This excerpt is taken from the book of Sheikh Ghulam Mustafa Zaheer Amanpuri Hafizahullah Difa-e-Sahaba Radi Allahu Anhum.
The Martyrdom of Uthman Radi Allahu Anhu
The martyrdom of Amir al-Mu'minin, one of the foremost predecessors, Dhul-Nurayn, Sahib al-Hijratayn, the third Caliph, our master Uthman ibn Affan, may Allah be pleased with him, is true. The Holy Prophet Muhammad, peace be upon him, gave glad tidings of your blessed martyrdom several times. You were martyred by the rebellious Sabians. No companion participated in your martyrdom; rather, when the rioters besieged, a large group of companions defended you to the best of their ability. It is not proven that Jahjah ibn Qais al-Ghifari, may Allah be pleased with him, pulled our master Uthman, may Allah be pleased with him, down from the pulpit and struck your knee with a stick. Similarly, it is not proven that Muhammad ibn Abi Bakr, may Allah be pleased with him, participated in your killing or grabbed your beard.
There is consensus on your caliphate, may Allah be pleased with you. You are buried in Baqi. رضي الله عنه وارضاه.
Saeed ibn Zaid ibn Amr ibn Nufail, may Allah be pleased with him, said in a mosque in Kufa:
لو أن أحدا انقض لما صنعتم بعثمان، لكان محفوفا أن ينقض .
"What you people have done to our master Uthman, may Allah be pleased with him, is such that if Mount Uhud were to slide from its place and crumble into pieces, it would be deserving of it."
Reference: (Sahih al-Bukhari: 3867)
The companion of the Prophet was actually addressing the Kharijites, saying that you have committed such a great injustice by staining your hands with the blood of the rightly guided Caliph, our master Uthman, may Allah be pleased with him, that even Mount Uhud could be shattered into pieces because of it.
The Rightful Caliphate of Sayyiduna Uthman رضي الله عنه :
Sayyida Aisha رضي الله عنها narrates that the Messenger of Allah صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم said:
يا عثمان إنه لعل الله يقمصك قميصا، فإن أرادوك على خلعه فلا تخلعه لهم .
“O Uthman! Indeed, Allah will clothe you with the garment of (caliphate), and if (rebellious) people want you to take off that garment, then do not remove it.”
Reference: (Sunan al-Tirmidhi: 3705, and its chain is Hasan)
Imam Ibn Hibban رحمه الله
Reference: (2915)
has declared this hadith as "Sahih".Sayyiduna Uthman رضي الله عنه was on the truth :
The trials that occurred during the caliphate of Sayyiduna Uthman رضي الله عنه were foretold by the Prophet Muhammad صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم beforehand.
Sayyiduna Marrah bin Ka'b رضي الله عنه narrates about the Prophet Muhammad صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم:
ذكر الفتن فقربها، فمر رجل مقنع فى ثوب فقال : هذا يومئذ على الهدى، فقمت إليه فإذا هو عثمان بن عفان، قال : فأقبلت عليه بوجهه، فقلت : هذا؟ قال : نعم .
"He صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم mentioned the trials and said that they are very near. At that moment, a man wrapped in a cloak passed by. The Prophet صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم said: During the days of trials, this person will be on guidance. So I (Marrah رضي الله عنه) got up and went towards that person, and saw that he was Sayyiduna Uthman bin Affan رضي الله عنه. I turned his face towards the Prophet Muhammad صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم and asked: Is this the one? He said: Yes."
Reference: (Musnad Imam Ahmad: 115/2, Sunan al-Tirmidhi: 3704 with authentic chain)
Imam Tirmidhi رحمه الله has graded this hadith as "Hasan Sahih," and Imam Hakim رحمه الله
Reference: (4552)
has declared it "Sahih" according to the conditions of Bukhari and Muslim. Hafiz Dhahabi رحمه الله has agreed with this grading.Hafiz Ibn Hajar رحمه الله has also called its chain "Sahih."
Reference: (Fath al-Bari: 38/7)
The Prophet Muhammad صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم warned the companions that during the days of trials, Uthman رضي الله عنه would be on the truth. So how is it possible that after hearing this hadith and knowing that Sayyiduna Uthman رضي الله عنه was on the truth, the companions رضي الله عنهم became part of this trial? Absolutely not. The companions رضي الله عنهم considered Sayyiduna Uthman رضي الله عنه to be on the truth, so they did not fall victim to this trial; rather, they defended him رضي الله عنه to the best of their ability.
