29. ‘Uthman’s achievements and virtues deeds in Islam

وَبِهِ قَالَ القَطِيْعِيُّ: حَدَّثَنَا عَبْدُ اللهِ بْنُ أَحْمَدَ بْنِ حَنْبَلٍ، حَدَّثَنِي أَبِي، حَدَّثَنَا هَاشِمُ بْنُ القَاسِمِ، حَدَّثَنَا عَبْدُ الحَمِيْدِ – يَعْنِي: ابْنَ بِهْرَامٍ، حَدَّثَنِي المُهَلَّبُ أَبُو عَبْدِ اللهِ أَنَّه دَخَلَ عَلَى سَالِمِ بْنِ عَبْدِ اللهِ بْنِ عُمَرَ بْنِ الخَطَّابِ، وَكَانَ الرَّجُلُ مِمَنْ يَحْمَدُ عَلِيَّ بْنَ أَبِي طَالِبٍ وَيَذُمُ عُثْمَانَ، فَقَالَ الرَّجُلُ: يَا أَبَا الفَضْلِ، أَلَا تُخْبِرُنِي هَلْ شَهِدَ عُثْمَانُ البَيْعَتَيْنِ كِلْتَيْهِمَا، بَيْعَةَ الرِّضْوَانِ وَبَيْعَةَ الفَتْحِ؟ فَقَالَ سَالِمٌ: لَا، فَكَبَّرَ الرَّجُلُ وَقَامَ وَنَفَضَ رِدَاءَهُ وَخَرَجَ مُنْطَلِقًا، فَلَمَّا أَنْ خَرَجَ قَالَ لَهُ جُلَسَاؤُهُ: وَاللهِ مَا أَرَاكَ تَدْرِي مَا أَمْرُ الرَّجُلِ، قَالَ: أَجَلْ، وَمَا أَمْرُهُ؟ قَالُوا: فَإِنَّهُ مِمَنْ يَحْمَدُ عَلِيًّا وَيَذُمُ عُثْمَانَ، فَقَالَ: عَلَيَّ بِالرَّجُلِ، فَأَرْسَلَ إِلَيْهِ، فَلَمَا أَتَاهُ قَالَ: يَا عَبْدَ اللهِ الصَّالِحِ، إِنَّكَ سَأَلْتَنِي: هَلْ شَهِدَ عُثْمَانُ البَيْعَتَيْنِ كِلْتَيْهِمَا، بَيْعَةَ الرِّضْوَانِ وَبَيْعَةَ الفَتْحِ؟ فَقُلْتُ: لَا، فَكَبَّرْتَ وَخَرَجْتَ شَامِتًا، فَلَعَلَكَ مِمَنْ يَحْمَدُ عَلِيًّا وَيَذُمُ عُثْمَانَ، فَقَالَ: أَجَلْ وَاللهِ إِنِّي مِنْهُم، قَالَ: فَاسْمَعْ مِنِّي فَافْهَمْ ثُمَ ارْوِ عَنِّي، فَإِنَّ رَسُولَ اللهِ لَمَّا بَايَعَ النَّاسَ تَحْتَ الشَّجَرَةِ كَانَ بَعَثَ عُثْمَانَ فِي سَرِيَّةٍ، وَكَانَ فِي حَاجَةِ اللهِ وَحَاجَةِ رَسُولِهِ وَحَاجَةِ المُؤْمِنِينَ، فَقَالَ رَسُولُ اللهِ أَلَا إِنَّ يَمِينِي يَدِي وَشِمَالِي يَدُ عُثْمَانَ، فَضَرَبَ بِشِمَالِهِ عَلَى يَمِينِهِ، فَقَالَ: هَذِهِ يَدُ عُثْمَانَ، وإِنِّي قَدْ بَايَعْتُ لَهُ، ثُمَ كَانَ مِنْ شَأْنِ عُثْمَانَ فِي البَيْعَةِ الثَّانِيَةِ أَنَّ رَسُولَ اللهِ بَعَثَ عُثْمَانَ إِلَى عَلِيٍّ، فَكَانَ أَمِيرَ اليَمَنِ، فَصَنَعَ بِهِ مِثْلُ ذَلِكَ، ثُمَ كَانَ مِنْ شَأْنِ عُثْمَانَ أَنَّ رَسُولَ اللهِ قَالَ لِرَجُلٍ مِنْ أَهْلِ مَكَّةَ: يَا فُلَان، أَلَا تَبِيعُنِي دَارَكَ أَزِيدُهَا فِي مَسْجِدِ الكَعْبَةِ بِبَيْتٍ أَضْمَنُهُ لَكَ فِي الجَنَّةِ؟ فَقَالَ لَهُ الرَّجُلُ: وَاللهِ مَا لِي بَيْتٌ غَيْرُهُ، فَإِنْ أَنَا بِعْتُكَ دَارِي لَا يُؤْوِينِي وَوَلَدِي بِمَكَّةَ شَيْءٌ، قَالَ: أَلَا بَلْ بِعْنِي دَارَكَ أَزِيدُهَا فِي مَسْجِدِ الكَعْبَةِ بِبَيْتٍ أَضْمَنُهُ لَكَ فِي الجَنَّةِ، فَقَالَ الرَّجُلُ: وَاللهِ مَا لِي إِلَى ذَلِكَ حَاجَةٌ وَلَا أُرِيدُهُ، فَبَلَغَ ذَلِكَ عُثْمَانُ، وَكَاَن الرَّجُلُ نَدْمَانًا لِعُثْمَانَ فِي الجَاهِلِيَّةِ وَصَدِيقًا، فَأَتَاهُ فَقَالَ: يَا فَلَانٌ، بَلَغَنِي أَنَّ رَسُولَ اللهِ أَرَادَ مِنْكَ دَارَكَ لِيَزِيدَهَا فِي مَسْجِدِ الكَعْبَةِ بِبَيْتٍ يَضْمَنُهُ لَكَ فِي الجَنَّةِ، فَأَبَيْتَ عَلَيْهِ؟ قَالَ: قَدْ أَبَيْتُ، فَلَمْ يَزَلْ عُثْمَانُ يُرَاوِدُهُ حَتَّى اشْتَرَى مِنْهُ دَارَهُ بِعَشَرَةِ أَلْفِ دِينَارٍ، ثُمَ أَتَى رَسُولَ اللهِ ، فَقَالَ: يَا رَسُولَ اللهِ، بَلَغَنِي أَنَّكَ أَرَدْتَ مِنْ فُلَانٍ دَارَهُ لِتَزِيدَهَا فِي مَسْجِدِ الكَعْبَةِ بِبَيْتٍ تَضْمَنُهُ لَهُ فِي الجَنَّةِ، وَإِنَّمَا هِيَ دَارِي، فَهَلْ أَنْتَ آخِذُهَا مِنِّي بِبَيْتٍ تَضْمَنُهُ لِي فِي الجَنَّةِ؟ قَالَ: نَعَمْ، فَأَخَذَهَا مِنْهُ وَضَمِنَ لَهُ بَيْتًا فِي الجَنَّةِ، وَأَشْهَدَ لَهُ عَلَى ذَلِكَ المُؤْمِنِينَ، ثُمَ كَانَ مِنْ جَهَازِهِ جَيْشَ العُسْرَةِ أَنَّ رَسُولَ اللهِ غَزَا غَزْوَةَ تَبُوكَ، فَلَمْ يَلْقَ فِي غَزَاةٍ مِنْ غَزَوَاتِهِ مَا لَقِيَ فِيهَا مِنْ المَخْمَصَةِ وَالظَّمَأِ وَقِلَّةِ الظَّهْرِ وَالمَجَاعَاتِ، فَبَلَغَ ذَلِكَ عُثْمَانُ فَاشْتَرَى قُوتًا وَطَعَامًا وَأَدَمًا وَمَا يَصْلُحُ بِرَسُولِ اللهِ وَأَصْحَابِهِ، فَجَهَّزَ إِلَيْهِ عِيرًا فَحَمَلَ عَلَى الحَامِلِ وَالمَحْمُولِ وَسَرَّحَهَا إِلَيْهِ، فَنَظَرَ رَسُولُ اللهِ إِلَى سَوَادٍ قَدْ أَقْبَلَ، قَالَ: هَذَا حِمْلٌ أَشْعَرُ قَدْ جَاءَكُمْ بِخَيرٍ، فَأَيْنَخَتِ الرِّكَابُ، وَوُضِعَ مَا عَلَيْهَا مِنَ الطَّعَامِ وَالأَدَمِ وَمَا يَصْلُحُ بِرَسُولِ اللهِ وَأَصْحَابِهِ، فَرَفَعَ رَسُولُ اللهِ يَدَيْهِ، يَلْوِي بِهِمَا إِلَى السَّمَاءِ: اللَّهُمَ رَضِيتُ عَنْ عُثْمَانَ فَارْضَ عَنْهُ، ثَلَاثَ مَرَّاتٍ، ثُمَ قَالَ: يَا أَيُهَا النَّاسُ، ادْعُوا لِعُثْمَانَ، فَدَعَا لَهُ النَّاسُ جَمِيعًا مُجْتَهِدِينَ وَنَبِيُّهُمْ مَعَهُمْ، ثُمَ كَانَ مِنْ شَأْنِ عُثْمَانَ أَنَّ النَّبِيَّ كَانَ زَوَّجَهُ ابْنَتَهُ، فَمَاتَتْ، فَجَاءَ عُثْمَانُ إِلَى عُمَرَ وَهُوَ عِنْدَ رَسْولِ اللهِ جَالِسٌ، فَقَالَ: يَا عُمَرُ، إِنِّي خَاطِبٌ فَزَوِّجْنِي ابْنَتَكَ، فَسَمِعَهُ رَسُولُ اللهِ ، فَقَالَ: يَا عُمَرُ، خَطَبَ إِلَيْكَ عُثْمَانُ ابْنَتَكَ، زَوِّجْنِي ابْنَتَكَ وَأَنَا أُزَوِجُهُ ابْنَتِي، فَتَزَوَّجَ رَسُولُ اللهِ ابْنَةَ عُمَرَ، وَزَوَّجَهُ ابْنَتَهُ، فَهَذَا مَا كَانَ مِنْ شَأْنِ عُثْمَان

