Question:
Some people speak ill of Hazrat Uthman (may Allah be pleased with him) saying: “He fled from the battlefield of Uhud and was also absent from the Pledge of Ridwan, so how did he become the Caliph?” What is the truth of this matter? Please inform us with correct facts.
Answer:
The companions of the Prophet Muhammad, peace be upon him, were such pure and virtuous intermediaries between the entire Ummah and Allah’s final Messenger, peace be upon him, who conveyed the religion of Islam to us through their sacrifices. The preservation, dissemination, and explanation of the Holy Quran, which is referred to as Hadith and Sunnah, would have been impossible to reach us without them. They transmitted these two sources of religion to us. This continuation of divine revelation reaching us is a great cause, and they were the foremost exemplars of the prophetic command فليبلغ الشاهد الغائب to convey my words to those present and absent. The responsibility that the Noble Messenger, peace be upon him, placed on their shoulders, they fulfilled in the best manner and left no stone unturned in its dissemination, distribution, invitation, and preaching. For its implementation and dominance, they spread through knowledge and jihad to every corner of the world and raised the flag of Islam in all directions. They crushed the heads of false deities and cunning tyrants and defeated the worshippers of hundreds of false prophets. For their great sacrifices and glorious martyrdoms, they were awarded the badges of Allah’s pleasure and mercy, and the Owner of the Kingdom granted them His forgiveness and pardon. In contrast, the enemies of the religion and agents of Satan did not tolerate their popularity; they used every possible tactic to tarnish their pure character and good conduct and targeted these pure personalities with criticism so that the Ummah and its noble Prophet, peace be upon him, would lose this vital intermediary. These people could not directly target the noble person of the Messenger of Allah, peace be upon him, so they began to launch attacks and slanders against his devoted companions. Allama Jalaluddin Suyuti wrote, citing Allama Dinawari:
كان بدء الرافضة أن قوما من الزنادقة اجتمعوا فقالوا نسب نبيهم فقال كبيرهم إذا فعلنا قتلنا فقالوا نشتم أحباءه فإنه يقال إذا أردت أن تؤذي جارك فاضرب كلبه ثم اعتزل وتكفرهم فقالوا الصحابة كلهم فى النار إلا عليا ثم قال كان على هو الذى أعطي جبريل
The beginning of Rafidism was such that some heretics gathered and said that the Prophet of the Muslims should be insulted, but their leader said: “If you do so, we will kill you.” Then they said: “We insult the beloved companions of this Prophet because it is said that when you want to harm your neighbor, kill his dog, then practice isolation and declare their disbelief.” Then these people said: “Except for Hazrat Ali (may Allah be pleased with him), all the companions (seeking refuge in Allah) are hellbound,” and they also said: “Ali is the Prophet. Gabriel made a mistake (and went to Muhammad with revelation).”
Abdullah bin Mas’ab says that the Commander of the Faithful, the Mahdi, said to me: “O Abu Bakr! What do you say about those who disparage the companions of the Messenger?” I said: They are heretics. The Commander of the Faithful said: “I have never heard anyone say this before you.” He said:
هم قوم أرادوا رسول الله بنقص فلم يجدوا أحدا من الأمة يتابعهم على ذلك فنقصوا هؤلاء عند أبناء هؤلاء وهؤلاء عند أبناء هؤلاء فكأنهم قالوا رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم يصحبه صحابة السوء وما أقبح بالرجل أن يصحبه صحابة السوء فقال ما أراه إلا كما قلت
They are a people who intended to disparage the Messenger of Allah, peace be upon him, but found no one in the Ummah to join them. So they disparaged those people in front of their children and disparaged them before their offspring, as if saying that Muhammad (peace be upon him) was a companion of bad people, and whoever has bad companions, how bad a person he is! The Caliph said: “What you say, I also think the same.”
From this brief explanation, it becomes clear that the enemies of Islam, in order to speak against the noble person of Muhammad, peace be upon him, turned to his companions, may Allah be pleased with them, and to lower their status and greatness, they targeted their sacred selves with criticism. Thus, these things were transmitted from generation to generation, and when Ali also, under the slogan of caliphate, began to extend his tongue of criticism over the sacred particles of the beloved companions of action. Muhammad bin Hatib says:
سألت عليا عن عثمان فقال هو من الذين آمنوا ثم اتقوا ثم آمنوا ثم اتقوا ولم يخشوا الآية
I asked Ali, may Allah be pleased with him, about Uthman, may Allah be pleased with him, and he (while reciting Surah Al-Ma’idah, verse 93) said: “He is among those who believed, then adopted piety, then believed again, then adopted piety again.”
Ibn Kathir states: This statement from Ali, may Allah be pleased with him, is established for many reasons.
Hazrat Ali, may Allah be pleased with him, considered him ﴿إِنَّ الَّذِينَ سَبَقَتْ لَهُمْ مِنَّا الْحُسْنَىٰ أُولَٰئِكَ عَنْهَا مُبْعَدُونَ﴾ as an example.
