‘Uthmān ibn ‘Affān (may Allah be pleased with him) was the third Rightly-Guided Caliph. Gentle, modest and immensely generous, he gave freely for the sake of Allah and rendered a lasting service to the Qur'an.
A modest and generous heart
‘Uthmān (ra) was a wealthy merchant, yet gentle and shy in character; the Prophet ﷺ described his modesty with love. He was known as Dhū an-Nūrayn ('the Possessor of Two Lights') because he married two of the Prophet's ﷺ daughters at different times.
Giving for Allah
- He bought a well in Madīnah and gave it freely so the Muslims could drink.
- He generously equipped an army during a difficult time, spending large amounts of his own wealth.
- He helped fund the expansion of the Prophet's ﷺ Mosque.
Standardising the Qur'an
As Islam spread to distant lands, ‘Uthmān (ra) saw that people recited in different dialects. To keep the Muslims united upon one clear text, he had the Qur'an copied carefully from the collection made in Abū Bakr's (ra) time into standard written copies (the Muṣḥaf). These were sent to the main cities. Muslims across the world still recite from this same standard, a priceless gift to the whole Ummah.
A patient and gentle leader
Throughout his life ‘Uthmān (ra) remained soft-spoken and forbearing, meeting hardship with patience rather than anger. He loved to recite the Qur'an, and it is said he would spend long nights in worship. Even as the community grew and spread across many lands, he sought to hold the Muslims together upon one Book and one path.
What we learn
‘Uthmān (ra) teaches modesty, gentleness, patience and open-handed generosity. He shows us that the wealth Allah gives is a trust, best spent in serving others and pleasing Him. He led for about twelve years and then passed away; Muslims remember him with deep love and gratitude for his lasting service to the Book of Allah.
Generosity, and one lasting service
ʿUthmān (ra) is examined on two things: what he gave, and what he preserved.
| What he did | Why it mattered |
|---|---|
| Bought a well in Madīnah and gave it freely | The Muslims could drink without paying |
| Equipped an army in a difficult time | Spent large amounts of his own wealth for the community |
| Helped fund the Prophet's ﷺ Mosque expansion | Made room for a growing community of worshippers |
| Standardised the Qur'an | As Islam reached distant lands people recited in different dialects; he had it copied into standard written copies (the Muṣḥaf), which is why Muslims everywhere recite the same Qur'an today |
He was known as Dhū an-Nūrayn — the Possessor of Two Lights — because he married two of the Prophet's ﷺ daughters, at different times.