‘Uthmaan: The First One To Allow Muslims To Campaign By Sea

When Mu’aawiyyah bin Abee Sufyaan was the governor of Syria, he urged ‘Umar bin al-Khattaab to campaign by sea, and told him how close the Byzantines were to Homs. He said, “In one of the villages of Homs, the people can hear the barking of their dogs and the crowing of their roosters.” 

‘Umar was almost convinced, and so he wrote to ‘Amr bin al-’Aas saying, “Describe to me the sea and those who sail on it, for I am thinking about it.”  ‘Amr wrote to him saying, “It is like a huge creature being ridden by a small creature; if it stays still it will scare you and if it moves it will make you lose your mind; there is no certainty about it and great doubts about it. They (sailors) are like worms on a stick; if it tilts they will drown and if it is saved you will be astonished.” When ‘Umar read the letter of  ’Amr, he wrote to Mu’aawiyyah saying, “No! By the One Who sent Muhammad with the Turth, I will never let a Muslim campaign by sea.  By Allaah, a Muslim is dearer to me than all that the Byzantines have.  Stop suggesting that to me.” 

But the idea kept nagging at Mu’aawiyyah; he saw the Byzantines and their land, and kept hoping to conquer it.  When ‘Uthmaan became the Khaleefah, he brought the matter up again and urged ‘Uthmaan to consider it.  ‘Uthmaan replied by saying, “I am already aware of how ‘Umar (may Allaah have mercy upon him) responded when you asked him for permission to campaign by sea.”  Then Mu’aawiyyah wrote to him again, trying to convince him that it was no major thing to travel by sea to Cyprus.  ‘Uthmaan wrote back to him saying, “If you take your wife with you, then you have our permission to go, otherwise no.”  ‘Uthmaan stipulated further conditions by saying, “Do not select people and do not draw lots; give them the choice, and whoever chooses to go willingly, let him go with you and help him.”  When Mu’aawiyyah read the letter of ‘Uthmaan he started mobilising people to travel by sea to Cyprus. He wrote to the people on the coast ordering them to repair their ships and bring them close to the coast in Palestine at Acre, which he had refurbished so that the Muslims could travel from there to Cyprus.

[A collection of narrations taken from: Taareekh at-Tabaree 5/258-260; al-Idaarah al-'Askariyyah fid-Dawlah al-Islaamiyyah 2/538]

“Who would you nominate to be the Khaleefah?”

‘Abdur-Rahmaan bin ‘Awf visited ‘Alee one day and said to him: “If I do not choose you to be the Khaleefah, then tell me who would you nominate to be the Khaleefah?” ‘Alee said: “‘Uthmaan bin ‘Affaan.” ‘Abdur-Rahmaan then visited ‘Uthmaan and asked him: “If I do not choose you to be the Khaleefah, then tell me who would you nominate to be the Khaleefah?” ‘Uthmaan said: “‘Alee bin Abee Taalib.”

[Saheeh al-Bukhaaree: 7207]

“I saw ‘Uthmaan bin ‘Affaan going out one Friday…”

Moosaa bin Talhah said:

“I saw ‘Uthmaan bin ‘Affaan when he was on the mimbar, finding out about the people asking about their affairs and the current prices of goods.”

[Fadaa'il as-Sahaabah: 812]

Ibn Sa’d said:

“I saw ‘Uthmaan bin ‘Affaan going out one Friday wearing two yellow garments. He sat on the mimbar and the Mu’adh-dhin gave the call to prayer whilst he was speaking to the people and asking them about their travels, who had come back and who was sick.”

[at-Tabaqaat: 3/59]

Ahmad bin Hambal on ‘Uthmaan’s Khilaafah

al-Imaam Ahmad said:

“They did not all agree to swear allegiance to anyone as they all agreed to swear allegiance to ‘Uthmaan.”

[Manhaaj as-Sunnah: 3/166]

“…and we did not fail to select the best.”

When ‘Uthmaan was appointed as the Khaleefah ‘Abdullaah bin Mas’ood said:

“We have appointed as Khaleefah the best of those who are left, and we did not fail to select the best.”

[at-Tabaqaat al-Kubraa: 3/63]

Salaries For The Mu’adhineen…

al-Imaam ash-Shaafi’ee said:

“The callers of the aadhaan were given salaries by the Imaam of guidance, ‘Uthmaan bin ‘Affaan.”

["Mawsoo'atu Fiqh 'Uthmaan bin 'Affaan"]

‘Uthmaan’s Speech As The Khaleefah…

“I have been given a responsibility, and I have accepted it.  Verily, I am a follower (of the Sunnah), and not an innovator.  I promise you that in addition to following the Book of Allaah and the Sunnah of His Prophet, I will do three other things: following the example of those who came before (Aboo Bakr and ‘Umar) me with regards to what you have agreed upon and decided, and what is decided by good people openly, and not interfering with you except when a hadd punishment is required.  This world is tempting, and it makes itself attractive to people, so that many people are inclined towards it.  Do not be content with this world, and do not put your trust in it, for it is not trustworthy. Understand that these worldly temptations will not go away unless you ignore them.”

["Taareekh at-Tabaree": 5/443]

‘Uthmaan’s Letter To The Mujaahideen…

“You are the guardians of the Muslims and their shield.  ‘Umar gave you a particular mission which is not hidden from us, rather it is known to everyone.  I do not want to hear that any one of you has changed the deal, lest Allaah replace you with someone else.  So watch what you do, and I shall try my best to fulfil the mission that Allaah has enjoined upon me.”

["Taareekh at-Tabaree": 5/244]

‘Uthmaan’s Love For The Prophet…

During his Khilaafah, ‘Uthmaan beat a man who expressed disrespect towards al-’Abbaas, the uncle of the Prophet – sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam. Upon being asked for the reason why he beat the man, he said:

“Of course, didn’t the Messenger of Allaah – sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam – show a great deal of respect towards his uncle? Do you want me to allow people to show disrespect towards him?! The one who does that or approves of that is going against the Messenger of Allaah!”

["Taareekh at-Tabaree": 5/417]

‘Uthmaan As The Khaleefah

Al-Hamdaanee said: “I saw ‘Uthmaan sleeping in the masjid, wrapped in a blanket with no one around him, when he was the Khaleefah.” [Kitaab az-Zuhd lil-Imaam Ahmad]

Sharahbeel bin Muslim narrated that ‘Uthmaan used to offer the people fine food, then he would go into his own house and eat vinegar and olive oil. ["at-Taareekh al-Islaamee"; 48/17]

One day ‘Uthmaan was called to catch some people who were engaged in some suspicious activity, so he went to catch them red-handed, but they dispersed before he reached them.  So, he freed a slave in gratitude to Allaah that no Muslim had been shamed at his hands. [‘Uluww al-Himmah; 5/481]

‘Urwah bin az-Zubayr said: “I lived at the time of ‘Uthmaan and there was not a single Muslim who did not have a right to the wealth of Allaah [i.e. the bayt al-maal].”  ["al-Musannaf fil-Hadeeth": 3/1023]