Objection to Taking the Special Grazing Pasture in Madinah
Objection Regarding the Burning of the Masahif
November 23, 2015Objection of Adding the Second Adhan in Jumu`ah
November 23, 2015BACK⇒ Return to Table of contents
Objection to Taking the Special Grazing Pasture in Madinah
Historians have recorded that when some anarchists arose in Egypt, Kufah and Basrah in the time of Sayyidina ‘Uthman ibn ‘Affan radiya Llahu ‘anhu, they came to Madinah and laid siege to the house of Sayyidina ‘Uthman ibn ‘Affan radiya Llahu ‘anhu. These anarchists then levelled a number of baseless accusations against him. Sometimes Sayyidina ‘Ali radiya Llahu ‘anhu would reply to these objections and sometimes Sayyidina ‘Uthman radiya Llahu ‘anhu would personally respond. One of these objections were that in the nearby areas of Madinah, Sayyidina ‘Uthman radiya Llahu ‘anhu had reserved a certain area only for his camels to graze, and this was not permissible.
Answer
In reply to this objection, Sayyidina ‘Ali and Sayyidina ‘Uthman radiya Llahu ‘anhuma have said that Sayyidina ‘Uthman ibn ‘Affan had reserved these pastures for the animals of charity and the camels of the Bayt al Mal (not for his personal animals). Before him, Sayyidina ‘Umar radiya Llahu ‘anhu had also specified a pasture for the camels of charity.
The famous historian, Khalifah ibn Khayyat recorded the answer to this objection as stated by Sayyidina ‘Uthman ibn ‘Affan radiya Llahu ‘anhu himself:
فاما الحمى فان عمر رضي الله عنه حماه قبلي لابل الصدقة فلما وليت زادت ابل الصدقة فزدت في الحمى لما زاد من ابل الصدقة
As for the pastures, ‘Umar reserved them specifically for the camels of charity before me. When I was appointed, the camels of charity increased, so I increased the pastures because of the increased number of camels.[1]
Hafiz al Dhahabi rahimahu Llah has mentioned this reply in the following text, Sayyidina ‘Uthman ibn ‘Affan radiya Llahu ‘anhu said:
فاما الحمى فوالله ما حميته لابلي ولا لغنمي وانما حميته لابل الصدقة
As for the pastures, by Allah, I did not reserve it for my camel or my goats, I had reserved them for the camels of charity.[2]
Similarly, the reply given by Sayyidina ‘Ali has been reported by Hafiz Ibn Kathir rahimahu Llah as follows:
واما الحمى فانما حماه لابل الصدقة لتسمن ولم يحمه لابله ولا لغنمه قد حماه عمر رضي الله عنه قبله
As for the pastures, it was reserved for the camels of charity, in order to fatten them and it was not reserved for his (personal) camels or goats; ‘Umar had reserved it before him.[3]
Summary
In light of the explanation reported by the historians, it is proven that Sayyidina ‘Uthman ibn ‘Affan radiya Llahu ‘anhu did not reserve these pastures for his personal use, thus this accusation has no basis.
The camels of charity had increased a great deal, and in accordance with the need of the hour, Sayyidina ‘Uthman ibn ‘Affan radiya Llahu ‘anhu increased the grazing pastures. However, these grazing pastures were not for his personal animals.
Moreover, the historians have clarified that Sayyidina ‘Uthman ibn ‘Affan radiya Llahu ‘anhu was not the one who initiated this practice, but Sayyidina ‘Umar radiya Llahu ‘anhu was the one who had reserved the pastures around Madinah for the animals of the Bayt al Mal. Therefore, this objection on Sayyidina ‘Uthman ibn ‘Affan radiya Llahu ‘anhu is not correct at all.
NEXT⇒ Objection Regarding the Burning of the Masahif
[1] Tarikh Khalifah Ibn Khayyat vol. 1 pg. 146, Tarikh al Tabari vol. 5 pg. 107
[2] Tarikh al Islam vol. 2 pg. 121
[3] Al Bidayah wa al Nihayah vol. 7 pg. 171