Preface

بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم الحمد لله رب العالمين و الصلوة و السلام على سيد الأولين و الآخرين إمام الرسل و خاتم النبيين و على بناته الأربعة الطاهرات و أزواجه المطهرات و على آله الطيبين و أصحابه المزكين المنتخبين الذين اجتهدوا في دين الله حق اجتهاده و نصروه في هجرته و هاجروا لنصرته و جاهدوا في سبيل الله حق جهاده و على جميع عباد الله الصالحين و سائر أتباعه بإحسان إلى يوم الدين

In the name of Allah, the Exceedingly Compassionate, Excessively Merciful. All praise belongs to Allah, Lord of the universes. Salutations and peace upon the leader of the former and latter generation, the leader of the Messengers and the Seal of Prophets, upon his four pure daughters and purified wives, upon his sanctified family and purified chosen Companions who strove to establish the din of Allah as they ought to, assisted him in his emigration, emigrated to support him, and fought in the path of Allah par excellence, and upon all the righteous servants of Allah and all those who follow him with goodness till the Day of Judgement.

After the khutbah, the worthless Muhammad Nafi’―may Allah forgive him―presents to the readers:

Amir al Mu’minin Sayyidina ‘Uthman ibn ‘Affan radiya Llahu ‘anhu is one of the Rightly Guided Khalifas and, according to the majority of the Muslim ummah, enjoys the third rank just after Sayyidina Abu Bakr and Sayyidina ‘Umar radiya Llahu ‘anhuma. He is the possessor of numerous virtues in Islam. He was perfect to the degree of excellence in qualities like trustworthiness, religiousness, truthfulness, generosity, modesty, maintaining family ties, etc. These praiseworthy characteristics of his are accepted by all.

Despite this, some people are opposed to Sayyidina ‘Uthman radiya Llahu ‘anhu. It seems like this opposition is the product of enmity alone. No sensible reason is found for this opposition. This illustrious individual has been disparaged for a number of reasons. The list the opposition prepare against Sayyidina ‘Uthman radiya Llahu ‘anhu opens with the accusation of nepotism. This is an old accusation which has been answered by the scholars of every era and generation.

In this belated era, this allegation has been embellished and remodelled and presented before the masses, whereas it was a dead and forgotten discussion. The ummah was not in need of reviving it, nor was it the demand of the era.

Allah knows what the motives were behind taking the pains to revive this worthless argument. Through it, the masses and elite were troubled and saddened and the opposition to Sayyidina ‘Uthman radiya Llahu ‘anhu became elated and felt safe. Nothing else was achieved besides further disunity and division. To make efforts to further disunite the ummah, especially in an era which demands the harmony of the ummah, is not an act of well-wishing for the religion.

This issue will be tackled by penning down actual anecdotes and realities―and not by using the debate methodology―to support the status of the Sahabah radiya Llahu ‘anhum and to remove evil perceptions about the Rightly Guided Khalifah. This is the objective.

After studying this presentation, the subject will be clarified and the accusation will be dismissed, by the will of Allah subhanahu wa ta ‘ala.

The readers are requested to adhere to two aspects. Firstly, to study this entire discussion. Secondly, to shelve prejudice and observe justice. In this manner, this matter will be understood properly. And my capabilities rest with Allah.

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