Maududi and the Third Khalifah Hadhrat Uthmaan Dhun Noorayn RADI.

The rightly guided Khalifah Hadhrat Uthmaan RADI. was a Sahabi of immense status and position. He was one of the first Muslims, about whom Allaah has declared that He is pleased with them and they with Him. It is also about these early Muslims that Allaah declares: "The forerunners are the forerunners. These are indeed those brought close (to Allaah). They will be (enjoying themselves/ in Jannaat of bliss."

He was extremely bashful and chaste man who made both Hijrahs and performed salaah facing both Qiblahs. He was a very tolerant person and never worshipped idols even before becoming a Muslim. He participated in all the battles Rasulullaah SAW. fought and it was only in the Battle of Badr that he stayed behind with the permission of Rasulullaah SAW. to nurse his ailing wife Hadhrat Ruqayya RADI. who was the daughter of Rasulullaah SAW..
Rasulullaah SAW. even counted him amongst the participants and reserved a share of the booty for him.

On the occasion of the pledge of Ridhwaan when the Sahabah RADI. made a pledge at Rasulullaah SAW.'s hand to give their lives in Jihaad Rasulullaah SAW. had sent Hadhrat Uthmaan RADI. to Makkah. Therefore when the pledge was taking place, Rasulullaah SAW. said, "Uthmaan has gone to fulfil a duty for Allaah and His Rasool SAW." Rasulullaah SAW. then place his left hand over the right, saying that it signified the hand of Hadhrat, Uthmaan RADI. In this way Rasulullaah SAW. took the pledge on his behalf Hadhrat Uthmaan RADI. was therefore part of this pledge, the participants of which Allaah declares that He is pleased with (in Surah Fatah)

Immediately after he had accepted Islaam, Rasulullaah SAW. married him to his daughter Hadhrat Ruqayya RADI. and when the Mushrikeen exerted themselves in harming the Muslims, the couple migrated to Abyssinia. Rasulullaah SAW. said that after Hadhrat Ibraheern alayhissalaam. And Hadhrat Loot alayhissalaam. Hadhrat Uthmaan RADI. was the first person to migrate with his wife. After Hadhrat Ruqayya RADI. passed away, Rasulullaah SAW. married his other daughter Hadhrat Ummu Kulthoom RADI. to Hadhrat Uthmaan RADI. and when she also passed away, Rasulullaah SAW. said, "If I had another (unmarried) daughter, I would have given her hand also in marriage to Uthmaan." It was the specialty of Hadhrat Uthman RADI. that he married the daughters of Rasulullaah SAW. Without Having to propose.

Hadhrat Uthmaan RADI. served the Deen immensely with his wealth and thereby earned many du'aas of Rasulullaah SAW. Besides contributing military equipment for the expedition to Tabook, he also donated several camel- loads of food for the army. It was on that occasion that Rasulullaah SAW. raised his hands to the heavens and thrice made du'aa saying, "O Allaah! I am happy with Uthmaan. You also be happy with him." Rasulullaah SAW. then told the other Sahabah RADI. to also make du'aa and together with Rasulullaah SAW. they all made du'aa for Hadhrat Uthmaan RADI. It was also on this occasion that Rasulullaah SAW. said, "Whatever Uthmaan does after this day will not harm him.

For a considerable period of time, he was entrusted with the duty of writing down revelation and he also received the inspiration to carry out many excellent deeds. He slept very little at nights and spent virtually the entire night in Tahajjud salaah, compieting the entire Qur'aan every night. He fasted every day apart from the forbidden days and was fasting even on the day he was martyred. None compared to his acts of charity and it was his practice to set a slave free every Friday. When a drought took place during the Khilaafah of Hadhrat Abu Bakr RADI. Hadhrat Uthmaan RADI. received a thousand camels loaded with grain, all of which he donated to the poor. Hadhrat Umar RADI. once said, "None are more worthy of this post (of Khailaafah) than this group with whom Rasulullaah SAW. was pleased when he left this world." He then named Hadhrat Ali RADI. Hadhrat Uthmaan RADI. Hadhrat Zubayr RADI. Hadhrat Talha RADI. Hadhrat Sa'd bin Abi Waqqaas RADI. And hadhrat Abdur Rahmaan bin Auf RADI.