Al Qati’i states—’Abdullah ibn Ahmed ibn Hanbal narrated to us—my father narrated to me—Hashim ibn al Qasim narrated to us—’Abdul Hamid, i.e. Ibn Bihram- narrated to us—Al Muhallab Abu ‘Abdullah narrated to us:

A man who would praise ‘Ali and criticise ‘Uthman came to Salim ibn ‘Abdullah ibn ‘Umar ibn al Khattab and said, “O Abu al Fadl, Will you not tell me, did ‘Uthman witness the two pledges; the pledge of Ridwan and the pledge of victory?”

Salim replied, “No he did not.”

Exclaiming Allah’s greatness, the man jumped up, and holding his robes he left. After he left, those who were sitting with Salim said, “By Allah, do you know the man’s motives.”

Salim asked, “Indeed, what is the matter with him?”

They said, “He is from those who praise ‘Ali and criticise ‘Uthman.”

Salim said, “Bring him,” and he was summoned before him.

When he arrived Salim said to him, “O obedient servant of Allah, you asked me whether ‘Uthman was present at the two pledges; the pledge of Ridwan and the pledge of victory, to which I replied that he was not. You then exclaimed the greatness of Allah and left maliciously pleased. Perhaps you are from those who criticise ‘Uthman and praise ‘Ali?”

