Introduction
Uthman ibn Affan was a wealthy and respected merchant of Quraysh who accepted Islam in the earliest years, at the invitation of Abu Bakr. He endured the hardship of Makkah, migrated twice, first to Abyssinia and then to Madinah, and was married to two of the Prophet's daughters in turn, Ruqayyah and later Umm Kulthum, which is why he is remembered as Dhu al-Nurayn.
What defined him was a rare mix of modesty and generosity. His shyness was such that the Prophet said even the angels felt shy before him, and his wealth was repeatedly placed at the service of the community: he bought a well for public use and financed an army at a time of drought and hunger.
As caliph for roughly twelve years he oversaw major expansion and ordered the standard copies of the Quran to be prepared and sent to the main cities, preserving a unified text. His final days were spent besieged in his house; he refused to let Muslims shed blood on his account and was killed in 35 AH while reciting the Quran.
The story
c. 611 CE
Accepts Islam through the invitation of Abu Bakr, among the earliest converts.
c. 615 CE
Migrates to Abyssinia with his wife Ruqayyah, the Prophet's daughter.
622 CE / 1 AH
Settles in Madinah after the Hijrah.
9 AH
Equips the army sent to Tabuk and buys the well of Rumah for public use.
Read the wording
Sahih al-Bukhari 2778Sahih Arabic text
… عَلَيْهِمْ وَقَالَ أَنْشُدُكُمْ وَلاَ أَنْشُدُ إِلاَّ أَصْحَابَ النَّبِيِّ صلى الله عليه وسلم، أَلَسْتُمْ تَعْلَمُونَ أَنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم قَالَ" مَنْ حَفَرَ رُومَةَ فَلَهُ الْجَنَّةُ". فَحَفَرْتُهَا، أَلَسْتُمْ تَعْلَمُونَ أَنَّهُ قَالَ" مَنْ جَهَّزَ جَيْشَ الْعُسْرَةِ فَلَهُ الْجَنَّةُ". فَجَهَّزْتُهُمْ. قَالَ فَصَدَّقُوهُ بِمَا قَالَ. وَقَالَ عُمَرُ فِي وَقْفِهِ لاَ …
“Whoever will (buy and) dig the well of Ruma will be granted Paradise”
Jami at-Tirmidhi 3701Hasan Arabic text
… بِأَلْفِ دِينَارٍ - قَالَ الْحَسَنُ بْنُ وَاقِعٍ وَكَانَ فِي مَوْضِعٍ آخَرَ مِنْ كِتَابِي فِي كُمِّهِ حِينَ جَهَّزَ جَيْشَ الْعُسْرَةِ فَنَثَرَهَا فِي حِجْرِهِ. قَالَ عَبْدُ الرَّحْمَنِ فَرَأَيْتُ النَّبِيَّ صلى الله عليه وسلم يُقَلِّبُهَا فِي حِجْرِهِ وَيَقُولُ " مَا ضَرَّ عُثْمَانَ مَا عَمِلَ بَعْدَ الْيَوْمِ". مَرَّتَيْنِ. قَالَ أَبُو عِيسَى هَذَا حَدِيثٌ حَسَنٌ غَرِيبٌ مِنْ هَذَا …
“Whatever 'Uthman does after today will not harm him”
23 AH / 644 CE
Chosen as caliph after the death of Umar.
c. 25-30 AH
Has the Quran copied into standard volumes and sent to the major cities to end differences in recitation.