After intensive deliberation and consultation with senior Sahabah RADI. Hadhrat Abdur Rahmaan bin Auf RADI. appointed Hadhrat Uthmaan RADI. as the third Khalifah. together with Hadhrat Ali RADI. all the Sahabah RADI. unanimously pledged their allegiance to him. Imaam Rabbani Hadhrat Mujaddid Alf Thaani RAH. says,the Khilaafah of Hadhrat uthmaan Dhun Noorain RADI. was established by the consensus and mutual agreement of the Sahabah RADI. something that was achieved in the case of the other three Khulafaa. This was so because the people were in much doubt at the beginning of the other three periods of Khilaafah, and were therefore more cautious.

Many areas fell to the control of the Muslims during the Khilaafah of Hadhrat Uthmaan RADI. Amongst these were Hamdaan, Azerbaijan, Qayrwaan, spain, cyprus, Gasroon, casablanca, sirjaan, Maazindlraan, Nishapur. Toos, Abs, Hiraat, Balkh, Maseesa, constantinople cordoba, etc. It is said that so much booty fell to the Muslims during his khilaafah that the price of a horse was a thousand Dirhams and the price of a camel was also a thousand Dirhams. His term of Khilaafah was ,very much like that of Hadhrat Umar RADI.'s term.

The crux of it all is that many virtues of Hadhrat uthmaan RADI. have been mentioned in the Ahadeeth. The Ahadeeth state:

1. Hadhrat Talha bin Ubaydullaah RADI. reports that Rasulullaah SAW. said. "Every Nabi shall have a friend in Jannah and my friend in Jannah shall be Uthmaan."

2. Hadhrat Aa'isha RADI. ANHA. reporls that Hadhrat Abu Bakr RADI. once sought permission to see Rasulullaah SAW. who was lying down on the ground with his shin exposed. Remaining as he Rasulullaah SAW. permitted Hadnrat Abu Bakr RDI. in and he left (after completing the work he had with Rasulullaah SAW.). Rasulullaah SAW. was still in the same condition when Hadhrat Umar RADI. then asked permission to enter. Rasulullaah SAW. allowed him in and (after completing his work with Rasulullaah SW. Hadhrat Umar RADI. also left. However when Hadhrat Uthmaan RADI. sought permission to enter, Rasulullaah SAW. covered his shin Properly. After Hadhrat Uthmaan RADI. had also left, Hadhrat Aa'isha RADI. ANHA. asked Rasulullaah SAW. about the incident. Rasulullaah SAW. 's reply was, "why should I not be shy in front of that person in front of whom even the angels are shy?"

3. Nabi SAW. also said, "Uthmaan is the most modest and generous person of my Ummah."Hadhrat Uthmaan RAH. said, "I have never touched my private part with my right hand because it was the hand with which I touched Rasulullaah SAW. hand."

4. Hadhrat Aa'isha RADI. ANHA. says, "We had not eaten for four days when Rasulullaah SAW. came home and asked, 'O Aa'isha! Did you get anything to eat) after I had left. When I informed him that I had not, Rasulullaah SAW. made wudhu and then left (for the Masjid). He performed salaah in one place and then in another place as he made du'aa to Allaah. Towards the end of the day, Uthmaan RADI. arrived and asked for Rasulullaah SAW. When I informed him about the situation he started to cry. He then left and later sent some flour, some dates and other food for us. Thereafter, he said, 'This will take too long (to prepare)' and then sent some bread and roasted meat. When Rasulullaah SAW. arrived and asked if I had received something, I told him about what Uthmaan RADI. had done. Without sitting down, Rasulullaah SAW. immediately went to the Masjid where he raised his hands and made du'aa saying, "O Allaah! I am pleased with Uthmaan, so You also be pleased with him. O Allaah! I am pleased with Uthmaan, so You also be pleased with him. O Allaah! I am pleased with Uthmaan, so You also be pleased with him ?Hadhrat Abu Sa'eed Khudri RADI. says, "l saw Rasulullaah SAW. Making du'aa for Uthm aan RADI. from the beginning of the night until dawn broke."