The man replied, “Indeed, I am.”

Salim then said, “Listen to me carefully, understand what I am about to tell you and narrate it from me. Verily when the Prophet salla Llahu ‘alayhi wa sallam took the pledge from the masses under the tree he dispatched ‘Uthman in an expedition seeing to a matter concerning Allah, His Messenger, and the believers. The Prophet salla Llahu ‘alayhi wa sallam said, ‘This right hand is mine and the left is ‘Uthman,’ he then struck his right hand against his left hand and said, ‘This is for ‘Uthman.’ As for the second pledge, he sent ‘Uthman to ‘Ali, who was the governor of Yemen, and he did in his absence what he did in the previous case.

Furthermore, of the virtues of ‘Uthman is that the Prophet salla Llahu ‘alayhi wa sallam said to a man from the people of Makkah, ‘O so and so, Will you sell me your house I would like to add it to the Masjid of the Ka’bah and you will get in turn a house in Paradise.’

The man said, ‘By Allah, I do not have a house other than this one. If I was to sell, my children will not have a place to reside.”

The Prophet salla Llahu ‘alayhi wa sallam repeated saying, ‘Sell me your house I would like to add it to the Masjid of the Ka’bah and you will get in turn a house in Paradise.’

The man replied, ‘I have neither interest nor a need in what you are proposing.’

This reached ‘Uthman who was a close associate and friend of his in the days of ignorance. He came to the man and said, ‘O so and so, I heard the Prophet salla Llahu ‘alayhi wa sallam wanted your house to add to the masjid of the Ka’bah, for a house you will get in Paradise and you refused.’

The man said, ‘Yes I refused.’

‘Uthman continued persuading him to sell until he sold the house to him for ten thousand Dinars (gold coins). He then went to the Prophet salla Llahu ‘alayhi wa sallam and said, ‘O Prophet salla Llahu ‘alayhi wa sallam I heard that you wanted the house of so and so, so that you may add it to the Masjid and you would give him a house in Paradise for it. The house is mine now, would you accept it from me and guarantee me a house in Paradise?’

The Prophet salla Llahu ‘alayhi wa sallam said, ‘Yes,’ and he then took the house from him and promised him a house in Paradise. I testify to that for the believers.

Then he prepared the Army of Distress, when the Prophet salla Llahu ‘alayhi wa sallam carried out a military expedition to Tabuk. Of all the expeditions the Prophet salla Llahu ‘alayhi wa sallam undertook there was not an expedition where in which the Prophet salla Llahu ‘alayhi wa sallam was in more hunger, thirst, scarcity of conveyance, and widespread hunger than this expedition. As soon as ‘Uthman heard of this he bought food for the Prophet salla Llahu ‘alayhi wa sallam and his Companions. He prepared a caravan, made up of conveyances and provisions, and sent them to the Prophet salla Llahu ‘alayhi wa sallam. Seeing a crowd coming, the Prophet salla Llahu ‘alayhi wa sallam said, ‘I feel this caravan carries good news.’ When the caravan yielded and the provisions intended for the Prophet and his Companions were dismounted, the Prophet salla Llahu ‘alayhi wa sallam lifted his hands towards the sky and said three times, ‘O Allah I am pleased with ‘Uthman so You also be pleased with him.’ He then said, ‘O people invoke prayers for ‘Uthman,’ and the people all invoked prayers for him while they were striving in the path of Allah and were in the company of their Prophet salla Llahu ‘alayhi wa sallam.