Sayyiduna Abu Umamah bin Sahl رضي الله عنه narrates:
كنت مع عثمان رضى الله عنه وهو محصور فى الدار، وكان فى الدار مدخل كان من دخله سمع كلام من على البلاط فدخل عثمان رضى الله عنه ذلك المدخل فخرج وهو متغير لونه، فقال : إنهم ليتوعدوني بالقتل آنفا، قلنا : يكفيكهم الله يا أمير المؤمنين قال : ولم يقتلونني؟ سمعت رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم يقول : لا يحل دم امرء مسلم إلا بإحدى ثلاث رجل كفر بعد إسلامه، أو زني بعد إحصانه، أو قتل نفسا، فوالله ما زنيت فى جاهلية ولا إسلام قط، ولا أحببت أن لي بديني بدلا منذ هداني الله له، ولا قتلت نفسا فيم يقتلونني؟
"When Sayyiduna Uthman رضي الله عنه was besieged (imprisoned) in his house, I was with him. There was a passage to enter the house from which a person could hear the conversations happening at the Balat (a place in Medina). Sayyiduna Uthman رضي الله عنه entered through it, and when he came out, his complexion had changed. He said: They were just now threatening to kill me. We said: Commander of the Faithful! May Allah suffice you against them. He said: Why would they want to kill me? I have heard the Messenger of Allah صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم say: It is permissible to kill a Muslim only for three reasons: one who apostatizes after embracing Islam, one who commits adultery despite being married, and one who kills someone unjustly. By Allah! I have never committed adultery in the time of ignorance nor in Islam, and since Allah has guided me to Islam, I have never even thought of changing my religion, nor have I killed anyone. So why would they want to kill me?"
Reference: (Musnad Ahmad: 61/1, Sunan Abi Dawood: 4502, Sunan al-Nasa'i: 4024, Sunan al-Tirmidhi: 2158, Sunan Ibn Majah: 2533, Ma'rifat al-Sahaba by al-Asbahani: 75/1 with authentic chain)
Imam Ibn al-Jarud رحمه الله
Reference: (836)
has declared this hadith "Sahih," Imam Tirmidhi رحمه الله graded it "Hasan," Imam Hakim رحمه الله
Reference: (350/4)
declared it "Sahih" according to the conditions of Bukhari and Muslim, and Hafiz Dhahabi رحمه الله has agreed with their grading.No Companion Participated in the Martyrdom of Uthman, May Allah Be Pleased with Him:
Our master Uthman ibn Affan, may Allah be pleased with him, was martyred by a few unruly and rebellious people of Egypt; no companion was involved in this.
Hafiz Nawawi, may Allah have mercy on him (676 AH), says:
لم يشارك فى قتله أحد من الصحابة .
“No companion participated in the martyrdom of Uthman, may Allah be pleased with him.”
Reference: (Sharh al-Nawawi: 148/15)
Shaykh al-Islam Ibn Taymiyyah, may Allah have mercy on him (728 AH), says:
خيار المسلمين لم يدخل واحد منهم فى دم عثمان، لا قتل ولا أمر بقتله، وإنما قتله طائفة من المفسدين فى الأرض من أوباش القبائل وأهل الفتن .
“None of the best people among the Muslims participated in the martyrdom of our master Uthman, may Allah be pleased with him; neither did they kill him nor order his killing. Rather, the ones who martyred Uthman, may Allah be pleased with him, were a group of rebels, ruffians, and troublemakers.”
Reference: (Minhaj al-Sunnah al-Nabawiyyah: 323/4)
Hafiz Ibn Kathir, may Allah have mercy on him (774 AH), says:
ليس فيهم صحابي، ولله الحمد.
“No companion was involved among the killers of Uthman, may Allah be pleased with him, praise be to Allah.”
Reference: (Al-Bidaya wa al-Nihaya: 451/10)
Our master Ali ibn Abi Talib, may Allah be pleased with him, says:
لو أعلم بني أمية يقبلون مني لنفلتهم خمسين يمينا قسامة من بني هاشم ما قتلت عثمان ولا مالأت على قتله .
“If I find out that the Banu Umayyah will accept my statement that I did not kill Uthman, may Allah be pleased with him, nor did I support his killing, then I am ready to take fifty oaths on behalf of Banu Hashim for reconciliation.”
Reference: (Tarikh al-Madina by Ibn Shabba: 1269/4 with authentic chain)
Some Traditions and Their Analysis:
Attributed to Abdul Rahman bin Hatib bin Abi Baltah, may Allah have mercy on him:
أنا أنظر إلى عثمان يخطب على عصا النبى صلى الله عليه وسلم التى كان يخطب عليها وأبو بكر وعمر رضي الله عنهما، فقال له جهجاه : قم يا نعثل، فانزل عن هذا المنبر، وأخذ العصا فكسرها على ركبته اليمنى ، فدخلت شظية منها فيها، فبقي الجرح حتى أصابته الأكلة فرأيتها تدود، فنزل عثمان وحملوه وأمر بالعصا فشدوها، فكانت مضيبة، فما خرج بعد ذلك اليوم إلا خرجة أو خرجتين حتى حصر فقتل .
"I was looking at Sayyiduna Uthman, may Allah be pleased with him, who was holding the same stick of the Prophet Muhammad, peace be upon him, on which the Prophet himself, and after him Sayyiduna Abu Bakr and Sayyiduna Umar, may Allah be pleased with them, used to deliver sermons. Then Jahjah, may Allah be pleased with him, said to Uthman, may Allah be pleased with him: 'Na'thal!' (Na'thal was the name of a man from Egypt who had a long beard; rebellious people used to mock Sayyiduna Uthman by calling him Na'thal). 'Get up and come down from the pulpit.' Jahjah, may Allah be pleased with him, took the stick and struck it on his right knee, breaking the stick. The broken piece entered the knee, causing a wound, which became itchy, and I saw that it got infested with worms. Anyway, Sayyiduna Uthman, may Allah be pleased with him, came down from the pulpit, and the (rebellious) people took him away. Later, the stick was repaired and iron was fitted on it. After that, Sayyiduna Uthman, may Allah be pleased with him, came out only once or twice until he was besieged and martyred."