5. Nabi SAW. once said, "O Uthmaan! Allaah has forgiven all your past sins, your future sins and all those that may take place until the Day of Qiyaamah.

6. Hadhrat Ali RADI. reports that it was with reference to Hadhrat Uthmaan RADI. that Allaah revealed the verse Indeed those for whom We have ordained the best (Jannah), these shall be kept far from Jahannam. They will not even hear its whisper. They will live forever in (Jannah where they will have) whatever they desire.

7. Hadhrat Abdulla bin Abbaas RADI. Narrates that Rasulullah SAW. said, "Uthmaan will be able to intercede on behalf of seventy thousand people and will win them entry into Jannah even though they were destined for Jahannam.

8. Hadhrat Abu Hurayrah RADI. and Hadhrat Abdullaah bin Abbaas RADI. report that Rasulullaah SAW. once said to Hadhrat Uthmaan RADI. that he was 'Dhun Noorayn'. "O Rasulullaah SAW. Hadhrat Uthmaan RADI. asked, "Why do you call me 'Dhun Noorayn'? Rasulullaah SAW. replied, "Because you will be martyred while reciting Surah Noor."

9. Hadhrat Abdullaah bin Umar RADI. reports that Rasulullaah SAW. said. Uthmaan will be brought forward on the Day of Qiyaamah with his jugular veins flowing with blood that will have the colour of blood but the fragrance of musk. He will then be given two garments of light and a pulpit will be erected for him upon the bridge of Siraat.

The Mu'mineen will be able to cross the bridge by his light, but the one who harboured enmity for him will have no part of this.

10. Rasulullaah SAW. Hadhrat Abu Bakr RADI. Hadhrat Umar RADI. and Hadhrat Uthmaan RADI. were once on Mount Uhud when themountain began to shake. Rasulullaah SAW. pressed his foot on the mountain saying,"Be calm, O Uhud because you have upon you a Nabi. a Siddeeq and two martyrs.

11. Hadhrat Aa'isha RADI. ANHA. narrates that Rasulullaah SAW. once said, "O Uthmaan! Allaah shall be giving you a garment (Khilaafah) to wear, so if anyone wants you to remove it, never remove it for them.

12. Hadhrat Murra bin ka?b RADI. reports that Rasulullaah SAW. Once mentioned that there shall come many trials and tribulations after him and he continued to mention this with great emphasis. A man whose head was covered then passed by and indicating to the man. Rasulullaah SAW. said, "During those days, this man will be upon the truth." When Hadhrat Murra RADI. got up to see who the man was. he discovered that he was Hadhrat Uthm aan RADI.

13. Rasulullaah SAW. once said, "l wish to tell a secret to someone." When Rasulullaah SAW. was informed that both Hadhrat Abu Bakr RADI. and Hadhrat Umar RADI. were available, Rasulullaah SAW. declined to tell it to them. When he was told that Hadhrat Uthmaan RADI. was also available, Rasulullaah SAW. called for him, took him aside and told him something in confidence. It was on the day that Hadhrat Uthmaan RADI. was martyred and when his house was surrounded by the rebels that he said, "The secret Rasulullaah SAW. told me was that I should Remain steadfast on this day and shall not break this pledge."

14. Hadhrat Abdullaah bin Umar RADI. repods that Rasulullaah SAW. Once spoke of many trials and tribulations to come and, referring to Hadhrat Uthmaa he said, "He will be unjustly killed in it.

15. It is reported that Hadhrat Ali RADI. once looked at Hadhrat Uthmaan RADI.?s face and wept, saying, "O Uthmaan! Some oppressor will kill you so do not remove your garb of patience and tolerance on that day."

