Hazrat Usman was a paragon of piety

Today is the death anniversary of Hazrat Usman (R.A.)

Hazrat Usman (R.A.), the third pious Caliph was elected through ‘electoral college,’ mode comparatively of recent past but it was adopted as early as more than 1400 years ago, a glaring manifestation of democratic approach. His predecessor, Hazrat Umar on his death-bed had nominated a panel comprising six outstanding and distinguished Companions all among Ashrah- Mubashsharah to elect anyone of them with mutual consultation and general consensus. They ultimately elected Hazrat Usman unanimously.

He was a man of rare qualities, above all a philanthropist par excellence. Unalloyed piety, humility and modesty were the hallmarks of his suave personality.

Hazrat Usman embraced Islam at the instance of Hazrat Abu- Bakr. No sooner than it was known to his elders, he was overwhelmed with unbearable troubles, and was subjected to violence and profanation. When persecution and atrocities exceeded all limits, the Holy Prophet (peace be upon him) permitted Muslims to migrate to Abyssinia. Hazrat Usman with his wife Hazrat Ruqayyah, a daughter of the Holy Prophet (peace be upon him) and some other Muslims left Makkah to seek asylum there.

The pagans of Makkah pursued Negus, the ruler of the country to repatriate them but he refused to hand them over to their oppressors. During their stay in Abyssinia a rumour spread there that the atmosphere is now favourable, so he and other Muslims returned to Makkah. Finding no change in the situation some went back to Abyssinia but he remained in Makkah. When Madinah became a safe place for the Muslims he migrated there.

After his arrival in Madinah, his philanthropy knew no bounds; he always contributed generously on all occasions whether in peace or war to serve the Muslims and in the cause of Islam. With the migration of Muslims to Madinah the population of the city increased and with that increased the demand of drinking water. The only source at that time was a well which was in the possession of a Jew; he hurled taunts at the Muslims who went there to fetch water and sold to them at higher rates. This increased the sufferings of the Muslims and caused great hardship to them. To alleviate the suffering of the Muslims the Holy Prophet (peace be upon him) expressed his desire to get the well purchased by some Muslim. Hazrat Usman spontaneously offered to purchase it and paid a sum of 20,000 Dirhams to the Jew.

With the increase in number of Muslims, the accommodation in the Masjid-e-Nabawi proved too small for the devotees. The Holy Prophet (peace be upon him) desired that some Muslim may purchase the adjoining piece of land and expand the mosque, Hazrat Usman instantly purchased the required land for 25,000 Dirhams. He again re-built the mosque during his reign out of his own resources. He always helped the needy and the destitute. It had become his wont to enfranchise a slave on every Friday. Once during the caliphate of Hazrat Umar (R.A) there occurred severe famine, he helped the poor by purchasing grain and distributing it among them. During the period of his caliphate he did not take a single Dirham for his personal use.

In the wake of the impending threat of an attack by Heraclius, the Byzantine Emperor, who reportedly had mobilized an overwhelming force with the intention to invade Madinah, the Holy Prophet (peace be upon him) made fervent appeal for contribution towards sinews of war. It was the most critical time for the Madinese. A severe drought had lately destroyed their crops and the beasts of burden, the weather was too hot and the journey too long but the devotees came forward and contributed whatsoever they could. Hazrat Usman met all the expenses of one-third of the army. Besides this he also provided 1,000 camels, 70 horses and 1,000 Dinars in cash. The importance of the event can well be judged from the fact that this expedition to Tabuk was led by the Holy Prophet himself.

On safe arrival of the Holy Prophet (peace be upon him) in Madinah, the hostile pagans of Makkah with the evil design to exterminate Islam ensued a series of invasions against Muslims in Madinah; the battle of Badr in A.H. 2, the battle of Uhud in the following year and the battle of al-Khandaq in A.H. 5, which culminated with the treaty of Hudaybiyah in A.H. 6 when the pagans of Makkah recognized the Muslims of Madinah as an equal power. The battle of Badr was very important one but Hazrat Usman could not participate in it because his wife Ruqayyah was seriously ill. He wanted to go to the battle-field but the Holy Prophet asked him to look after his wife. Thereafter he participated in all the rest battles.

In A.H. 6, the Holy Prophet (peace be upon him) announced to pay a visit to Makkah for the purpose to perform Umrah. It was the month of Ziqad, one of the four months during which fighting used to be ceased just to enable the pilgrims to reach Makkah safely. When the Muslims of Madinah came to know the intention of the Holy Prophet (peace be upon him) as large a number as 1400 or 1500 Muslims accompanied him. When he reached near Makkah he came to know of the hostile intention of the pagans of Makkah, he decided to camp at a place called Hudaybiyah and sent Hazrat Usman as his envoy to Makkah to inform the pagans of Makkah the intention of the Holy Prophet (peace be upon him) that he had come only to perform Umrah and not to fight.

