HAZRAT USMAN (RA) AS A CALIPH

ELECTION AS CALIPH

✔ On his death bed Hazrat Umar nominated a committee of six people to consult and select his successor from
amongst themselves within three days.
✔ And then the choice be confirmed through general bait/pledge.
✔ The panel included Hazrat Ali, Hazrat Usman, Hazrat Zubair, Hazrat Abdur Rehman bin Auf, Hazrat Talha,
Hazrat Saad bin Abi Waqas as the members.
✔ Abdur Rehman bin Auf withdrew his name and it was decided that he would take a decision regarding the
selection.
✔ He consulted each companion individually except Talha who was not present at Medina, therefore, the
choice was then restricted to the remaining four members.
✔ Hz. Uthman proposed Hz. Ali’s name whereas Hz. Ali nominated Hz. Uthman.
✔ Hz. Saad and Hz. Zubair voted for Hz. Usman.
✔ Abdur Rehman asked the opinion of other prominent men as well and arrived at the conclusion that the
majority of the people voted in favour of Usman.
✔ First of all Hz. Abdur Rehman took the Bait at Hz. Uthman’s hands and then others present in the Mosque.
✔ Therefore, Hz. Uthman was elected as the third caliph of Islam in 644AD.

EXPANSION OF ISLAMIC RULE

✔ He continued many of Hazrat Umar’s policies, including the expansion of Islamic rule.
✔ He remained a caliph for 12 years and the Muslim empire greatly enlarged in initial five years of his rule.
✔ Central Asia, Persia, Armenia and parts of eastern Mediterranean were all brought under growing empire.
✔ In the west, the Romans wanted to take over the areas conquered by the Muslims, especially Syria and
Alexandria (Egypt). They provoked the people to rebel against the Muslims and raised a big army against
them. Hazrat Usman was able to crush all these rebellions and defeated Romans in 646AD.
✔ The first Naval fleet was built during the reign of Hazrat Usman and this helped Muslims to enter Cyprus and
Rhodes in 649 AD. The inhabitants of these island agreed to pay the same tribute to Muslims as they
previously did to Romans.
✔ The Muslim commanders captured towns from Khurasan to Khwarizim in 651 AD.
✔ They also conquered many areas in Central Asia and Afghanistan by 652 AD e.g. Kabul, Azerbaijan, Herat and
Ghazni.
✔ However, there were rebellions in some newly captured areas like Azerbaijan and Armenia but Hazrat Usman
successfully crushed these revolts and restored the authority.

COMPILATION OF HOLY QURAN

See sources of Islamic law

ADMINISTRATIVE MEASURES
✔ He made extension to the Holy Kabah in Mecca and to the Holy Prophet(PBUH)’s Mosque in Medina.
✔ He constructed inns, guest houses and made arrangements for the supply of clean drinking water for
pilgrims & travellers by getting wells dug on the sides of highways and roads.
 ✔ A dam was also built to protect Medina from floods. Thus, improved the infrastructure of the Muslim empire.
✔ He built a port at Jeddah.
✔ He purchased additional lands for state owned horses and camels, where they could be easily pastured.
✔ He made purpose built markets, and the rent of these markets was used to feed the poor.
✔ He managed the finances of the empire with the help of financial administrators who could look at the tax
revenue. Due to the efficient management of finances and diwan, the revenue increased and so the
allowances paid to the people were increased by 25%.

PROBLEMS
✔ Hazrat Usman placed close relatives as governors over many provinces. His nephew, Muawiya had already
been appointed governor of Syria by Hazrat Umar but now he was granted control over more territory.
Other relatives of the caliph were appointed governor of Basra and Kufa in Southern Iraq, and of Egypt.
✔ He also made his relatives his close advisers. He did so to ensure loyalty towards himself and to secure the
unity of the empire. But to many Muslims, this action appeared to be favoring his own family unfairly.
✔ He allocated the wealth collected in the campaigns to his governors, rather than dividing it between the
fighting men themselves, so he was accused of favoring his own family again even though he tried to place
funds for state purpose with the officials best able to administer them.