16. Hadhrat Abu Habeebah RADI. reports that when Hadhrat Uthmaan RADI.?s home was besieged. Hadhrat Abu Hurayrah RADI. sought Permission to speak to him. Hadhrat Uthmaan RADI. gave the Permission and when Hadhrat Abu Hurayrah RADI. was about to leave, he praised Allaah and said that he heard Rasulullaah SAW. say that a time will come when there will be great trials and disputes. When someone asked Rasulullaah SAW. whom they should follow during such times. Rasulullaah SAW. pointed to Hadhrat Uthmaan RADI. as he said, "You must follow the Ameer and his people."

17. A narration of Bukhaari states that Rasulullaah SAW. asked someone to give a message to Hadhrat Uthmaan RADI. that he is destined for jannah and also that he will have to face a severe test." The last few Ahadeeth quoted above make it clear that Rasulullaah SAW. Knew Hadhrat Uthmaan RADI. will be appointed Khalifah at a time when There will be serious problems and difficulties. Rasulullaah SAW. also knew that despite all of it, Hadhrat Uthmaan RADI. will remain on the right Rasulullaah SAW. therefore advised him to remain steadfast and to persevere through it all.

Now think carefully. Do you think that Rasulullaah SAW. will emphasise to a person to remain firm in his post when he is a person who abuses his authority? Allaah forbid! It is therefore necessary for a person to safeguard his good fortune and to save himself from destruction by not insulting the honour of a person as highly esteemed as Hadhrat Uthmaan RADI. Our hearts should be unpolluted from any enmity for him and love and esteem for him must be firmly embedded. The consequences of harbouring ill- feelings towards him are grave. Hadhrat Jaabir RADI. reports that when a deceased person was once brought before Rasululla ah SAW. so that he could perform the Janaazah salaah (funeral prayer), Rasulullaah SAW. refused to do so. "O Rasulullaah SAW. the Sahabah RADI. submitted, "We have never before seen you not perform the Janaazah salaah for a person (what is the matter)?" Rasulullaah SAW. replied, "Because this person,hated Uthmaan, Allaah hates him. The Ahadeeth nevertheless make it clear that Hadhrat uthmaan RADI. was on the right until his death and that he was unjustly killed. All that transpired was a test for him. It is unfortunate that Maududi did not look at these Ahadeeth and went on to make insolent comments about Hadhrat Uthmaan RADI. Here follows some of his remarks:

1. "When this enormous task was given to Hadhrat Uthmaan RADI. he did not have the special qualities that his esteemed predecessors were endowed with. It is for this reason that practices of the Period of Ignorance found a route into the manner in which Islaam manages state affairs."

2. However, when Hadhrat Uthmaan RADI. succeeded Hadhrat Umar RADI. he started to steadily shift from this policy. In quick succession. he started to appoint his relatives to high posts and also gave them so many privileges that this became the target for the common complaint of the people."

3. Without doubt, this aspect of Hadhrat Uthmaan RADI. policy was wrong. A wrong remains a wrong regardless of who does it. It neither makes sense nor is it fair to try in vain to justify it by spinning various interpretations. In fact, even our Deen does not require us to refuse to accept the wrong of a Sahabi as a wrong."

4. In this regard, two things were especially such that produced far-reaching and dangerous consequences.One was that Hadhrat Uthmaan RADI. retained Hadhrat Mu'aawiya RADI. as governor of one region for an extensive period of time. He was already appointed as governor of Damascus for four years during the Khilaafah of Hadhrat Umar RADI. after which Hadhrat Uthmaan RADI. gave him governorship of the entire region from Abla to the borders of Rome and from Jazeera to the coast of the White Sea. Hadhrat Uthmaan RADI. kept him as governor of the region for the entire period of his Khilaafah (72 years) ... The second thing turned out to cause even more problems than the first and it was that he gave the key position of being the Khalifah's secretary to Marwaan bin Hakam.

5. I am not at all reluctant to accept that he (Hadhrat Uthmaan RADI.) did not do this with a good intention and with the thought that he was right in doing so. I am of the opinion that it was an outright mistake and am even extremely reluctant to accept it as an error of judgement."

Fatawa Rahimiyyah Vol.1

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