Purchaser of Paradise: Sayyiduna Uthman Ibn Affan رَضِىَ اللّٰـەُ عَـنْهُ

Although all of the Companions will be granted Paradise, many of them individually received the glad tidings of Paradise from the blessed tongue of the Beloved Prophet صَلَّی اللہُ تَعَالٰی عَلَیْہِ وَاٰلِہٖ وَسَلَّم ; with the ‘Asharah Mubashsharah’ being at the top of this list. From these ten Companions is the third Caliph of Islām: Zun-Nūrayn Sayyiduna ‘Uthmān رَضِىَ اللہُ عَـنْهُ who himself states: I purchased Paradise in exchange for ten thousand Dirhams. (Tā’rīkh Ibn ‘Asākir, vol. 39, p. 172) Let us read some of the blessed words that were said by the Beloved Prophet صَلَّی اللہُ تَعَالٰی عَلَیْہِ وَاٰلِہٖ وَسَلَّم  in which Sayyiduna ‘Uthmān رَضِىَ اللہُ عَـنْهُ is given the glad tidings of Paradise or in which there is mention of the great bounties and high stations that he shall receive therein.

Friendship with the Beloved Prophet صَلَّی اللہُ تَعَالٰی عَلَیْہِ وَاٰلِہٖ وَسَلَّم

On one occasion, the Beloved Prophet صَلَّی اللہُ تَعَالٰی عَلَیْہِ وَاٰلِہٖ وَسَلَّم  said to Sayyidatuna ‘Ā’ishah Siddīqah رَضِیَ اللّٰـەُ عَنْهَا ‘Shall I not give you glad tidings?’ She replied, ‘Why not, O Messenger of Allah?’ The Beloved Prophet صَلَّی اللہُ تَعَالٰی عَلَیْہِ وَاٰلِہٖ وَسَلَّم  said, ‘Your father (Abū Bakr) is from the people of Paradise and Sayyiduna Ibrāhīm عَـلَيْـهِ الـسَّـلَام will be his companion in Paradise. ‘Umar is also from the people of Paradise and Sayyiduna Nūh عَـلَيْـهِ الـسَّـلَام will be his companion in Paradise. ‘Uthmān is from the people of Paradise and I myself am his companion. ‘Alī is from the people of Paradise and his companion will be Sayyiduna Yahyā Ibn Zakariyyā عَـلَيْـهِما الـسَّـلَام. (al-Riyād al-Nadirah, vol. 1, p. 35)

Companion in Paradise

The Beloved Prophet صَلَّی اللہُ تَعَالٰی عَلَیْہِ وَاٰلِہٖ وَسَلَّم  once said to Sayyiduna Talhah رَضِىَ اللہُ عَـنْهُ , ‘O Talhah! In Paradise, every Prophet has a companion from his nation, and ‘Uthmān Ibn ‘Affān will be my close friend and companion in Paradise.’ (Kanz al-‘Ummāl, vol. 6, p. 273, part 11, Hadīth 32854)

The branch of a Heavenly tree

The Beloved Prophet صَلَّی اللہُ تَعَالٰی عَلَیْہِ وَاٰلِہٖ وَسَلَّم  once said, ‘Generosity is a tree of Paradise and Sayyiduna ‘Uthmān is a branch from its branches.’ (Kanz al-‘Ummāl, vol. 6, p. 273, part 11, Hadīth 32849)