Thus, Hazrat Ali, may Allah be pleased with him, used to say this. It is hoped that Uthman and I will be among those about whom Allah said:
﴿وَنَزَعْنَا مَا فِي صُدُورِهِمْ مِنْ غِلٍّ إِخْوَانًا عَلَىٰ سُرُرٍ مُتَقَابِلِينَ﴾
Uthman Ghani, may Allah be pleased with him, is among the best companions of the Messenger of Allah, peace be upon him, and he is the son-in-law of the Prophet. During his twelve years of caliphate, no one raised a finger of objection against his actions. When corrupt and wicked people appeared, they targeted the Caliph of the Muslims with criticism and tried hard to spoil the environment through propaganda. Imam Hasan Basri, may Allah have mercy on him, says:
عمل أمير المؤمنين عثمان بن عفان اثنتي عشرة سنة لا ينكر من إمارته شيء حتى جاء فسقة
“Before the arrival of corrupt and wicked people, during the twelve years of the caliphate of the Commander of the Faithful, Uthman bin Affan, may Allah be pleased with him, no one objected or denied his actions.”
The people of Egypt were the foremost against him, as mentioned in Sahih al-Bukhari, where Uthman bin Muhib narrates: A man from Egypt performed Hajj at the House of Allah and saw a group sitting and asked: “Who are these people? Are they Quraysh?” He asked: “Who is the elder among them?” They said: Abdullah bin Umar. He said: “O Ibn Umar! I want to ask you about something, tell me about it. Do you know that Uthman (may Allah be pleased with him) fled on the day of Uhud?” They said: Yes! He said: “Do you know that he was absent even at Badr?” They said: Yes! He said: “Do you know that he was also absent at the time of the Pledge of Ridwan?” Ibn Umar, may Allah be pleased with them, said: Yes! He said: “Allahu Akbar.” Ibn Umar said: Come here, I will tell you the truth about all these events. The first thing, that he fled on the day of Uhud, I testify that indeed Allah has forgiven and pardoned him. As for his absence at Badr, it was because his wife was the daughter of the Messenger of Allah, peace be upon him, and she was ill. The Messenger of Allah had told him that he would receive the reward and spoils equal to those who participated in Badr. As for his absence at the Pledge of Ridwan, if there had been anyone more honorable than him among the people of Mecca at the house of the Messenger of Allah, peace be upon him, he would have been sent in his place. You sent Uthman, may Allah be pleased with him, to Allah, and the Pledge of Ridwan took place after Uthman, may Allah be pleased with him, went to Mecca. The Messenger of Allah, peace be upon him, pointed with his right hand that this is the hand of Uthman and placed it on his left hand and said: “This is the pledge of Uthman.” Then Ibn Umar said to him: Take this answer with you.
When Ibn Umar, may Allah be pleased with them, said: “I testify that Allah has forgiven him,” Hafiz Ibn Hajar, may Allah have mercy on him, wrote:
يريد قوله تعالى: ﴿إِنَّ الَّذِينَ تَوَلَّوْا مِنْكُمْ يَوْمَ الْتَقَى الْجَمْعَانِ إِنَّمَا اسْتَزَلَّهُمُ الشَّيْطَانُ بِبَعْضِ مَا كَسَبُوا ۖ وَلَقَدْ عَفَا اللَّهُ عَنْهُمْ ۗ إِنَّ اللَّهَ غَفُورٌ حَلِيمٌ﴾
Abdullah bin Umar, may Allah be pleased with them, referred to Allah’s command: “Indeed, those who turned their backs on the day of the encounter, their slip was due to some weakness, and Satan caused their feet to slip. Indeed, Allah has forgiven them. Indeed, Allah is Most Forgiving, Most Forbearing.”
It is understood that Allah, the Forgiving and Merciful, has forgiven those who faltered on the day of Uhud and has turned the pen of forgiveness over their respect. However, the unfortunate people who harbor ill thoughts about them are not ready to forgive and continuously extend their tongues in criticism, defiling themselves by finding faults in their noble selves. Those who criticize Uthman Ghani, may Allah be pleased with him, are themselves afflicted with the very troubles and weaknesses they accuse others of. This does not diminish the status of Uthman Ghani, but rather the spit falls on the face of the one who spits at the moon.
The Messenger of Allah, peace be upon him, declared Uthman, may Allah be pleased with him, a martyr with his blessed tongue. Anas, may Allah be pleased with him, narrates:
صعد رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم أحدا ومعه أبو بكر وعمر وعثمان فرجف فقال اسكن أحد – أطه ضربه برجله – فليس عليك إلا نبي وصديق وشهيدان
The Messenger of Allah, peace be upon him, ascended Uhud, and with him were Abu Bakr, Umar, and Uthman, may Allah be pleased with them. The mountain began to move, and he said: “Uhud! Be still.” I think he struck it with his foot and said: “Upon you are only the Prophet of Allah, a Siddiq, and two martyrs.”
