: "By Allah, I adjure a man who heard the Messenger of Allah say: 'Who will add to this Masjid in return for a house in Paradise,' and I bought it with my own wealth." Some men responded and affirmed that. Then he said: "By Allah, I adjure a man who witness Rumah being sold, and I bought it from my own wealth and allowed wayfarers to use it." Some men responded and affirmed that.
Reference : Sunan an-Nasa'i 3609In-book reference : Book 29, Hadith 16English translation : Vol. 4, Book 29, Hadith 3639
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
أَخْبَرَنِي زِيَادُ بْنُ أَيُّوبَ، قَالَ حَدَّثَنَا سَعِيدُ بْنُ عَامِرٍ، عَنْ يَحْيَى بْنِ أَبِي الْحَجَّاجِ، عَنْ سَعِيدٍ الْجُرَيْرِيِّ، عَنْ ثُمَامَةَ بْنِ حَزْنٍ الْقُشَيْرِيِّ، قَالَ شَهِدْتُ الدَّارَ حِينَ أَشْرَفَ عَلَيْهِمْ عُثْمَانُ فَقَالَ أَنْشُدُكُمْ بِاللَّهِ وَبِالإِسْلاَمِ هَلْ تَعْلَمُونَ أَنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم قَدِمَ الْمَدِينَةَ وَلَيْسَ بِهَا مَاءٌ يُسْتَعْذَبُ غَيْرَ بِئْرِ رُومَةَ فَقَالَ " مَنْ يَشْتَرِي بِئْرَ رُومَةَ فَيَجْعَلُ فِيهَا دَلْوَهُ مَعَ دِلاَءِ الْمُسْلِمِينَ بِخَيْرٍ لَهُ مِنْهَا فِي الْجَنَّةِ " . فَاشْتَرَيْتُهَا مِنْ صُلْبِ مَالِي فَجَعَلْتُ دَلْوِي فِيهَا مَعَ دِلاَءِ الْمُسْلِمِينَ وَأَنْتُمُ الْيَوْمَ تَمْنَعُونِي مِنَ الشُّرْبِ مِنْهَا حَتَّى أَشْرَبَ مِنْ مَاءِ الْبَحْرِ قَالُوا اللَّهُمَّ نَعَمْ . قَالَ فَأَنْشُدُكُمْ بِاللَّهِ وَالإِسْلاَمِ هَلْ تَعْلَمُونَ أَنِّي جَهَّزْتُ جَيْشَ الْعُسْرَةِ مِنْ مَالِي قَالُوا اللَّهُمَّ نَعَمْ . قَالَ فَأَنْشُدُكُمْ بِاللَّهِ وَالإِسْلاَمِ هَلْ تَعْلَمُونَ أَنَّ الْمَسْجِدَ ضَاقَ بِأَهْلِهِ فَقَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم " مَنْ يَشْتَرِي بُقْعَةَ آلِ فُلاَنٍ فَيَزِيدُهَا فِي الْمَسْجِدِ بِخَيْرٍ لَهُ مِنْهَا فِي الْجَنَّةِ " . فَاشْتَرَيْتُهَا مِنْ صُلْبِ مَالِي فَزِدْتُهَا فِي الْمَسْجِدِ وَأَنْتُمْ تَمْنَعُونِي أَنْ أُصَلِّيَ فِيهِ رَكْعَتَيْنِ قَالُوا اللَّهُمَّ نَعَمْ . قَالَ أَنْشُدُكُمْ بِاللَّهِ وَالإِسْلاَمِ هَلْ تَعْلَمُونَ أَنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم كَانَ عَلَى ثَبِيرٍ ثَبِيرِ مَكَّةَ وَمَعَهُ أَبُو بَكْرٍ وَعُمَرُ وَأَنَا فَتَحَرَّكَ الْجَبَلُ فَرَكَضَهُ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم بِرِجْلِهِ وَقَالَ " اسْكُنْ ثَبِيرُ فَإِنَّمَا عَلَيْكَ نَبِيٌّ وَصِدِّيقٌ وَشَهِيدَانِ " . قَالُوا اللَّهُمَّ نَعَمْ . قَالَ اللَّهُ أَكْبَرُ شَهِدُوا لِي وَرَبِّ الْكَعْبَةِ . يَعْنِي أَنِّي شَهِيدٌ .