Glad tidings of Paradise

Sayyiduna Abū Mūsā Ash’ari رَضِىَ اللہُ عَـنْهُ  states: The Beloved Prophet صَلَّی اللہُ تَعَالٰی عَلَیْہِ وَاٰلِہٖ وَسَلَّم  was once reclining in a garden of Madīnah. Someone knocked on the door and the Beloved Prophet صَلَّی اللہُ تَعَالٰی عَلَیْہِ وَاٰلِہٖ وَسَلَّم  said: Open the door and give the glad tidings of Paradise to the one who has arrived. When the door was opened, it was Sayyiduna Abū Bakr Siddīq  رَضِىَ اللہُ عَـنْهُ . Someone knocked on the door again and the Beloved Prophet صَلَّی اللہُ تَعَالٰی عَلَیْہِ وَاٰلِہٖ وَسَلَّم  said: Open the door and give the glad tidings of Paradise to the one who has arrived. When it was opened, it was Sayyiduna ‘Umar Fārūq  رَضِىَ اللہُ عَـنْهُ . Someone knocked on the door again and the Beloved Prophet صَلَّی اللہُ تَعَالٰی عَلَیْہِ وَاٰلِہٖ وَسَلَّم  said: Open the door and give the glad tidings of Paradise to the one who has arrived, and also inform them that they will be tested with trials and tribulations. When it was opened, it was Sayyiduna ‘Uthmān-e-Ghanī  رَضِىَ اللہُ عَـنْهُ . (Muslim, p. 1004, Hadīth 6212, summarised)

Marriage to a Hūr (Heavenly maiden)

Once, during the caliphate of Sayyiduna Abū Bakr رَضِىَ اللہُ عَـنْهُ  a severe drought struck the people. Sayyiduna ‘Uthmān-e-Ghanī رَضِىَ اللہُ عَـنْهُ  arrived in Madīnah with a thousand camels that were laden with food and supplies. Sayyiduna ‘Uthmān رَضِىَ اللہُ عَـنْهُ  said to the traders of Madīnah: O assembly of traders! Bear witness that I have given all of these supplies away in charity to the needy people of Madīnah. Sayyiduna ‘Abdullāh Ibn‘Abbās رَضِىَ الـلّٰـهُ عَـنْهُما states: When I went to sleep at night, I saw the Beloved Prophet صَلَّی اللہُ تَعَالٰی عَلَیْہِ وَاٰلِہٖ وَسَلَّم  in my dream. The Noble Prophet صَلَّی اللہُ تَعَالٰی عَلَیْہِ وَاٰلِہٖ وَسَلَّم  was wearing a blessed shawl of light, in his blessed hands was an illuminated stick and the blessed laces of his sacred sandals were also shining. He صَلَّی اللہُ تَعَالٰی عَلَیْہِ وَاٰلِہٖ وَسَلَّم  said to me: I am in a hurry; ‘Uthmān has given 1000 camel-loads of flour and other supplies in charity. Allah Almighty has accepted this action of ‘Uthmān and married him to a Hūr (Heavenly maiden) of Paradise. (al-Riyād al-Nadirah, vol. 2, p. 43, summarised)

A man of Paradise

A man once came to the blessed court of the Beloved Prophet صَلَّی اللہُ تَعَالٰی عَلَیْہِ وَاٰلِہٖ وَسَلَّم  and the Beloved Prophet صَلَّی اللہُ تَعَالٰی عَلَیْہِ وَاٰلِہٖ وَسَلَّم  shook hands with him and did not pull his hand away until the other person let go. That person asked: O Messenger of Allah! How is Sayyiduna ‘Uthmān? The Beloved Prophet صَلَّی اللہُ تَعَالٰی عَلَیْہِ وَاٰلِہٖ وَسَلَّم  replied: He is a man amongst the men of Paradise. (Mu’jam Kabīr, vol. 12, p. 405, Hadīth no. 13495)

A Heavenly maiden

The Prophet of Mercy صَلَّی اللہُ تَعَالٰی عَلَیْہِ وَاٰلِہٖ وَسَلَّم  once said: I entered Paradise and an apple was placed in my hand, I was turning it around when it burst open and a Hūr (Heavenly maiden) came out from it whose eyebrows were like that of a vulture’s wings. I asked: Who do you belong to? She replied: I am for the one who will be killed unjustly: Sayyiduna ‘Uthmān Ibn ‘Affān. (Kanz al-‘Ummāl, vol. 7, p. 29, part 13, Hadīth 36257)

A Heavenly Palace

The Beloved Prophet صَلَّی اللہُ تَعَالٰی عَلَیْہِ وَاٰلِہٖ وَسَلَّم  said: I entered Paradise and I saw a palace made of gold, pearls and rubies. I asked: Who is this for? It was said: It is for the Caliph who will be killed unjustly after you: Sayyiduna ‘Uthmān Ibn ‘Affān رَضِىَ اللہُ عَـنْهُ . (Tā’rīkh Ibn ‘Asākir, vol. 39, p. 109)