Also of his virtues is that the Prophet salla Llahu ‘alayhi wa sallam married his daughter to him, and when one passed away, he came to ‘Umar; who was in the company of the Prophet, and said, ‘I am proposing for your daughter so marry her off to me.’ The Prophet salla Llahu ‘alayhi wa sallam heard this and said, ‘O ‘Umar, ‘Uthman proposed to your daughter, marry your daughter to me and I will marry my daughter to him.’ The Prophet salla Llahu ‘alayhi wa sallam married ‘Umar’s daughter and ‘Uthman married the Prophet’s daughter. This was the status of ‘Uthman. ^[1]

وَبِهِ قَالَ القَطِيْعِيُّ: حَدَّثَنَا أَبُو مُسْلِمٍ إِبْرَاهِيْمُ بْنُ عَبْدِ اللهِ المِصْرِيُّ، حَدَّثَنَا حَجَّاجُ بْنُ نُصَيْرٍ، حَدَّثَنَا سَكَنُ بْنُ المُغِيْرَةِ القُرَشِيُّ، عَنْ الوَلِيْدِ بْنِ زِيْادٍ، عَنْ فَرْقَدٍ أَبِي طَلْحَةَ، عَنْ عَبْدِ الرَّحْمَنِ بْنِ خَبَّابٍ السُّلَمِيِّ، قال: إِنِّي لَتَحْتَ مِنْبَرِ رَسُولِ الله وَهُوَ عَلَى المِنْبَرِ، فَحَضَّضَ عَلَى جَيْشِ العُسْرَةِ، فَلَمْ يُجِبْهُ أَحَدٌ، فَقَامَ عُثْمَانُ بْنُ عَفَّانَ، فَقَاَل: يَا رَسُولَ اللهِ، عَلَيَّ مِائَةُ بَعِيرٍ بِأَحْلَاسِهَا وَأَقْتَابِهَا عَوْنًا فِي هَذَا الجَيْشِ، ثُمَ حَضَّضَ فَلَمْ يُجِبْهُ أَحَدٌ، فَقَامَ عُثْمَانُ، فَقَالَ: يَا رَسُولَ اللهِ، عَلَيَّ مِائَتَا بَعِيْرٍ بِأَحْلَاسِهَا وَأَقْتَابِهَا عَوْنًا فِي هَذَا الجَيْشِ، ثُمَ حَضَّضَ فَلَمْ يُجِبْهُ أَحَدٌ، فَقَامَ عُثْمَانُ بْنُ عَفَانَ، فَقَالَ: يَا رَسُولَ اللهِ، عَلَيَّ ثَلَاثُمِائَةِ بَعِيْرٍ بِأَخْلَاسِهَا وَأَقْتَابِهَا عَوْنًا فِي هَذَا الجَيْشِ، فَقَالَ عَبْدُ الرَحْمَنِ بْنُ خَبَّابٍ: وَكَأَنِّي أَنْظُرُ إِلَى يَدِ رَسُولِ اللهِ وَهُوَ يَقُولُ: مَا عَلَى عُثْمَانَ مَا عَمِلَ بَعْدَ هَذَا اليَوْم

Al Qati’i states—Abu Muslim Ibrahim ibn ‘Abdullah al Misri narrated to us—Hajjaj ibn Nusayr narrated to us—Sakan ibn al Mughirah al Qurashi narrated to us—from al Walid ibn Ziyad—from Farqad Abi Talhah—from ‘Abdul Rahman ibn al Khabbab al Sulami:

I was under the pulpit of the Prophet salla Llahu ‘alayhi wa sallam while he was on the pulpit. He encouraged subsidising the Army of Distress. No one answered him. ‘Uthman then stood up and said, “Upon me are hundred camels with its saddle and hunch in assisting the army.”

Then the Prophet encourage again subsiding the expedition of haste and no one answered. ‘Uthman stood up and said, “Upon me are two hundred camels with its saddle and hunch in assisting the army.”

Then the Prophet encouraged again subsiding the expedition of haste and no one answered. ‘Uthman stood up and said, “Upon me are three hundred camels with its saddle and hunch in assisting the army.”

