Who is the third caliph of Islam?
The third Caliph of Islam and the successor of Hazrat Umar R.A, Hazrat Usman Ghani R.A was born in 573 and passed away on June 17, 656. Hazrat Usman was the third of the Rashidun, often known as the “Rightly Guided Caliphs,” in addition to being Muhammad’s S.A.W second cousin, son-in-law, and famous companion. He also succeeded Muhammad S.A.W as Caliph. Hazrat Usman Ghani R.A was previously married to Ruqayya, and he wed Umm Kulthum when she passed away. Because both of his wives were elder daughters of Muhammad S.A.W and Khadija R.A, he was given the honorary title of Zulnoorain “The Possessor of Two Lights”. As a consequence of this, he was also the brother-in-law of Ali, the fourth Rashidun Caliph, whose own wife Fatimah R.A was Muhammad’s S.A.W youngest daughter.
Before Islam
Hazrat Usman Ghani R.A was the son of Affan ibn Abi al-‘As, and Arwa bint Kurayz, of the Abdshams clan, both of whom belonged to the Quraish richest tribe in Makkah. Hazrat Usman R.A. was one of the finest of his tribe in pre-Islamic culture. He was of high social standing, incredibly rich, highly polite, and fluent in communication. His family and friends adored and admired him. Even before Islam, he had never abased to any idol or performed any unethical action. He also did not consume alcohol before Islabeforeas knowledgeable about genealogy, proverbs, and the history of significant events. He journeyed to Syria and Ethiopia, where he interacted with non-Arabs and learned about their lifestyles and traditions that no one else knew. He managed the firm he inherited from his father, and his fortune grew. He was recognised as one of the males of the Banu Umayyah clan who were well-valued across Quraish. As a result, Usman R.A. was held in great regard by his people and was adored. Because his father, Affan, passed away when he was still young and while he was travelling overseas, Usman R.A inherited a significant fortune. He followed in his father’s footsteps by becoming a trader, and because his enterprise was successful, he eventually emerged as one of the wealthiest men in the Quraish.
Acceptance Of Islam
Hazrat Usman R.A. was thirty-four years old when Abu Bakr Al-Siddiq R.A. summoned him to Islam, and he did not delay in any way and answered promptly the call of Abu Bakr R.A. Hazrat Usman R.A is considered to be one of the first people to convert to Islam (R.A.). Following in the footsteps of Abu Bakr (R.A.), Ali ibn Talib (R.A.), and Zaid ibn Harithah, he was the fourth individual to convert to Islam (R.A.).
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After Converting to Islam
Hazrat Usman Ghani R.A., together with his wife Ruqayyah R.A., who was the daughter of the Prophet S.A.W., and ten other Muslim men and three Muslim women, emigrated to Ethiopia (Abyssinia). Later on, several Muslims followed them as migrants. Every single immigrant Muslim was able to practise their religion freely and without interference in Abyssinia. Because Hazrat Usman R.A. already had some business ties in Ethiopia, he kept on working as a merchant after he settled there.
After being told that the people of Makkah had converted to Islam, the emigrants who had settled in Abyssinia decided to make the journey back home. However, as they got closer to Makkah, they discovered that the rumour had been exaggerated all along. Despite this, every immigrant was allowed to enter the city. Hazrat Usman R.A. and his wife Ruqayyah R.A. were two of the people that went back, and they ended up relocating to Makkah. Usman R.A. stayed in Makkah till Allah allowed him permission to go to Madinah.
Hazrat Hazrat Usman R.A and Ruqayya R.A migrated to Medina in 622. Hazrat Usman R.A. resided with Abu Talha ibn Thabit upon arrival before buying a house. Usman R.A. was one of Mecca’s richest merchants and didn’t need his Ansari brothers’ support because he brought his cash to Medina. Jews performed much of Medina’s trade because most Muslims were farmers. Usman R.A. saw an economic opportunity to increase Muslim trade and became a Medina trader. Hard labour and honesty made him one of Medina’s richest men.