The Confirmation of Heavenly Glad Tidings

When the Khawārij had forcefully confined Amīr al-Mu’minīn Sayyiduna ‘Uthmān-e-Ghanī رَضِىَ اللہُ عَـنْهُ  to his home, Sayyiduna ‘Uthmān-e-Ghanī رَضِىَ اللہُ عَـنْهُ  called the other Companions رَضِىَ الـلّٰـهُ عَـنْهُم and made them testify to those occurrences in which the Beloved Prophet صَلَّی اللہُ تَعَالٰی عَلَیْہِ وَاٰلِہٖ وَسَلَّم  had given him the glad tidings of Paradise.

Expansion of the Masjid and Paradise

Sayyiduna ‘Uthmān رَضِىَ اللہُ عَـنْهُ  said: Is there anyone from amongst you who has heard the Beloved Prophet صَلَّی اللہُ تَعَالٰی عَلَیْہِ وَاٰلِہٖ وَسَلَّم  saying: Whoever purchases this area (which was used for confining camels) and extends our Masjid, he shall be given Paradise and his reward in this world is that as long as the Masjid remains, his rank shall continue to rise. So, I purchased that area for twenty thousand Dirhams and endowed it for theMasjid.

Assisting the army and Paradise

He then said: Is there anyone who has heard the Beloved Prophet صَلَّی اللہُ تَعَالٰی عَلَیْہِ وَاٰلِہٖ وَسَلَّم  saying: The one who will provide this distressed army (an army without any supplies or necessities) with its necessary supplies shall have Paradise. So, I equipped that army with the necessary supplies and goods.

Paradise in exchange for a well

He then said: Is there anyone who has heard the Beloved Prophet صَلَّی اللہُ تَعَالٰی عَلَیْہِ وَاٰلِہٖ وَسَلَّم  saying: The one who purchases the well of Rūmah shall be given Paradise. I purchased it and the Beloved Prophet صَلَّی اللہُ تَعَالٰی عَلَیْہِ وَاٰلِہٖ وَسَلَّم  said to me: Give it away to the poor, you shall receive reward for it and be granted Paradise also. After hearing the words of Sayyiduna ‘Uthmān, the Companions رَضِىَ الـلّٰـهُ عَـنْهُم said: Yes! This is what we heard. However, the Khawārij said: They are speaking the truth but you have changed. (Kanz al-‘Ummāl, vol. 7, p. 44, part 13, Hadīth 36332)

Date of Martyrdom

The words of Sayyiduna ‘Uthmān-e-Ghanī had no effect on the insensitive Khawārij. Eventually, after making false accusations against him, they martyred him whilst he was in the state of fasting on the day of Friday, 18^th Zul-Hijjah 35 AH. His resting place is in Jannah al-Baqī’. (Ma’rifah al-Sahābah, vol. 1, pp. 264, 271; al-Isābah, vol. 4, p. 379)

Sayyiduna Ibn ‘Umar رَضِىَ اللهُ عَـنْهُمَا states that once, some clothes were presented in the court of Sayyiduna ‘Umar رَضِیَ اللہُ تَعَالٰی عَنْہُ . Sayyiduna ‘Umar Fārūq رَضِیَ اللہُ تَعَالٰی عَنْہُ  began to distribute them amongst the people. During the distribution, he came across some extremely fine clothing which he placed under his thigh (not giving them to anyone). Sayyiduna Ibn ‘Umar رَضِىَ الـلّٰـهُ عَـنْهُما further states that when my name was called out, I said, ‘Give me that fine clothing.’ Upon hearing this, Sayyiduna ‘Umar Fārūq رَضِیَ اللہُ تَعَالٰی عَنْہُ  said, ‘By Allah Almighty! I will give this clothing to someone who is better than you and whose father is better than your father.’ Then Sayyiduna ‘Umar Fārūq رَضِیَ اللہُ تَعَالٰی عَنْہُ  called a Companion and clothed him in that fine garment. (Musannaf Ibn Abī Shaybah, vol. 17, p.244, Hadīth no. 32990)