Reference: (Tarikh al-Tabari: 366/4)
The narration is false. Muhammad bin Umar al-Waqidi is abandoned and a liar.
Attributed to Nafi' Mawla Ibn Umar, may Allah have mercy on him:
إن جهجاها الغفاري أخذ عصا كانت فى يد عثمان فكسرها على ركبته، فرمى فى ذلك المكان بأكلة .
"Sayyiduna Jahjah al-Ghifari, may Allah be pleased with him, took the stick from Sayyiduna Uthman, may Allah be pleased with him, and struck it on his knee, breaking it; later that place developed itching."
Reference: (Tarikh al-Tabari: 366/4)
The narration is weak due to discontinuity. Nafi', may Allah have mercy on him, did not live in the time of Sayyiduna Uthman, may Allah be pleased with him.
Attributed to Abu Habibah Mawla Urwah, may Allah have mercy on him:
لما كان بعد ذلك خطب الناس، فقام إليه جهجاه الغفاري، فصاح : يا عثمان ألا إن هذه شارف قد جئنا بها عليها عباءة وجامعة، فانزل فلندرعك العباء ة، ولنطرحك فى الجامعة، ولنحملك على الشارف، ثم نطرحك فى جبل الدخان فقال عثمان : قبحك الله وقبح ما جئت به!
"After that, Sayyiduna Uthman, may Allah be pleased with him, gave a sermon, then Jahjah al-Ghifari, may Allah be pleased with him, stood up and shouted: 'O Uthman! We have brought this mount (she-camel), on which there is a cloak and a collar. Come down from the pulpit; we will put that cloak on you, put the collar around your neck, and ride this mount to throw you on Jabal Dukhān.' Sayyiduna Uthman, may Allah be pleased with him, said: 'May Allah destroy you and your deed!'"
Reference: (Tarikh al-Tabari: 366/4)
This is a false narration.
Muhammad bin Umar al-Waqidi is abandoned and a liar.
Abu Habibah, may Allah have mercy on him, did not live in the time of Sayyiduna Uthman, may Allah be pleased with him.
Attributed to Uqbah bin Muslim al-Madani, may Allah have mercy on him:
إن آخر خرجة خرجها عثمان يوم جمعة، فلما استوى على المنبر حصبه الناس ، فقال رجل من غفار يقال له الجهجاه : والله لنغرينك إلى جبل الدخان، فنزل، فحيل بينه وبين الصلاة، فصلى للناس يومئذ أبو أمامة بن سهل بن حنيف .
"Sayyiduna Uthman, may Allah be pleased with him, came out for the last time on Friday, ascended the pulpit, but the rebels stopped him. A Ghifari called Jahjah, may Allah be pleased with him, said: 'By Allah! We will take you to Jabal Dukhān.' So Sayyiduna Uthman, may Allah be pleased with him, came down from the pulpit. He was also prevented from praying, so that day Sayyiduna Abu Imamah bin Suhail bin Hunayf, may Allah be pleased with him, led the prayer."
Reference: (Kashf al-Mushkil li Ibn al-Jawzi: 167/1)
The narration is very weak.
Regarding Ali bin Muhammad bin Abi Qais, Muhammad bin Ahmad bin Abi al-Fawaris, may Allah have mercy on him, says:
كان ضعيفا جدا.
"It was very weak."
Reference: (Tarikh Baghdad lil-Khatib: 223/13)
Uqbah bin Muslim, may Allah have mercy on him, did not live in the time of Sayyiduna Uthman, may Allah be pleased with him.
Attributed to Sulayman bin Yasar, may Allah have mercy on him:
إن جهجاها الغفاري أخذ عصا النبى صلى الله عليه وسلم من عثمان فكسرها بركبته، فوقعت الأكلة فى ركبته .
"Jahjah al-Ghifari, may Allah be pleased with him, took the stick of the Prophet Muhammad, peace be upon him, from Sayyiduna Uthman, may Allah be pleased with him, and struck it on his knee, breaking it, which caused itching in Sayyiduna Uthman's knee after the wound."
Reference: (Kashf al-Mushkil li Ibn al-Jawzi: 167/1)
The narration is very weak.
Regarding Ali bin Muhammad bin Abi Qais, Muhammad bin Ahmad bin Abi al-Fawaris, may Allah have mercy on him, says:
كان ضعيفا جدا.
"It was very weak."
Reference: (Tarikh Baghdad lil-Khatib: 223/13)
The chain of Imam Bukhari, may Allah have mercy on him, in Tarikh Awsat
Reference: (311)
is very weak.Faleeh bin Sulayman is a narrator with many errors.
Faleeh's paternal aunt is unknown.
The knowledge of the aunt's father and uncle is also not known.
Attributed to Abdul Wahid bin Abi Awn, may Allah have mercy on him:
ضرب كنانة بن بشر جبينه ومقدم رأسه بعمود حديد فخر لجنبه وضربه سودان بن حمران المرادي بعدما خر لجنبه فقتله وأما عمرو بن الحمق فوثب على عثمان فجلس على صدره وبه رمق فطعنه تسع طعنات وقال : أما ثلاث منهن فإني طعنتهن لله، وأما ست فإني طعنت إياهن لما كان فى صدري عليه.