Several days passed and Hazrat Usman did not return. In the meantime a rumour spread that Hazrat Usman has been assassinated. The Holy Prophet (peace be upon him) became sad and perturbed and declared that it is now binding on all of us to avenge the blood of Usman. He then while sitting under a tree took the pledge from the accompanying companions that they would not leave the place without taking reparation of his death. This pledge is better known as Bait-e-Rizwan. The Holy Prophet (peace be upon him) symbolising one of his hands as that of Hazrat Usman put it on his other hand regarding it as if giving a pledge to Hazrat Usman.

This vividly establishes the closeness and regard Hazrat Usman enjoyed in the eyes of the Holy Prophet (peace be upon him). It will not be out of place to mention here that during this visit Hazrat Usman was offered to perform Umrah but he did not accept it with the remarks: ‘How can I perform Umrah without the Holy Prophet.’

Hazrat Umar had bequeathed a large Muslim Empire which during the caliphate of Hazrat Usman was further extended. Large tract of land were subjugated both in Asia and the northern parts of Africa. In Asia Armenia, Azerbaijan, Khurasan and Afghanistan were brought under the sway of Islam. In Africa Egypt and al- Maghrib had already been annexed during the reign of the second pious Caliph but the big territory between the then western confines of Egypt and the eastern border of al-Maghrib was invaded during his period and a treaty was concluded but no Wali was appointed.

In the Muslim annals this credit goes to Hazrat Usman that he permitted to establish marine. As a result of which the Muslims began to undertake naval expeditions and the first Muslim overseas land, the island of Cyprus in the Mediterranean was conquered in A.H. 28. In A.H. 31, the Byzantine fleet attacked the Muslim territories but Abdullah ibn-Saad ibn-abi-Sarh who proved to be one of the earliest admirals of Islam, resisted and the enemy took to flight.

The administrative mechanism was fully developed during the caliphate of Hazrat Umar which was followed by Hazrat Usman. In the centre the supreme body was the Council of Consultation (Majlis-e-Shura) which took final decisions on all important matters in the context of the state affairs. The empire was divided into provinces and administration of each province was under the control of Wali (Governor). The other important state functionary was Amil, the revenue collector. Judiciary was independent and it in each province was headed by a Chief Justice and his deputies the judges were appointed in each district.

The institution of Diwan maintained the record of the receipts and expenditures. The state revenues were liberally utilized for building mosques, roads, bridges, caravan-serai and canals. Pastures for horses and camels were developed too meet the military requirements. Shipyards were also founded and maintained for repairing and manufacturing warships.

A Companion while visiting various cities and parts of the Muslim Empire in connection with jihad noted that Muslims at different places recite Holy Quran differently. He on his return to Madinah suggested to Hazrat Usman that all Muslims should recite the Holy Quran in the same manner. Hazrat Usman accepted the suggestion and after consulting other Companions obtained the Holy Quran which being compiled during the caliphate of Hazrat Abu-Bakr was placed in the custody of Umm-ul-Momineen Hazrat Hafsa. He detailed Zayd-ibn-Thabit to transcribe its copies. The prepared copies were sent to the important cities of the Empire, with the clear instruction that in future all copies should be made from this one and all the other previous copies should be destroyed. He himself had been one of the scribes of the Holy Prophet (peace be upon him).

The administrative set-up during the caliphate of Hazrat Usman was almost the same as initiated by Hazrat Umar. However the administrative changes if made during his reign were either due to public complaints or the working of any government functionary found repugnant to the smooth running of the administration. Even then the last two years of his caliphate witnessed serious crisis. A number of miscreants from Egypt, Basrah and Kufah on the pretext of complaints against certain administrators, gathered in Madinah at a time when the majority of populace of the city had gone to Makkah for Haj.

Hazrat Usman heard their complaints patiently and tried to appease them but they did not heed rather demanded his deposition. At this juncture he was advised to either go to Makkah or Damascus, if not then punish them but he did not agree to leave Madinah and rejected the idea of crushing the mischief- mongers because he did not want to shed even a single drop of blood of any Muslim for his personal safety. At last the besiegers entered his house and struck him while he was reciting the Holy Quran and he died as a martyr on Friday, the 18th Zilhaj, A.H. 35.