‘Abdul Rahman said, “It is as if I am looking at the Prophet as he said, ‘No action can affect ‘Uthman negatively after today.’”^[2]

وَبِهِ قَالَ القَطِيْعِيُّ: حَدَّثَنَا جَعْفَرُ بْنُ مُحَمَّدٍ الفِرْيَابِيُّ، حَدَّثَنَا مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ [عَزِيْزٍ] الأيْلِيُّ، حَدَّثَنِي سَلَّامُ بْنُ رَوْحٍ، عَنْ عُقَيْلِ بْنِ خَالِدٍ، قَالَ: قَالَ ابْنُ شِهَابٍ الزُهْرِيُّ: حَمَلَ عُثْمَانُ بْنُ عَفَّانَ فِي غَزْوَةِ تَبُوكَ عَلَى تِسْعِ مِائَةٍ وَأَرْبَعِينَ بَعِيرًا ثُمَ جَاءَ بِسِتِّينَ فَرَسًا، فَأَتَمَّ بِهَا الأَلْف

Al Qati’i states—Jafar ibn Muhammad al Firyabi narrated to us—Muhammad ibn al ‘Aziz^[3] al Ayli narrated to us—Sallam ibn Rawh narrated to us—from ‘Uqayl ibn Khalid that Ibn Shihab al Zuhri said:

‘Uthman ibn ‘Affan donated nine hundred and forty camels and then added sixty horses to complete the thousand.^[4]

وَبِهِ قَالَ القَطِيْعِيُّ: حَدَّثَنَا جَعْفَرٌ الفِرْيَابِيُّ، حَدَّثَنَا مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ السَّرِيِّ العَسْقَلَانِيُّ، حَدَّثَنَا ضَمْرةُ بْنُ رَبِيْعَةَ، عَنْ عَبْدِ اللهِ بْنِ شَوْذَبٍ، عَنْ عَبْدِ اللهِ بْنِ القَاسْمِ، عَنْ كَثِيْرٍ مَوْلَى عَبْدِ الرَّحْمَنِ ابْنِ سَمُرةَ القُرَشِيُّ، عَنْ عَبْدِ الرَّحْمَنِ بْنِ سَمُرةَ، قَالَ: جَاءَ عُثْمَانُ بْنُ عَفَّانَ إِلَى النَّبِيّ فِي غَزْوَةِ تَبُوكَ وَهُوَ يَتَجَهَّزُ إِلَى غَزْوَةِ تَبُوكَ وَفِي كُمِّهِ أَلْفُ دِينَارٍ، فَصَبَّهَا فِي حِجْرِ النَّبِيِّ ثُمَ وَلَّى، قَالَ عَبْدُ الرَّحْمَنِ: فَرَأَيْتُ النَّبِيَّ يُقَلِّبُهَا بِيَدِهِ فِي حِجْرِهِ وَيَقُولُ: مَا ضَرَّ عُثْمَانُ مَا عَمِلَ بَعْدَ هَذَا أَبَداً

Al Qati’i states—Jafar al Firyabi narrated to us—Muhammad ibn al Sari al ‘Asqalani narrated to us—Damrah ibn Rabi’ah narrated to us—from ‘Abdullah ibn Shawdhab—from ‘Abdullah ibn Qasim —from Kathir, mawla of ‘Abdul Rahman ibn Samurah al Qurashi—from’Abdul Rahman ibn Samurah:

‘Uthman came to the Prophet salla Llahu ‘alayhi wa sallam at the expedition of Tabuk while the Prophet was preparing for the expedition. He had one thousand gold coins in his palms; he poured it on the Prophet’s lap and returned.

‘Abdul Rahman said, “I saw the Prophet turning them over in his lap while saying, ‘Nothing that ‘Uthman does will ever affect him after today.’”^[5]

أَخْبَرَنَا المُوَفَّقُ بْنُ سَعِيْدٍ: أَخْبَرَنَا أَبُو عَلِيٍّ الصَفَّارُ، أَخْبَرَنَا أَبُو سَعْدٍ النَّصْرَوِيُّ، أَخْبَرَنَا ابْنُ زِيَادٍ السِمِّذِيُّ، أَخْبَرَنَا ابْنُ شِيْرَوَيْهِ وَأَحْمَدُ بْنُ إِبْرَاهِيْمَ، قَالَا: حَدَّثَنَا إِسْحَاقُ بْنُ إِبْرَاهِيْمَ، أَخْبَرَنَا عَبْدُ اللهِ بْنُ إِدْرِيْسَ، قَالَ: سَمِعْتُ حُصَيْنَ بْنَ عَبْدِ الرَّحْمَنِ يُحَدِّثُ عَنْ عَمْرِو بْنِ جَاوَانَ، عَنْ الأَحْنَفِ بْنِ قَيْسٍ، قَالَ: كُنَّا جُلُوسًا فِي مَسْجِدِ المَدِينَةِ إِذْ جَاءَ عُثْمَانُ بْنُ عَفَّانَ عَلَيهِ مَلَاءَةٌ صَفْرَاءُ قَدْ قَنَّعَ بِهَا رَأْسَهُ، قَالَ لَهُم: أَتَعْلَمُونَ أَنَّ رَسُولَ اللهِ قَالَ: مَنْ يَبْتَاعُ مِرْبَدَ بَنِي فُلَانٍ غَفَرَ اللهُ لَهُ، فَابْتَعْتُهَا عِشْرِينَ أَوْ سِتَّةً وَعِشْرِينَ أَلْفًا، فَأَتَيْتُ النَّبِيّ فَأَخْبَرْتُهُ، فَقَالَ: اجْعَلْهَا فِي مَسْجِدِنَا وَأَجْرُهَا لَكَ، فَقَالُوا: اللَّهُمَّ نَعَمْ، قَالَ: أَتَعْلَمُونَ أَنَّ رَسُولَ اللهِ قَالَ: مَنْ يَبْتَاعُ بِئْرَ رُومَةَ غَفَرَ اللهُ لَهُ، فَابْتَعْتُهَا بِكَذَا وَكَذَا، فَأَتَيْتُ النَّبِيَّ فَأَخْبَرْتُهُ، فَقَالَ: اجْعَلْهَا سِقَايَةَ المُسْلِمِينَ وَأَجْرُهَا لَكَ، فَقَالُوا: اللَّهُمَّ نَعَمْ، قَالَ أَتَعْلَمُونَ أَنَّ رَسُولَ اللهِ نَظَرَ فِي وُجُوهِ القَوْمِ، فَقَالَ: مَنْ جَهَّزَ هَؤُلَاءِ يَعْنِي: جَيْشَ العُسْرَةِ – غَفَرَ اللهُ لَهُ، فَجَهَّزْتُهُم حَتَّى مَا يَفْقِدُونَ عِقَالًا وَلَا خِطَامًا، فَقَالُوا: اللَّهُمَّ نَعَمْ، قَال: اللَّهُمَّ اشْهَدْ، اللَّهُمَّ اشْهَد

Muwaffaq ibn Sa’id narrated to us—Abu ‘Ali al Saffar narrated to us—Abu Sa’d al Nasrawi narrated to us—Ibn Ziyad al Simidhi narrated to us—Ibn Shirawayh and Ahmed ibn Ibrahim narrated to us—Ishaq ibn Ibrahim narrated to us—’Abdullah ibn Idris narrated to us, who said, “I heard Hussain ibn ‘Abdul Rahman reporting—from ‘Amr ibn Jawan—from al Ahnaf ibn Qais:

We were sitting in the Masjid in Madinah, when ‘Uthman came—his had covered with a yellow sheet—and said to them, “Do you know that the Prophet salla Llahu ‘alayhi wa sallam said. ‘Whoever buys the pasture of that family Allah will forgive him.’ I bought it for twenty or twenty six thousand and came to the Prophet salla Llahu ‘alayhi wa sallam and informed him. He then said, ‘Donate it to the Masjid and the reward will be for you.’”