"Kinana bin Bishr struck Sayyiduna Uthman, may Allah be pleased with him, on the forehead with an iron weapon, causing him to fall on his side to the ground. Then Sudan bin Hamran al-Muradi attacked and martyred him. Then Amr bin Humaq, may Allah be pleased with him, jumped and climbed on Sayyiduna Uthman's chest. Sayyiduna Uthman still had some life left. Then Amr, may Allah be pleased with him, struck nine spears and said: 'Three spears were struck for Allah, and the remaining six were struck to cool the fire in my chest.'"
Reference: (Tabaqat Ibn Sa'd: 74/3)
The narration is false.
Muhammad bin Umar al-Waqidi is abandoned and a liar.
Abdul Wahid bin Abi Awn, may Allah have mercy on him, is not a witness to this incident.
Attributed to Sayyiduna Uthman, may Allah be pleased with him:
مر عثمان على جبلة بن عمرو الساعدي وهو بفناء داره، ومعه جامعة، فقال : يا نعثل والله لأقتلنك ولأحملنك على قلوص جرباء، ولأخرجنك إلى حرة النار، ثم جاءه مرة أخرى وعثمان على المنبر فأنزله عنه .
"Sayyiduna Uthman's Jabalah bin Amr Sa'adi, may Allah be pleased with him, passed by while he was in the courtyard of the house, holding a collar. He said: 'O Na'thal! By Allah, I will surely kill you and throw your body on an itchy she-camel in a place called Harat al-Nar.' Then he came once when Sayyiduna Uthman, may Allah be pleased with him, was delivering a sermon on the pulpit, and he was brought down."
Reference: (Tarikh al-Tabari: 365/4)
The narration is false.
Muhammad bin Umar al-Waqidi is abandoned and a liar.
Ubaidullah bin Rafi' bin Khadij is unknown.
Ubaidullah bin Rafi', may Allah have mercy on him, did not hear directly from Sayyiduna Uthman, may Allah be pleased with him.
Attributed to Abdullah bin Abdul Rahman al-Hamdani, may Allah have mercy on him:
دخل أبو الطفيل عامر بن وايلة الكناني على معاوية، فقال له معاوية : أبو الطفيل؟ قال : نعم، قال : أنت من قتلة عثمان؟ قال : لا ولكن ممن حضره فلم ينصره، قال : ما منعك من نصر؟ قال : لم ينصره المهاجرون، والأنصار، ولم تنصره أنت، قال معاوية : أما طلبي بدمه نصرة له؟
"Sayyiduna Abu Tufail Amir bin Wathila al-Kinani, may Allah be pleased with him, came to Sayyiduna Muawiyah, may Allah be pleased with him. Muawiyah asked him: 'Abu Tufail?' He replied: 'Yes.' Muawiyah asked: 'Were you among those who martyred Sayyiduna Uthman, may Allah be pleased with him?' He said: 'No, but I was present there, though I could not help him.' Muawiyah asked: 'Why did you not help?' He said: 'Not even the Muhajireen and Ansar could help him, and you also could not help. Muawiyah said: 'Is not my demand for the blood of Uthman his support?'"
Reference: (Tarikh Ibn Asakir: 117/26)
The narration is very weak.
The identity of Abdullah bin Abdul Rahman al-Hamdani is not established.
There is a discontinuity between Ali bin Muhammad al-Madaini and Abdullah bin Abdul Rahman, or Abdullah bin Abdul Rahman al-Hamdani is not a witness to this incident.
This narration is also reported from Abdul Rahman al-Hamdani, may Allah have mercy on him.
Reference: (Tarikh Ibn Asakir: 117/26)
This chain is also very weak.
Abdullah bin Shabib Rubai Abu Saeed is weak and unreliable.
The identity of Abdul Rahman al-Hamdani is required!
There is a discontinuity between Muhammad bin Salam Jamhi and Abdul Rahman al-Hamdani, or Abdul Rahman al-Hamdani is not a witness to this incident. And Allah knows best!
The Companions continued to defend:
Sayyiduna Abdullah bin Zubair (may Allah be pleased with him) says:
قلت لعثمان رضى الله عنه : إن معك فى الدار عصبة مستنصرة، ينصر الله تعالى بأقل منها، فأذن لي فلأقاتل، فقال رضى الله عنه : أنشد الله رجلا أهراق فى دمه، أو قال : أهراق فى دما .
"I asked Sayyiduna Uthman bin Affan (may Allah be pleased with him): You have such a large protective group of Muslims in your house that even if there were fewer people, Allah would grant victory through them. So please allow me to fight those rebels. Sayyiduna Uthman (may Allah be pleased with him) replied: For Allah’s sake! Do not shed anyone’s blood for the sake of one person, or he said: Do not shed anyone’s blood because of me."