MARTYRDOM
✔ After 6 years, uprisings started against Hazrat Usman (RA) caliphate and his policies in different parts of the
empire. First there was an uprising in Iraq, then in Egypt.
✔ Finally in 656 AD, troops from three provinces advanced to Medina to take their complaints directly to the
caliph.
✔ The force from Egypt arrived first and angrily besieged Hazrat Usman in his house. Later, Hazrat Ali (RA),
Hazrat Talha (RA) and Hazrat Zubair (RA) became the arbitrators and tried to pacify the rebels.
✔ Rebels began their journey home. On their way, they were overtaken by a messenger (African slave of Hazrat
Usman) riding at speed.
✔ He was carrying a letter from Hazrat Usman to governor of Egypt, ordering him to put the leaders of the
force to death when they return home. They read this letter and realized that they were betrayed. They
furiously turned back and began the second siege.
✔ Hazrat Usman (RA) admitted the fact that the slave was from his house but he didn’t send the message. He
also refused to give up the seat of Caliph.
✔ This siege lasted for some time, during which some leading Muslims like Hazrat Hassan, Hazrat Hussain etc.
tried to help Hazrat Usman but were prevented. Hazrat Usman ordered the Muslims that no blood should be
shed for him, so no armies were prepared against the rebels. However, when the rebels came to know that
Ameer Muwaiya, the nephew of Hazrat Usman (RA) had sent an army against rebels from Syria, they
reacted.
✔ Eventually some of the Egyptian force, led by Hazrat Abu Bakr’s son Muhammad, at the time of Juma prayer,
entered the house and murdered the Caliph when he was reading the Holy Quran. The blood of Hazrat
Usman was spilled over Holy Quran (verse137 Surah Baqarah/ “…Allah would suffice you against them, He is
All Seeing, All Knowing”).
✔ His wife Hazrat Naila (RA) was also injured as she lost two of her fingers while trying to save her husband.
✔ The Caliph was indeed dead and with him so was the unity of Muslim world.
✔ The Caliph’s body was buried by his family in secrecy (656 A.D).
4 Mark questions
Explain the importance of his caliphate?
■ Firstly, Hz Usman (RA) expanded Muslim territories and strengthened Islam by capturing many areas like
Persia, Armenia, North Africa.
■ He improved welfare services by building inns and guesthouses.
■ He improved infrastructure by making roads, highways & wells.
■ He compiled the standardized copy Holy Quran and circulated it in different parts of the Muslim empire as
different people were reciting the Holy Quran differently. Thus he secured the unity of the Muslim empire
and saved the Word of Allah from corruption. Had he not done so there might have been different
interpretations of the Holy Quran which could lead to conflicts within Muslims.
■ However, he responded too politely towards the rebels which not only led to his martyrdom but created
problems for Muslims and Muslim state in future.

How is he an example for modern Muslims leaders?

■ He worked tirelessly for the betterment of the people for example he built inns, guesthouses. Modern
Muslim leaders can learn from this example of Hz Usman and also work for the welfare of the people by
improving health and education services.
■ Also he ensured the unity of the empire on religious lines by compiling the Quran and circulating the correct
copies in the empire. The modern Muslim leaders can learn from this example and they should ensure correct
printing of the Holy Quran.

Why did he face problems during the later years of his rule and was eventually assassinated?
■ Firstly, he made his close relatives governors of Kufa, Iraq, Basra and Syria and also made his relatives his
close advisors and it was due to this that he had to face criticism from the people for favoring his family and
therefore problems grew.
■ When he decided to allocate to his governors the wealth collected in the campaigns, rather than dividing it
between the fighting men themselves, he was accused of favoring his own family.
■ He was also thought by some Muslims, to be surrounded by people who gave bad advice and took
advantage of his age and weakness.
■ He also faced problems after burning the false copies of the Quran as he was criticized for burning the word
of Allah.
■ Finally, in 656 A.D rebels from Egypt angrily besieged Hz Usman in his house. Initially he agreed to their
demands but while they were returning, they found out that they had been tricked. Therefore, they
returned and under the command of Hz Abu Bakr’s son entered his house and assassinated him.

■ Describe the main events/main achievements of Hazrat Usman’s Caliphate?

■ Describe how Hazrat Usman (RA) was elected as a Caliph and his policy of expansion?
■ Describe the consequences of demise of Hazrat Umar A.D 644-656 AD?

■ Describe the problems faced by Hazrat Usman during the later years of his rule that eventually led to his
assassination?

■ Describe the following events in the life of Hazrat Usman (RA):

■ Administrative reforms
■ Problems
■ Martyrdom