Thumamah bin Hazn Al-Qushairi Narrated from:
I was present at the house when 'Uthman looked out over them and said: 'I adjure you by Allah and by Islam, are you aware that when the Messenger of Allah came to Al-Madinah, and it had no water that was considered sweet (suitable for drinking) except the well of Rumah, he said: Who will buy the well of Rumah and dip his bucket in it alongside the buckets of the Muslims, in return for a better one in Paradise?" and I bought it with my capital and dipped my bucket into it alongside the buckets of the Muslims? Yet today you are preventing me from drinking from it, so that I have to drink salty water.' They said: 'By Allah, yes.'He said: 'I adjure you by Allah and by Islam, are you aware that I equipped the army of Al-'Usrah (Tabuk) from my own wealth?' They said: 'By Allah, yes.' He said: 'I adjure you by Allah and by Islam, are you aware that when the Masjid became too small for the people and the Messenger of Allah said: Who will buy the plot of the family of so and so and add it to the Masjid, in return for a better plot in Paradise? I bought it with my capital and added it to the Masjid? Yet now you are preventing me from praying two Rak'ahs therein.' They said: 'By Allah, yes.'He said: 'I adjure you by Allah and by Islam, are you aware that when the Messenger of Allah was atop Thabir -the Thabir in Makkah- and with him were Abu Bakr, 'Umar and myself, the mountain shook, and the Messenger of Allah kicked it with his foot and said: Be still, Thabir, for upon you are a Prophet, a Siddiq and two martyrs?' They said: 'By Allah, yes.' He said: 'Allahu Akbar! They have testified for me, by the Lord of the Ka'bah' -i.e., that I am a martyr."
Reference : Sunan an-Nasa'i 3608In-book reference : Book 29, Hadith 15English translation : Vol. 4, Book 29, Hadith 3638
أَخْبَرَنِي مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ وَهْبٍ، قَالَ حَدَّثَنِي مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ سَلَمَةَ، قَالَ حَدَّثَنِي أَبُو عَبْدِ الرَّحِيمِ، قَالَ حَدَّثَنِي زَيْدُ بْنُ أَبِي أُنَيْسَةَ، عَنْ أَبِي إِسْحَاقَ، عَنْ أَبِي عَبْدِ الرَّحْمَنِ السُّلَمِيِّ، قَالَ لَمَّا حُصِرَ عُثْمَانُ فِي دَارِهِ اجْتَمَعَ النَّاسُ حَوْلَ دَارِهِ - قَالَ - فَأَشْرَفَ عَلَيْهِمْ . وَسَاقَ الْحَدِيثَ .
'Abdur-Rahman Al-Sulami Narrated from:
When 'Uthman was besieged in his house, the people gathered around his house and he looked out over them" and he quoted the same Hadith.
Reference : Sunan an-Nasa'i 3610In-book reference : Book 29, Hadith 17English translation : Vol. 4, Book 29, Hadith 3640
أَخْبَرَنَا إِسْحَاقُ بْنُ إِبْرَاهِيمَ، قَالَ أَنْبَأَنَا الْمُعْتَمِرُ بْنُ سُلَيْمَانَ، قَالَ سَمِعْتُ أَبِي يُحَدِّثُ، عَنْ حُصَيْنِ بْنِ عَبْدِ الرَّحْمَنِ، عَنْ عَمْرِو بْنِ جَاوَانَ، - رَجُلٌ مِنْ بَنِي تَمِيمٍ - وَذَاكَ أَنِّي قُلْتُ لَهُ أَرَأَيْتَ اعْتِزَالَ الأَحْنَفِ بْنِ قَيْسٍ مَا كَانَ قَالَ سَمِعْتُ الأَحْنَفَ يَقُولُ أَتَيْتُ الْمَدِينَةَ وَأَنَا حَاجٌّ فَبَيْنَا نَحْنُ فِي مَنَازِلِنَا نَضَعُ رِحَالَنَا إِذْ أَتَى آتٍ فَقَالَ قَدِ اجْتَمَعَ النَّاسُ فِي الْمَسْجِدِ فَاطَّلَعْتُ فَإِذَا يَعْنِي النَّاسَ مُجْتَمِعُونَ وَإِذَا بَيْنَ أَظْهُرِهِمْ نَفَرٌ قُعُودٌ فَإِذَا هُوَ عَلِيُّ بْنُ أَبِي طَالِبٍ وَالزُّبَيْرُ وَطَلْحَةُ وَسَعْدُ بْنُ أَبِي وَقَّاصٍ رَحْمَةُ اللَّهِ عَلَيْهِمْ فَلَمَّا قُمْتُ عَلَيْهِمْ قِيلَ هَذَا عُثْمَانُ بْنُ عَفَّانَ قَدْ جَاءَ - قَالَ - فَجَاءَ وَعَلَيْهِ مُلَيَّةٌ صَفْرَاءُ فَقُلْتُ لِصَاحِبِي كَمَا أَنْتَ حَتَّى أَنْظُرَ مَا جَاءَ بِهِ . فَقَالَ عُثْمَانُ أَهَا هُنَا عَلِيٌّ أَهَا هُنَا الزُّبَيْرُ أَهَا هُنَا طَلْحَةُ أَهَا هُنَا سَعْدٌ قَالُوا نَعَمْ . قَالَ فَأَنْشُدُكُمْ بِاللَّهِ الَّذِي لاَ إِلَهَ إِلاَّ هُوَ أَتَعْلَمُونَ أَنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم قَالَ " مَنْ يَبْتَاعُ مِرْبَدَ بَنِي فُلاَنٍ غَفَرَ اللَّهُ لَهُ " . فَابْتَعْتُهُ فَأَتَيْتُ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم فَقُلْتُ إِنِّي ابْتَعْتُ مِرْبَدَ بَنِي فُلاَنٍ . قَالَ " فَاجْعَلْهُ فِي مَسْجِدِنَا وَأَجْرُهُ لَكَ " . قَالُوا نَعَمْ . قَالَ فَأَنْشُدُكُمْ بِاللَّهِ الَّذِي لاَ إِلَهَ إِلاَّ هُوَ هَلْ تَعْلَمُونَ أَنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم قَالَ " مَنْ يَبْتَاعُ بِئْرَ رُومَةَ غَفَرَ اللَّهُ لَهُ " . فَأَتَيْتُ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم فَقُلْتُ قَدِ ابْتَعْتُ بِئْرَ رُومَةَ . قَالَ " فَاجْعَلْهَا سِقَايَةً لِلْمُسْلِمِينَ وَأَجْرُهَا لَكَ " . قَالُوا نَعَمْ . قَالَ فَأَنْشُدُكُمْ بِاللَّهِ الَّذِي لاَ إِلَهَ إِلاَّ هُوَ هَلْ تَعْلَمُونَ أَنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم قَالَ " مَنْ يُجَهِّزْ جَيْشَ الْعُسْرَةِ غَفَرَ اللَّهُ لَهُ " . فَجَهَّزْتُهُمْ حَتَّى مَا يَفْقِدُونَ عِقَالاً وَلاَ خِطَامًا . قَالُوا نَعَمْ . قَالَ اللَّهُمَّ اشْهَدِ اللَّهُمَّ اشْهَدِ اللَّهُمَّ اشْهَدْ .
Al-Ahnaf Narrated from:
I came to Al-Madinah, and I was performing Hajj, and while we were in our camping place unloading our mounts, someone came to us and said: 'The people have gathered in the Masjid.' I looked and found the people gathered, and in the midst of them was a group; there I saw 'Ali bin Abi Talib, Az-Zubair, Talhah and Sa'd bin Abi Waqqas, may Allah have mercy on them. When I got there, it was said that 'Uthman bin 'Affan had come. He came, wearing a yellowish cloak. I said to my companion: Stay where you are until I find out what is happening.'Uthman said: Is 'Ali here? Is Az-Zubair here? Is Talhah 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, 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: 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 came to the Messenger of Allah and said: I have bought the well of Rumah. He said: Give it to provide water for the Muslims, and the reward for it will be yours? 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 equips the army of Al-'Usrah (i.e. Tabuk), Allah will forgive him, so I equipped them until they were not lacking even a rope or a bridle?' They said: Yes. He said: O Allah, bear witness, O Allah, bear witness, O Allah, bear witness.
[1] Mirbad : a place for drying dates.Reference : Sunan an-Nasa'i 3606In-book reference : Book 29, Hadith 13English translation : Vol. 4, Book 29, Hadith 3636