Reference: (Tarikh Khalifa bin Khayyat p. 173, Al-Matalib by Ibn Hajar: 4391 and its chain is authentic)
Kinana Mawla Safiya (may Allah have mercy on her) narrates:
إنه شهد مقتل عثمان رضي الله عنه، قال : وأنا يومئذ ابن أربع عشرة سنة، قال : أمرتنا صفية بنت حيي أن نرجل بغلة بهودج فرحلناها، ثم مشينا حولها إلى الباب، فإذا الأشتر وناس معه، فقال الأشتر لها : ارجعي إلى بيتك فأبت، فرفع قناة معه، أو رمحا، فضرب عجز البغلة، فشبت البغلة، ومال الهودج حتى كاد أن يقع، فلما رأت ذلك قالت : ردوني، ردوني، وأخرج من الدار أربعة نفر من قريش مضروبين محمولين، كانوا يدرء ون عن عثمان، فذكر الحسن بن علي، وعبد الله بن الزبير، وأبا حاطب والصحيح : محمد بن حاطب ومروان بن الحكم، قلت : فهل ندي محمد بن أبى بكر بشيء من دمه، فقال : معاذ الله دخل عليه، فقال له عثمان : لست بصاحبه ، وكلمه بكلام فخرج ولم يند من دمه بشيء ، قلت : فمن قتله؟ قال رجل من أهل مصر يقال له : جبلة بن أيهم فجعل ثلاثا يقول : أنا قاتل نعثل قلت : فأين عثمان يومئذ؟ قال : فى الدار .
"I was fourteen years old and present at the martyrdom of Uthman (may Allah be pleased with him). Umm al-Mu'minin Sayyida Safiya bint Huyy (may Allah be pleased with her) told us to place a saddle on the mule, so we placed the saddle on the mule. Then we walked around you (may Allah be pleased with her) up to the door of Sayyiduna Uthman’s house. There we saw Ashtar Malik bin Harith and his companions standing. Ashtar said to Sayyida Safiya (may Allah be pleased with her): Please go back to your house, but Sayyida refused. Then Ashtar raised a spear and struck the mule’s back. The mule became agitated and lifted its front legs; the saddle slipped and was about to fall off. When Sayyida saw this treatment, she said: Take me back, take me back. I saw four young men of Quraysh being taken out of the house, covered in blood. These four were defending Sayyiduna Uthman (may Allah be pleased with him). They were Hasan bin Ali (may Allah be pleased with him), Abdullah bin Zubair (may Allah be pleased with him), Muhammad bin Hatib (may Allah be pleased with him), and Marwan bin Hakam. The narrator Muhammad bin Talha (may Allah have mercy on him) says: I asked Kinana (may Allah have mercy on him): Was Muhammad bin Abi Bakr (may Allah have mercy on him) also present at the martyrdom of Sayyiduna Uthman (may Allah be pleased with him)? He replied: May Allah forbid! He had gone to Uthman (may Allah be pleased with him), and Uthman (may Allah be pleased with him) said to him: You are not the one who will kill me. There was also other conversation. So Muhammad bin Abi Bakr (may Allah have mercy on him) left and did not participate in the martyrdom of Uthman (may Allah be pleased with him). The narrator Muhammad bin Talha (may Allah have mercy on him) says: I asked Kinana (may Allah have mercy on him): Who martyred Sayyiduna Uthman (may Allah be pleased with him)? He said: Uthman (may Allah be pleased with him) was martyred by an Egyptian whose name was Jibala bin Aiham. Then he went around the streets of Medina three times and shouted three times: I seek refuge with Allah, I am the killer of Na’thil. I asked: Where was Sayyiduna Uthman (may Allah be pleased with him) on the day of martyrdom? He said: In his house."
Reference: (Musnad Ishaq bin Rahwayh: 2088 and its chain is good)
Did Muhammad bin Abi Bakr Siddiq (may Allah have mercy on him) hold the beard?
The son of Sayyiduna Abu Bakr Siddiq, Muhammad, may Allah have mercy on him, did not participate in the martyrdom of Uthman, may Allah be pleased with him. All the narrations stating that Muhammad bin Abi Bakr, may Allah have mercy on him, grabbed the beard of Sayyiduna Uthman, may Allah be pleased with him, and shook it, causing his beard to fall, or that he struck his neck with spears, are unproven. The narrations regarding this matter and their critical examination are presented as follows:
Attributed to the swordsman of Sayyiduna Uthman, may Allah be pleased with him:
دخل عليه محمد بن أبى بكر فقال : أنت قاتلي، قال : وما يدريك يا نعثل؟ قال : لأنه أتي بك النبى صلى الله عليه وسلم يوم سابعك ليحنكك ويدعو لك بالبركة فخريت على رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم قال : فوثب على صدره وقبض على لحيته، فقال : إن تفعل كان يعز على أبيك أن تسوءه، قال : فوجأه فى نحره بمشاقص كانت فى يده .
"When Muhammad bin Abi Bakr, may Allah have mercy on him, came to Sayyiduna Uthman, may Allah be pleased with him, Uthman said: You are the one who will kill me. Muhammad bin Abi Bakr, may Allah have mercy on him, asked: How do you know, Na‘thal? He replied: Because on the seventh day after your birth, you were brought to the Prophet Muhammad, peace be upon him, for circumcision and a blessing prayer, and you defecated on the Messenger of Allah, peace be upon him. Upon hearing this, Muhammad bin Abi Bakr, may Allah have mercy on him, jumped onto Sayyiduna Uthman, may Allah be pleased with him, grabbed his beard, and Uthman said: If your father were alive, he would be very displeased with your action. Then Muhammad bin Abi Bakr, may Allah have mercy on him, struck Sayyiduna Uthman’s neck with a broad-bladed spear."
Reference: (Al-Mu‘jam al-Kabir by al-Tabarani: 83/1, Tarikh Ibn Asakir: 409/39)
The chain of narration is weak.