They all said, “By Allah yes!”

‘Uthman said, “Do you know that the Prophet salla Llahu ‘alayhi wa sallam said, ‘Whoever buys the well of Rumah Allah will forgive him.’ I then bought the well for 20 000 or 26 000, came to the Prophet salla Llahu ‘alayhi wa sallam and informed him about it. He said, ‘Make it a public source of water for the Muslims and the reward will be for you.’”

They all said, “By Allah yes!”

‘Uthman said, “Do you know the Prophet salla Llahu ‘alayhi wa sallam looked at the people and said, ‘Whoever subsidizes these—the Army of Distress—Allah will forgive him.’ I then subsidized the entire army until there was not a cord or a halter except it was provided.”

They all said, “By Allah yes!”

‘Uthman said, “O Allah, bear witness. O Allah, bear witness.”^[6]

NEXT⇒ 30. ‘Uthman was killed unjustly

[1] The isnad is Da’if. Imam Ahmed narrates it in Fada’il al Sahabah (784) from Hashim ibn Qasim with this chain, which is weak due to the anonymity of Muhallab. Some of the incidents mentioned have corroborations in other narrations such as that mentioned in the narration of Ibn ‘Umar (12) in which the Prophet placed his hand in place of ‘Uthman’s hand.

[2] The isnad is Da’if. Al Qati’i narrates it in Zawa’id Fada’il al Sahabah (822) from Abu Muslim Ibrahim ibn ‘Abdullah al Misri with this chain. He also narrates from (823) Ibrahim ibn ‘Abdullah al Misri—from ‘Umar ibn Marzuq—from al Sakan ibn al Mughirah with this chain. According ‘Ali ibn al Madini Farqad is majhul (unknown). Tahdhib al Tahdhib 3/384.

[3] The original had “‘Abdul ‘Aziz” instead of “Al ‘Aziz”. This is a mistake, the correct one as mentioned in al Jarh wa al Ta’dil of Ibn Abi Hatim is al ‘Aziz.

[4] The isnad is Da’if. Al Qati’i narrates in Zawa’id Fada’il al Sahabah (848) from Jafar ibn Muhammad al Firyabi. His chain to al Zuhri is weak due to Sallam ibn Rawh, who is Da’if. Tahdhib al Tahdhib 2/141. However, it is corroborated by what Qatadah has said, as reported in Musannaf ibn Abi Shaybah (32022) with an authentic chain, “‘Uthman donated a 930 camels and 70 horses for the Army of Distress.”

[5] The isnad is Da’if. Al Qati’i narrates in Zawa’id Fada’il al Sahabah (846) from Jafar ibn Muhammad al Firyabi with this chain. He also narrates with an alternate chain (839) via Muhammad ibn Muhammad al Wasiti and ‘Abdullah ibn Imam Ahmed (738). The isnad is Da’if due to all of them meeting at Kathir, Mawla of ‘Abdul Rahman ibn Samurah; who has no notable accreditations. It is for this reason that Ibn Hajar said in Taqrib (5626), “He is an acceptable narrator,” meaning if there is a reliable corroboration. Review the footnote on narration (24). The corroborations for this narration come from the likes of Zakariyya ibn Yahya al Kisa’i; who was suspected of lying, as reported in Fada’il al Sahabah (854) with his chain from Ibn ‘Umar. As well as by ‘Abbas ibn al Fadl al Ansari; who is also suspected of lying, with his chain from ‘Imran ibn al Hussain in Mujam al Kabir (12/4138).

[6] The isnad is Da’if. Some of the statements are authentic as discussed in the footnote of narration (24). Al Nasa’i narrates it (3184) from Ishaq ibn Rahuyah with the same chain only with a slight variation. In the chain is ‘Amr ibn Jawan whose status is unknown.

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