Dear Islamic brothers! The one who was clothed in those fine garments, the possessor of lofty and noble characteristics, the one given a high rank in the court of Sayyiduna ‘Umar رَضِىَ الـلّٰـهُ عَـنْهُ was the son of Sayyiduna Hanzalah (who was bathed by the angels), whose name was Sayyiduna ‘Abdullāh Ibn Hanzalah Ansārī رَضِىَ اللهُ عَـنْهُمَا. His noble father, Sayyiduna Hanzalah رَضِیَ اللہُ تَعَالٰی عَنْہُ  was granted the honour of martyrdom in Shawwāl 3 AH during the Battle of Uhud and the angels bathed him. (Tā’rīkh Ibn ‘Asākir, vol. 27, p. 422)

Sayyiduna ‘Abdullāh رَضِیَ اللہُ تَعَالٰی عَنْہُ  was born approximately seven months after the martyrdom of his father in 4 AH in the month of Rabi-ul-Aakhir.

Remembering the Beloved Prophet صَلَّی اللہُ تَعَالٰی عَلَیْہِ وَاٰلِہٖ وَسَلَّم

He رَضِیَ اللہُ تَعَالٰی عَنْہُ  was seven years old when the Beloved Prophet صَلَّی اللہُ تَعَالٰی عَلَیْہِ وَاٰلِہٖ وَسَلَّم passed away, it is for this reason that he is included amongst the younger Companions. (Tabaqat Ibn-e-S’ad, vol. 5, pp. 49) However, his heart was completely filled with the love of the Beloved Prophet صَلَّی اللہُ تَعَالٰی عَلَیْہِ وَاٰلِہٖ وَسَلَّم . He had preserved the moments in which he was blessed with the company of the Blessed Prophet صَلَّی اللہُ تَعَالٰی عَلَیْہِ وَاٰلِہٖ وَسَلَّم within his heart and mind. He states: I saw the Noble Prophet صَلَّی اللہُ تَعَالٰی عَلَیْہِ وَاٰلِہٖ وَسَلَّم  performing Tawāf (circumambulation) on a she-camel. During that time, nobody was beaten nor were they pushed and neither were there voices shouting, ‘Move out of the way, move out of the way.’ (Kanz al-‘Ummāl, vol. 3, p. 66, Hadees 12493)

Nowhere to sleep

Along with being a great ‘Ālim, a righteous individual, a great personality, and a possessor of a high lineage, Sayyiduna ‘Abdullāh رَضِیَ اللہُ تَعَالٰی عَنْہُ  was a very simple person and a devoted worshipper. His servant states: Sayyiduna ‘Abdullāh رَضِیَ اللہُ تَعَالٰی عَنْہُ  did not have a bed on which he would sleep. When he would become tired after praying abundantly, he would lie down on the ground and use his armour and cloak as a pillow and sleep for a little while. (Usd al-Ghābah, vol. 3, p. 221)

Fear of Hell

Once, he رَضِیَ اللہُ تَعَالٰی عَنْہُ  fell ill and a person recited this verse of the Quran:

لَهُمْ مِّنْ جَهَنَّمَ مِهَادٌ وَّ مِنْ فَوْقِهِمْ غَوَاشٍؕ-

For them, only Fire is the bed and only Fire is the covering for them;

[Kanz-ul-Iman (translation of Quran)] (Part 8, Sūrah A’rāf, Verse 41)

Hearing this, he began to cry; he cried so much that the people thought that his soul was about to depart from his body. Then he stood up and someone said, ‘Remain seated.’ He replied, ‘The remembrance of Hell is preventing me from sitting, I do not know if I am amongst the dwellers of Hell.’ (Tā’rīkh Ibn ‘Asākir, vol. 27, p. 426)