It is a narration of Mubarak bin Fudala.
Who is the swordsman of Uthman, may Allah be pleased with him? Unknown.
Hafiz Ibn Kathir, may Allah have mercy on him, says:
هذا غريب جدا وفيه نكارة .
"This is a very strange narration, and it contains denials."
Reference: (Al-Bidaya wa al-Nihaya: 194/7)
Attributed to Sayyiduna Abdullah bin Umar, may Allah be pleased with him:
ضربه ابن أبى بكر بمشاقص فى أوداجه .
"Muhammad bin Abi Bakr, may Allah have mercy on him, struck Sayyiduna Uthman, may Allah be pleased with him, on the vital vein with spears."
Reference: (Tarikh Khalifa bin Khayyat p. 175)
It is very weak.
Abu Zakariya Ajlani is unknown.
Attributed to Wathab Mawla Uthman, may Allah have mercy on him:
جاء محمد بن أبى بكر فى ثلاثة عشر رجلا فأخذ بلحيته فقال بها حتى سمعت وقع أضراسه .
"Muhammad bin Abi Bakr, may Allah have mercy on him, came with thirteen people, grabbed Sayyiduna Uthman’s beard and tore it, to the extent that I heard the sound of Uthman’s beard falling."
Reference: (Musannaf Ibn Abi Shaybah: 37079, Tarikh Khalifa bin Khayyat p. 174)
The chain is weak. Wathab’s reliability is unknown.
Attributed to Hasan Basri, may Allah have mercy on him:
إن ابن أبى بكر أخذ بلحيته فقال عثمان : لقد أخذت مني مأخذا أو قعدت مني مقعدا ما كان أبوك ليقعده فخرج وتركه .
"Muhammad bin Abi Bakr, may Allah have mercy on him, grabbed Sayyiduna Uthman’s beard, and he, may Allah be pleased with him, said: You have grabbed my thing, or he said: You are sitting on the part of me that your father Abu Bakr, may Allah be pleased with him, would never sit on. Then Muhammad bin Abi Bakr, may Allah have mercy on him, let go and left."
Reference: (Tarikh Khalifa bin Khayyat p. 174, Tarikh al-Tabari: 384/4)
The chain is weak.
Hasan Basri, may Allah have mercy on him, was not a witness to this event.
Attributed to Raytha, the servant of Usama bin Zaid, may Allah have mercy on him:
جاء محمد بن أبى بكر الصديق وعليه ثوب قطن مصبوع فأخذ بلحية عثمان فهزها حتى سمع صرير أضراسه بعضها على بعض فقال : يا ابن أخي دع لحيتي فإنك لتجذب ما يعز على أبيك أن يؤذيها فرأيته كأنه استحيا فقام فجعل بطرف ثوبه هكذا : ألا ارجعوا ألا ارجعوا .
"Muhammad bin Abi Bakr Siddiq, may Allah have mercy on him, came wearing dyed woolen cloth, grabbed Sayyiduna Uthman’s blessed beard and shook it, to the extent that the sound of Uthman’s beard falling on each other was heard. Sayyiduna Uthman said: Nephew! Leave my beard, you have grabbed something that your father Abu Bakr, may Allah be pleased with him, would never have harmed. The narrator says I saw Muhammad bin Abi Bakr, may Allah have mercy on him, as if he felt shy and held the edge of his garment and told the people: Go back, go back."
Reference: (Tarikh Ibn Asakir: 406/39)
The narration is very weak.
The life details of Raytha, servant of Usama, are not found.
Sheikh from Ahl al-Sham Abu Janab is unknown.
The life details of Mu‘ammar bin Aqil are not found.
The authentication of Yahya bin Maymun al-Haddadi is unknown.
Attributed to Abu Harb, may Allah have mercy on him:
دخل على عثمان محمد بن أبى بكر وهو جالس يقرأ فى المصحف فأخذ بلحيته فقال : لو كان أبوك لم يقبض على ما قبضت .
"When Muhammad bin Abi Bakr, may Allah have mercy on him, came to Sayyiduna Uthman, may Allah be pleased with him, Uthman was sitting and reciting from the Mushaf. Muhammad bin Abi Bakr grabbed Sayyiduna Uthman’s beard, and Uthman said: If your father were alive, you would never have grabbed my beard."
Reference: (Al-Mihan by Abu Arab p. 79)
It is a false narration:
The sheikhs of Abu Arab are unknown and obscure.
Ziyad bin Abdullah al-Bakkai is weak.
Majalid bin Saeed is considered weak by the majority.
Who is Abu Harb? Unknown.
Attributed to Qatadah bin Da‘amah, may Allah have mercy on him:
أخذ ابن أبى بكر بلحيته .
"Muhammad bin Abi Bakr, may Allah have mercy on him, grabbed Sayyiduna Uthman’s beard."
Reference: (Tarikh Khalifa bin Khayyat p. 175)
The chain is weak.
Saeed bin Abi ‘Arooba is a fabricator and mixed narrator.
Qatadah, may Allah have mercy on him, was born long after the martyrdom of Sayyiduna Uthman, may Allah be pleased with him.
Attributed to Khansa, servant of Usama bin Zaid, may Allah have mercy on him:
دخل إليه محمد بن أبى بكر فأخذ لحيته وأهوى بمشاقص معه ليجأ بها فى حلقه .