Highlight the contribution of the third caliph of Islam
Before his death in 634 CE, Hazrat Abu Bakr R.A nominated him as his successor. Because of his rigid and dictatorial personality, he was unpopular among Medina’s notable members. Hazrat Abu Bakr R.A was well aware of his strength and potential to succeed him. His was one of the easiest power transitions from one ruler to another in Muslim nations, for which he named Hazrat Umar R.A as his successor. He directed Umar through his will to pursue the victories on the Iraqi and Syrian fronts.
Reign (644 – 656)
The reign of Hazrat Usman ibn Affan was one of the most influential reigns during this turbulent period. Usman R.A. was a companion of the Prophet Muhammad S.A.W. He belonged to the Quraish tribe and came from an Umayyad household. He was born in the Hijaz (Arabia). When he was chosen to be the third Caliph, he was already in the middle of his sixties.
Economic Contribution
The reign of Hazrat Usman R.A. had far-reaching effects, not only politically but also economically and religiously. He reinvigorated the administrative procedures of his provinces and reformed the caliphal regions, also known as funds. The funds were frequently based on the regional divisions of the Byzantine empire. Usman R.A. was also responsible for instituting economic changes. One of the most noteworthy was the forging of a new currency that featured the introduction of Arabic. For example, Sasanian-type dirhams were inscribed with the phrase Bismillah, which means “In the name of Allah.” This was one of the most significant changes.
Expansion of Masjid Al-Nabwi
In the years 29-30 AH, Hazrat Usman R.A. oversaw the expansion of the Prophet’s Mosque, also known as Masjid Al-Nabawi. At the same time, he constructed the first Islamic navy to defend Muslim coastlines from the assaults of Byzantine forces.
Compilation of Quran
As Islam spread beyond the Arabian Peninsula into Persia, the Levant, and North Africa, Hazrat Usman Ghani R.A. started to notice that the language of the Quran varied slightly from region to region. This occurred around the year 650 AD. To maintain the purity of the text, he gave the task of preparing a standardized copy of the Quran to a commission that was led by Zayd ibn Thabit. The commission was instructed to use the copy held by the caliph Abu Bakr. As a result, the Quran was committed to writing less than a quarter of a century after Muhammad’s S.A.W passing. This book served as the template from which copies were created and spread all through the urban centres of the Muslim world; it is assumed that other editions of the text were lost or damaged.
Hazrat Usman R.A Death
The disturbance took place during the month of Shawwal in the year 35 AH, and the miscreants confined Hazrat Usman R.A. in his residence for forty days, preventing him from worshipping in the mosque and even giving him water to drink. But when he observed that some of the Companions were getting ready to battle them, he prohibited that battle from taking place because he did not want to cause the death of a Muslim for his benefit. The assassins then entered his home through the back door (from the residence of Abu Hazm Al-Ansari) and attacked him while he was reading the Holy Quran. His wife Naila R.A., who was attempting to protect him, was struck with the sword and had her fingers severed as a result of their actions. The rebels were responsible for his death R.A., which resulted in his blood being written into the Quran. He was executed on the 18th of Dhul-Hijjah 35AH, which corresponds to June 17, 656 AD, and he was laid to rest at Madinah’s Al-Baqee, which is a hallowed burial for Muslims located close to the Prophet’s Mosque (Masjid Al-Nabawi).
The Third Caliph
Hazrat Ali R.A’s election was held in circumstances of uncertainty, in contrast to those of the caliphs who came before him. On each of the three prior occasions, there were reasons to be concerned; nonetheless, the Muslims always remained unified. People were in a state of disbelief at the time of Abu Bakr’s appointment since Muhammad S.A.W. had recently passed away. However, once everyone got together to discuss the situation and figure out what should be done, everyone instantly agreed on the strategy. Ali was chosen to succeed Hazrat Usman R.A. by Abu Bakr R.A.
Hazrat Ali R.A was one of the probable contenders for the caliphate when Hazrat Usman R.A. was assassinated and the majority of the Ansar supported Hazrat Ali R.A. in his bid for the position.
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