Announcement of war against Yazīd

He had seven or eight sons. When he took them to Yazīd, Yazīd gave him one hundred thousand dirhams and gave his sons ten thousand dirhams each. Along with this, he gifted them with expensive clothing and fine riding animals. After taking all of this, he went to Madīnah, where the people asked, ‘How did you find Yazīd?’ He replied, ‘I have returned from such an individual that, by Allah Almighty, if only me and my sons remained, I would still wage war against him.’ The people then asked, ‘We have heard that Yazīd gifted you much wealth, riches and servants.’ He said, ‘The reason I took the wealth from him is so that I can use that wealth to wage a strong war against him.’ (al-BidāyahWa al-Nihāyah, vol. 5, p. 733.) He then began to motivate them to fight in the path of Allah: O my people! Fear Allah Almighty ! By Allah Almighty, the reason we are fighting in the path of Allah against Yazīd is because we fear that stones will rain down from the skies due to his misdeeds and the enormities that he commits; he marries off umm ul walad slave girls (i.e. those slave girls who have given birth to children from their owner), he drinks alcohol and misses Salāh. By Allah Almighty! If nobody supports me, I will still take up this struggle for the sake of Allah Almighty. Upon hearing this, the people began to pledge allegiance to him. (Tā’rīkh Ibn ‘Asākir, vol. 27, p. 429)

He did not raise his head

According to one narration (after returning), he began to spend his nights in the masjid, observe fasts continuously and would break the fast by drinking only Sattū^[1]. He did not raise his head (out of modesty) towards the sky. (Tā’rīkh Ibn ‘Asākir, vol. 27, p. 429)

Yazīdī army

When Yazīd received news of this, he sent an army under the leadership of Muslim Ibn ‘Uqbah. The army consisted of ten thousand or twelve thousand soldiers on horse-back. According to another narration, alongside twelve thousand soldiers on horse-back, there were a further fifteen thousand on foot. (‘Umdah al-Qārī, vol. 12, p. 192, Hadīth 4167)

War and Salāh

When the battle commenced, he رَضِیَ اللہُ تَعَالٰی عَنْہُ  was in such a state of calmness that his head would keep dropping due to nodding off, whilst the other people were fighting. The fighting had reached its peak when the time of Zuhr Salāh entered so he said to his servant: Protect me from the direction of my back so that I can pray Salāh. He then prayed the four units of Zuhr Salāh with utmost concentration.

Martyrdom

He then engaged himself in the battle. Of his eight sons, one after another was being martyred. He also received many wounds and eventually, filled with the passion of being martyred, he removed his armour, threw it down and then broke the sheath of his sword (showing that he will not place it in its sheath again). With youthful vigour he continued to fight the enemy until he was blessed with the crown of martyrdom and left his mundane world. This battle is known as ‘Harrah’ and took place in 63 AH on the day of Wednesday when there were three days remaining for the completion of the month of Zū al-Hijjah. (Tā’rīkh Ibn ‘Asākir, vol. 27, pp. 430–432; Usd al-Ghābah, vol. 3, p. 221)

Show of oppression and cruelty

After this, the Yazīdī army spread such death and destruction, and spread such oppression and tyranny that we seek the refuge of Allah! The Yazīdī army plundered the city of Madīnah for three days and violated the sanctity of its pure women. Seven hundred Companions رَضِىَ الـلّٰـهُ عَـنْهُم, from both the Ansār and the Muhājirs, were martyred. In total, more than ten thousand citizens were martyred, out of which, seven hundred were also memorisers of the Quran. The Yazīdī army tied their horses to the pillars of Masjid Nabawī and for three days, the people were deprived of praying in Masjid Nabawī. (‘Umdah al-Qārī, vol. 12, p. 192, under Hadīth 4167; Sawānih Karbalā, p. 178, summarised)

Company until the Day of Judgement

Someone saw Sayyiduna ‘Abdullāh رَضِیَ اللہُ تَعَالٰی عَنْہُ  in a dream after this and he was in a good state. He asked, ‘Were you not martyred?’ He رَضِیَ اللہُ تَعَالٰی عَنْہُ  replied, ‘Of course! I have met my Lord; He has granted me entry into Paradise and I eat from the fruits of Paradise from wherever I desire.’ The one witnessing the dream then asked, ‘What became of your companions?’ He replied, ‘They are with me under my banner and they will remain by my side until the Day of Judgement.’ (Usd al-Ghābah, vol. 3, p. 221)