Read the wording
Sahih al-Bukhari 4987Sahih Arabic text
… فَأَفْزَعَ حُذَيْفَةَ اخْتِلاَفُهُمْ فِي الْقِرَاءَةِ فَقَالَ حُذَيْفَةُ لِعُثْمَانَ يَا أَمِيرَ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ أَدْرِكْ هَذِهِ الأُمَّةَ قَبْلَ أَنْ يَخْتَلِفُوا فِي الْكِتَابِ اخْتِلاَفَ الْيَهُودِ وَالنَّصَارَى فَأَرْسَلَ عُثْمَانُ إِلَى حَفْصَةَ أَنْ أَرْسِلِي إِلَيْنَا بِالصُّحُفِ نَنْسَخُهَا فِي الْمَصَاحِفِ ثُمَّ نَرُدُّهَا إِلَيْكِ فَأَرْسَلَتْ بِهَا حَفْصَةُ إِلَى عُثْمَانَ فَأَمَرَ …
“Save this nation before they differ about the Book”
35 AH / 656 CE
Martyred in his home in Madinah during the siege.
Read the wording
Jami at-Tirmidhi 3699Sahih Arabic text
… قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم" اثْبُتْ حِرَاءُ فَلَيْسَ عَلَيْكَ إِلاَّ نَبِيٌّ أَوْ صِدِّيقٌ أَوْ شَهِيدٌ". قَالُوا نَعَمْ. قَالَ أُذَكِّرُكُمْ بِاللَّهِ هَلْ تَعْلَمُونَ أَنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم قَالَ فِي جَيْشِ الْعُسْرَةِ" مَنْ يُنْفِقُ نَفَقَةً مُتَقَبَّلَةً". وَالنَّاسُ مُجْهَدُونَ مُعْسِرُونَ فَجَهَّزْتُ ذَلِكَ الْجَيْشَ قَالُوا نَعَمْ. ثُمَّ قَالَ …
“Be firm O Hira! For there is none upon you except a Prophet, a Siddiq, and a martyr”
A day in their footsteps
6 small, repeatable practices from Uthman ibn Affan's life. Each comes with the Arabic text and English wording of its source, and links to read the full report.
Perfecting wudu, then two rak'ahs with presence
Uthman was careful and methodical in wudu, and he used to demonstrate it to people exactly as he had seen the Prophet do it, washing each part three times. He then taught that two rak'ahs prayed right after it, without the mind wandering to worldly matters, bring forgiveness of earlier sins.
Try this today
Make wudu a deliberate act, and pray two focused rak'ahs after it.
Sit with this
Will your next wudu be slow and deliberate, followed by two focused rak'ahs?
Sources
Sahih al-Bukhari 159Sahih … الإِنَاءِ فَمَضْمَضَ، وَاسْتَنْشَقَ، ثُمَّ غَسَلَ وَجْهَهُ ثَلاَثًا، وَيَدَيْهِ إِلَى الْمِرْفَقَيْنِ ثَلاَثَ مِرَارٍ، ثُمَّ مَسَحَ بِرَأْسِهِ، ثُمَّ غَسَلَ رِجْلَيْهِ ثَلاَثَ مِرَارٍ إِلَى الْكَعْبَيْنِ، ثُمَّ قَالَ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم " مَنْ تَوَضَّأَ نَحْوَ وُضُوئِي هَذَا، ثُمَّ صَلَّى رَكْعَتَيْنِ، لاَ يُحَدِّثُ فِيهِمَا نَفْسَهُ، غُفِرَ لَهُ مَا تَقَدَّمَ مِنْ …
“offers a two-rak'at prayer during which he does not think of anything else”
Sahih Muslim 232Sahih قَالَ تَوَضَّأَ عُثْمَانُ بْنُ عَفَّانَ يَوْمًا وُضُوءًا حَسَنًا ثُمَّ قَالَ رَأَيْتُ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم تَوَضَّأَ فَأَحْسَنَ الْوُضُوءَ ثُمَّ قَالَ " مَنْ تَوَضَّأَ هَكَذَا ثُمَّ خَرَجَ إِلَى الْمَسْجِدِ لاَ يَنْهَزُهُ إِلاَّ الصَّلاَةُ غُفِرَ لَهُ مَا خَلاَ مِنْ ذَنْبِهِ".
“He who performed ablution like this and then went towards the mosque”
Praying Isha and Fajr in congregation
Sitting alone in the mosque after the evening prayer, Uthman passed on a teaching about the worth of congregational Isha and Fajr: together they carry the reward of standing through the night.