"Muhammad bin Abi Bakr, may Allah have mercy on him, came to Sayyiduna Uthman, may Allah be pleased with him, grabbed his beard, then struck the vital vein of Uthman with spears."
Reference: (Tarikh Ibn Asakir: 405/39)
It is a false narration:
Who is Ghusn bin Qasim, may Allah have mercy on him? Unknown. If it is Qasim bin Ghusn, he is weak.
The narrator is ambiguous.
Saif bin Umar al-Kufi is unanimously weak and abandoned.
Shu‘ayb bin Ibrahim al-Kufi is unknown.
Attributed to Sayyiduna Mughirah bin Shu‘bah, may Allah be pleased with him:
دخل محمد بن أبى بكر على عثمان، فأخذ بلحيته ، فقال : أرسل لحيتي، فلم يكن أبوك ليتناولها فأرسلها .
"When Muhammad bin Abi Bakr, may Allah have mercy on him, came to Sayyiduna Uthman, may Allah be pleased with him, and grabbed his beard, Uthman said: Leave my beard, if your father Abu Bakr were alive, he would never have grabbed it. Then Muhammad bin Abi Bakr, may Allah have mercy on him, let go of the beard."
Reference: (Tarikh al-Tabari: 393/4)
It is a false narration:
Saif bin Umar al-Kufi is unanimously weak and abandoned.
Shu‘ayb bin Ibrahim al-Kufi is unknown.
Majalid bin Saeed is considered weak by the majority.
Attributed to Abdul Rahman bin Muhammad bin Abdul Qari, may Allah have mercy on him:
أخذ بلحية عثمان، فقال : قد أخزاك الله يا نعثل، فقال عثمان : لست بنعتل، ولكن عبد الله وأمير المؤمنين .
"Muhammad bin Abi Bakr, may Allah have mercy on him, grabbed Sayyiduna Uthman’s beard and said: Na‘thal! Allah has humiliated you. Uthman said: I am not Na‘thal, I am a servant of Allah and the leader of the believers."
Reference: (Tabaqat Ibn Sa‘d: 73/3)
The chain is false.
Muhammad bin Umar al-Waqidi is abandoned and a liar.
Abdul Rahman bin Muhammad bin Abdul Qari did not live in the time of Sayyiduna Uthman, may Allah be pleased with him.
Attributed to Qasim bin Muhammad bin Abi Bakr, may Allah have mercy on him:
اللهم اغفر لأبي ذنبه فى عثمان رضى الله عنه .
"O Allah! Forgive my father’s sin regarding Uthman, may Allah be pleased with him."
Reference: (Al-Thiqat by Ibn Hibban: 41/8, Al-Matalib al-‘Aliyyah by Ibn Hajar: 4388)
The chain is weak.
Saeed bin Muslim al-Bahili’s authentication is not known.
Warning:
Attributed to Sayyida Aisha (may Allah be pleased with her):
لعن الله قتلته، أفاد الله ابن أبى بكر .
"May Allah curse the killers of our master Uthman (may Allah be pleased with him), may Allah take revenge for the blood of Uthman (may Allah be pleased with him) from Muhammad ibn Abi Bakr (may Allah have mercy on him)."
Reference: (Al-Mu'jam al-Kabir by Al-Tabarani: 88/1, Tarikh al-Madina by Ibn Shabba: 1244/4)
The chain of narration is weak.
Talaq ibn Khushab is unknown; he is only mentioned by Ibn Hibban (may Allah have mercy on him)
Reference: (Al-Thiqat: 396/4)
.In some chains, Talaq ibn Khushab has been confused with Talaq ibn Habib.
Narrations related to funeral and burial:
Attributed to Urwah ibn Zubayr, may Allah have mercy on him:
أرادوا أن يصلوا على عثمان رضى الله عنه فمنعوا، فقال رجل من قريش أبو جهم بن حذيفة : دعوه، وقد صلى الله عز وجل عليه، وصلى رسوله صلى الله عليه وسلم.
"When the Muslims wanted to perform the funeral prayer for Sayyiduna Uthman, may Allah be pleased with him, they were stopped by the rebels. Then a Qurayshi man, Abu Juhaym ibn Hudhayfah, may Allah be pleased with him, said: Leave Uthman, may Allah be pleased with him, alone; Allah Almighty and the Messenger of Allah, peace be upon him, will perform his funeral prayer."
Reference: (Al-Isti'ab by Ibn Abd al-Barr: 1048/3)
The chain of narration is weak. Urwah ibn Zubayr, may Allah have mercy on him, is not a witness to this incident.
Attributed to the great Tabi'i Malik ibn Abi Amir, may Allah have mercy on him:
كنت أحد حملة عثمان بن عفان حين توفي، حملناه على باب، وإن رأسه ليفرع الباب لإسراعنا به، وإن بنا من الخوف لأمرا عظيما حتى واريناه فى قبره فى حر كوكب .
"After the death of Sayyiduna Uthman ibn Affan, may Allah be pleased with him, I was among those who carried his body. We carried him to the door, and in haste, Uthman’s head touched the door. We were greatly distressed out of fear, until we dug a grave in a garden called 'Hash Kukab' and buried Sayyiduna Uthman, may Allah be pleased with him, there."
