49/19. Chapter:
Jami at-Tirmidhi 3699 — Uthman’s Proofs During the Siege
About The Virtues Of 'Uthman bin 'Affan, May Allah Be Pleased With Him,, And That He Has Two Kunyahs: He Is Called Abu 'Amr and Abu 'Abdullah
Hadith About Uthman, the Army of Distress, and the Well of Rumah
Jami at-Tirmidhi : 3699
Jami at-TirmidhiHadith Number 3699
حَدَّثَنَا عَبْدُ اللَّهِ بْنُ عَبْدِ الرَّحْمَنِ، قَالَ أَخْبَرَنَا عَبْدُ اللَّهِ بْنُ جَعْفَرٍ الرَّقِّيُّ، قَالَ حَدَّثَنَا عُبَيْدُ اللَّهِ بْنُ عَمْرٍو، عَنْ زَيْدٍ، هُوَ ابْنُ أَبِي أُنَيْسَةَ عَنْ أَبِي إِسْحَاقَ، عَنْ أَبِي عَبْدِ الرَّحْمَنِ السُّلَمِيِّ، قَالَ لَمَّا حُصِرَ عُثْمَانُ أَشْرَفَ عَلَيْهِمْ فَوْقَ دَارِهِ ثُمَّ قَالَ أُذَكِّرُكُمْ بِاللَّهِ هَلْ تَعْلَمُونَ أَنَّ حِرَاءَ حِينَ انْتَفَضَ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم " اثْبُتْ حِرَاءُ فَلَيْسَ عَلَيْكَ إِلاَّ نَبِيٌّ أَوْ صِدِّيقٌ أَوْ شَهِيدٌ " . قَالُوا نَعَمْ . قَالَ أُذَكِّرُكُمْ بِاللَّهِ هَلْ تَعْلَمُونَ أَنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم قَالَ فِي جَيْشِ الْعُسْرَةِ " مَنْ يُنْفِقُ نَفَقَةً مُتَقَبَّلَةً " . وَالنَّاسُ مُجْهَدُونَ مُعْسِرُونَ فَجَهَّزْتُ ذَلِكَ الْجَيْشَ قَالُوا نَعَمْ . ثُمَّ قَالَ أُذَكِّرُكُمْ بِاللَّهِ هَلْ تَعْلَمُونَ أَنَّ بِئْرَ رُومَةَ لَمْ يَكُنْ يَشْرَبُ مِنْهَا أَحَدٌ إِلاَّ بِثَمَنٍ فَابْتَعْتُهَا فَجَعَلْتُهَا لِلْغَنِيِّ وَالْفَقِيرِ وَابْنِ السَّبِيلِ قَالُوا اللَّهُمَّ نَعَمْ وَأَشْيَاءُ عَدَّدَهَا . هَذَا حَدِيثٌ حَسَنٌ صَحِيحٌ غَرِيبٌ مِنْ هَذَا الْوَجْهِ مِنْ حَدِيثِ أَبِي عَبْدِ الرَّحْمَنِ السُّلَمِيِّ عَنْ عُثْمَانَ .
Abu 'Abdur-Rahman As-Sulami Narrated from:
When 'Uthman Was Besieged, He Looked Out Over Them From Atop His House And Said: 'I Remind You By Allah. Do You Know That When (Mount) Hira Shook, The Messenger Of Allah (ﷺ) Said: Be Firm O Hira! For There Is None Upon You Except A Prophet, A Siddiq, And A Martyr?"' They Said: 'Yes.'He Said: 'I Remind You By Allah! Do You Know That The Messenger Of Allah (ﷺ) Said, About The Army Of Distress (Al-'Usrah): "Who Will Spend Something Which Shall Be Accepted (By Allah)?" And The People Were Struggling During Difficult Times, So I Prepared That Army?' They Said: 'Yes.' Then He Said: 'I Remind You By Allah. Do You Know That No One Drank From The Well Of Rumah But Have To Pay For It, Then I Bought It And Made It For The Rich, The Poor, And The Wayfarer?' They Said: 'O Allah! Yes!'" And He Listed Other Things.This Hadith Is Hasan Sahih Gharib From This Route; As A Narration Of Abu 'Abdur-Rahman As-Sulami From 'Uthman.
[1] Referring to the Battle of Tabūk. See Sūrat At-Tawbah 9:117.Reference : Jami` at-Tirmidhi 3699In-book reference : Book 49, Hadith 95English translation : Vol. 1, Book 46, Hadith 3699
Summary of Jami at-Tirmidhi Hadith 3699
This hadith about Uthman’s charity is often searched as Uthman Army of Distress hadith, Well of Rumah hadith, and virtues of Uthman ibn Affan. When Uthman was besieged, he reminded the people by Allah of known events. He mentioned Hira shaking when the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم said none was on it except a prophet, a siddiq, or a martyr. He then reminded them of the Army of Distress, when the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم asked who would spend something accepted by Allah and Uthman prepared the army. He also reminded them that he bought the Well of Rumah and made it available for the rich, poor, and wayfarer. The people answered yes.
What we learn from this hadith
- Uthman reminded the people of virtues they already knew.
- He mentioned his support for the Army of Distress during hard times.
- He bought the Well of Rumah and made it open for different people.
- The narration shows that good deeds can be remembered as proof of sincere service.