Abu Hurairah, may Allah be pleased with him, narrates that the Messenger of Allah, peace be upon him, was at the Cave of Hira with Abu Bakr, Umar, Uthman, Ali, Talhah, and Zubair, may Allah be pleased with them. The mountain began to move, and the Messenger of Allah, peace be upon him, said:
اهدا فما عليك إلا نبي أو صديق أو شهيد
“Be still, upon you are only the Prophet, a Siddiq, or a martyr.”
This hadith is narrated from several companions, may Allah be pleased with them. In any case, the Messenger of Allah, peace be upon him, declared Uthman, may Allah be pleased with him, a martyr. If the objections and accusations of these adversaries and objectors were true and correct, they would not have been honored with martyrdom by the tongue of revelation.
Marah al-Bahri, may Allah be pleased with him, narrates:
بينما نحن مع نبي الله صلى الله عليه وسلم فى طريق من طرق المدينة فقال كيف أنتم فى فتنة تنور فى أقطار الأرض كأنها صباحي بقر؟ قالوا تصنع ماذا يا نبي الله؟ قال عليكم بهذا وأصحابه أو اتبعوا هذا وأصحابه قال فأسرعت حتى عطفت على الرجل فقلت هذا يا نبي الله؟ قال هذا فإذا هو عثمان بن عفان
We were going with the Messenger of Allah, peace be upon him, on one of the roads of Medina. The Noble Prophet, peace be upon him, said: “What will you do during the time of tribulation that will spread like the horns of a cow over the earth?” The companions, may Allah be pleased with them, asked: “O Prophet of Allah! What shall we do then?” He said: “You must hold fast to that person and his companions.” Or he said: “Follow him and his companions.” Marah says: “I hurried and turned his face and said: O Prophet of Allah! Is that person him?” He said: “Yes! That is he.” So that was Hazrat Uthman, may Allah be pleased with him.
In another narration of Marah bin Ka’b, the words are:
رأيت فتنة من تحت قدمي أو من بين رجلي هذا يومئذ ومن اتبعه على الهدى
From the place of my feet, surely tribulation will emerge, on that day this person and those who follow him will be on guidance.
From these hadiths, it is understood that Sayyidna Uthman bin Affan, may Allah be pleased with him, was a companion destined for Paradise, a rightly guided Caliph, a martyr in the cause of Allah, oppressed and disabled, and steadfast on the truth during the days of tribulation. The Noble Prophet, peace be upon him, commanded leadership of him and his supporters during the days of tribulation. Therefore, those who throw mud on the rightly guided Caliph, the son-in-law of the Prophet, Uthman Dhu al-Nurayn, may Allah be pleased with him, insult him, extend their tongues in criticism, and shower him with arrows of slander and defamation, are sinking their own faith and are hypocrites and heretics.
Imam Abu Zur’ah al-Razi, may Allah have mercy on him, says:
إذا رأيت الرجل ينتقص أحدا من أصحاب رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم فاعلم أنه زنديق وذلك أن الرسول صلى الله عليه وسلم عندنا حق والقرآن حق وإنما أدى إلينا هذا القرآن والسنة أصحاب رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم وإنما يريدون أن يجرحوا شهودنا ليبطلوا الكتاب والسنة والجرح بهم أولى وهم زنادقة
“When you see a person who disparages any of the companions of the Messenger of Allah, peace be upon him, be certain that he is a heretic. This is because, for us, the Messenger of Allah, peace be upon him, is the truth, and the Quran is the truth, and it is the companions of the Messenger of Allah who conveyed this Quran and Sunnah to us. These people want to harm our witnesses so that the Book and Sunnah are declared false. Criticizing them is obligatory, and these people are heretics.”
Hafiz Ibn Hajar, may Allah have mercy on him, says:
اتفق أهل السنة على أن الجميع عدول ولم يخالف فى ذلك إلا شذوذ من المبتدعة
“The people of Sunnah unanimously agree that all the companions, may Allah be pleased with them, are just, and except for a few early ones, no one has disputed this.”
Khatib Baghdadi, may Allah have mercy on him, even established a chapter in “Al-Kifayah fi ‘Ilm al-Riwayah”
:
باب ما جاء فى تعديل الله ورسوله للصحابة وأنه لا يحتاج إلى سؤال عنهم وإنما يحتاج فيمن دونهم
“Statement that Allah and His Messenger, peace be upon him, have declared the companions, may Allah be pleased with them, as upright and there is no need to question them, but it is obligatory to inquire about others.”
Then he says: “The justice of the companions is established and known.”
Because Allah has declared their uprightness and purity and has chosen this in the Quranic text for them. Then he provides proof from Quranic verses and prophetic hadiths. Those seeking details should study books like “Al-Kifayah” and “Al-Isabah,” etc. Therefore, for us, even disparaging an ordinary companion is to be considered hypocritical and heretical. May Allah protect us and keep us firm on the methodology of the pious predecessors. (Ameen!)
To know the stance of the Salaf regarding the companions, be sure to read the book of the Muhaddith of the era, Fadhilat al-Sheikh Irshad al-Haq Athari, may Allah have mercy on him, titled “Mashajarat al-Sahabah wa Mawaqif al-Salaf.” We have also greatly benefited from this book.