Reference: (Tabaqat Ibn Sa'd: 79/3)
The chain of narration is weak. Rabi' ibn Malik ibn Abi Amir is unknown.
Attributed to Abu Basheer Abdi, may Allah have mercy on him:
"Sayyiduna Uthman, may Allah be pleased with him, remained unburied for three days. Then Hakim ibn Hizam al-Qurashi, may Allah be pleased with him, followed by a man from Banu Asad ibn Abd al-Uzza and Jubayr ibn Mut'im ibn Uday ibn Nawfal ibn Abd Manaf, may Allah be pleased with him, spoke to Sayyiduna Ali, may Allah be pleased with him, about burying Sayyiduna Uthman and requested that he grant permission to his family. Sayyiduna Ali, may Allah be pleased with him, fulfilled the request and gave permission to bury him. When the rebels learned of this, they sat on the road with stones. Some members of Sayyiduna Uthman’s household took his body out; they were taking the funeral to a garden in Medina called Hash Kukab, where Jews used to bury their dead. When the rebels saw the body passing by, they stoned the funeral and intended to topple it. When Sayyiduna Ali, may Allah be pleased with him, learned of this, he gave a strict order to the rebels not to harm Sayyiduna Uthman’s body, and the rebels complied. Sayyiduna Uthman’s body was brought and buried in the garden called Hash Kukab."
Reference: (Tarikh al-Tabari: 412/4)
The chain of narration is very weak.
The life details of Ja'far ibn Abdullah al-Muhammadi are not found.
The authentication of Husayn ibn Isa ibn Zayd ibn Ali ibn Husayn ibn Ali ibn Abi Talib and his father is not established.
The identification and authentication of Abu Maymunah could not be confirmed.
Who Abu Basheer Abdi is, is unknown.
There is a narration:
انتهوا به إلى البقيع، فدفنوه فيه مما يلي حشان كوكب .
"The Muslims took the body of Sayyiduna Uthman, may Allah be pleased with him, to Baqi and buried him there in a place adjacent to a garden called Hash Kukab."
Reference: (Tarikh al-Tabari: 414/4, Tarikh Ibn Asakir: 526/39)
This is a false narration:
Saif ibn Umar al-Kufi is unanimously weak and abandoned.
Shu'ayb ibn Ibrahim al-Kufi is unknown.
Attributed to Sayyiduna Abdullah ibn Sa'idah, may Allah be pleased with him:
"After the martyrdom of Sayyiduna Uthman, may Allah be pleased with him, he remained lying like that for two nights; the Muslims could not bury him. Then four men lifted his body, whose names were Hakim ibn Hizam, Jubayr ibn Mut'im, Niyar ibn Mukarram, and Abu Juhaym ibn Hudhayfah, may Allah be pleased with them. When the body was placed for the funeral prayer, some people from the Ansar tribe came and stopped the Muslims from performing the funeral prayer. Among them were Aslam ibn Aws ibn Bajrah al-Sa'idi and Abu Hayyah al-Mazini, may Allah be pleased with them, and they also prevented him from being buried in Baqi. Then Abu Juhaym, may Allah be pleased with him, said: You may bury Sayyiduna Uthman as he is; Allah Almighty and His angels have already performed the funeral prayer for him. The rebels said: We will never allow him to be buried in the Muslim cemetery, so the Muslims buried Sayyiduna Uthman in a garden called Hash Kukab. When the Umayyad rule came, they included Hash Kukab in the Baqi al-Gharqad cemetery, which today is the cemetery of the Umayyads."
Reference: (Tarikh al-Tabari: 413/4)
Muhammad ibn Umar al-Waqidi’s narration is fabricated.
Attributed to Abdullah ibn Amr ibn Uthman ibn Affan, may Allah have mercy on him:
دفن ليلة السبت بين المغرب والعشاء فى حش كوكب بالبقيع فهي مقبرة بني أمية اليوم.
"Sayyiduna Uthman, may Allah be pleased with him, was buried on Saturday night between Maghrib and Isha in a garden called Hash Kukab adjacent to Baqi, which today is the cemetery of the Umayyads."
Reference: (Tabaqat Ibn Sa'd: 77/3)
This is a false narration.
Muhammad ibn Umar al-Waqidi is abandoned and a liar.
Amr ibn Abdullah ibn Anbasa is unknown.
Date of Martyrdom:
Sayyiduna Uthman ibn Affan رضي الله عنه was martyred on the twelfth of Dhu al-Hijjah.
Abu Uthman Nahdi رحمه الله says:
إن عثمان قتل فى أوسط أيام التشريق .
"Sayyiduna Uthman ibn Affan رضي الله عنه was martyred in the middle days of Tashreeq, on the twelfth of Dhu al-Hijjah."
Reference: (Tabaqat Ibn Sa'd: 79/3, Zawa'id Musnad al-Imam Ahmad: 546 and its chain is authentic)
Expression of Sorrow!
When the confidant of the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم, Sayyiduna Hudhayfah رضي الله عنه, received the news of the martyrdom of Sayyiduna Uthman ibn Affan رضي الله عنه, he said:
اليوم نزل الناس حافة الإسلام، فكم من مرحلة قد ارتحلوا عنه .
"At this time, people have reached the last edge of Islam. Alas, how far people have moved away from Islam in many stages!"
Reference: (Musannaf Ibn Abi Shaybah: 516/7 and its chain is good)