Try this today
Make Isha and Fajr in congregation your night-prayer baseline.
Sit with this
Could Isha and Fajr in congregation become your baseline?
Source
Sahih Muslim 656Sahih … حَدَّثَنَا عَبْدُ الرَّحْمَنِ بْنُ أَبِي عَمْرَةَ، قَالَ دَخَلَ عُثْمَانُ بْنُ عَفَّانَ الْمَسْجِدَ بَعْدَ صَلاَةِ الْمَغْرِبِ فَقَعَدَ وَحْدَهُ فَقَعَدْتُ إِلَيْهِ فَقَالَ يَا ابْنَ أَخِي سَمِعْتُ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم يَقُولُ " مَنْ صَلَّى الْعِشَاءَ فِي جَمَاعَةٍ فَكَأَنَّمَا قَامَ نِصْفَ اللَّيْلِ وَمَنْ صَلَّى الصُّبْحَ فِي جَمَاعَةٍ فَكَأَنَّمَا صَلَّى اللَّيْلَ …
“as if he prayed the whole night”
Learning and teaching the Quran
Uthman narrated the Prophet's statement that the best of people are those who learn the Quran and teach it. He lived this on a grand scale by ordering the preparation of standard copies of the Quran when differences in recitation appeared in the new lands.
Try this today
Learn a little Quran each day and pass something on to someone else.
Sit with this
What little of the Quran could you learn today and pass on?
Sources
Sahih al-Bukhari 5027Sahih قَالَ " خَيْرُكُمْ مَنْ تَعَلَّمَ الْقُرْآنَ وَعَلَّمَهُ". قَالَ وَأَقْرَأَ أَبُو عَبْدِ الرَّحْمَنِ فِي إِمْرَةِ عُثْمَانَ حَتَّى كَانَ الْحَجَّاجُ، قَالَ وَذَاكَ الَّذِي أَقْعَدَنِي مَقْعَدِي هَذَا.
“The best among you (Muslims) are those who learn the Qur'an and teach it”
Sahih al-Bukhari 4987Sahih … فَأَفْزَعَ حُذَيْفَةَ اخْتِلاَفُهُمْ فِي الْقِرَاءَةِ فَقَالَ حُذَيْفَةُ لِعُثْمَانَ يَا أَمِيرَ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ أَدْرِكْ هَذِهِ الأُمَّةَ قَبْلَ أَنْ يَخْتَلِفُوا فِي الْكِتَابِ اخْتِلاَفَ الْيَهُودِ وَالنَّصَارَى فَأَرْسَلَ عُثْمَانُ إِلَى حَفْصَةَ أَنْ أَرْسِلِي إِلَيْنَا بِالصُّحُفِ نَنْسَخُهَا فِي الْمَصَاحِفِ ثُمَّ نَرُدُّهَا إِلَيْكِ فَأَرْسَلَتْ بِهَا حَفْصَةُ إِلَى عُثْمَانَ فَأَمَرَ …
“Save this nation before they differ about the Book”
Giving for the public good
When the water of the Rumah well in Madinah was being sold, Uthman bought it and made it open to all, and he provided for the army heading to Tabuk.
Try this today
Fund something lasting, such as water, a mosque or a school, not only one-off gifts.
Sit with this
What lasting good could you fund rather than only one-off gifts?
Sources
Sahih al-Bukhari 2778Sahih … عَلَيْهِمْ وَقَالَ أَنْشُدُكُمْ وَلاَ أَنْشُدُ إِلاَّ أَصْحَابَ النَّبِيِّ صلى الله عليه وسلم، أَلَسْتُمْ تَعْلَمُونَ أَنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم قَالَ" مَنْ حَفَرَ رُومَةَ فَلَهُ الْجَنَّةُ". فَحَفَرْتُهَا، أَلَسْتُمْ تَعْلَمُونَ أَنَّهُ قَالَ" مَنْ جَهَّزَ جَيْشَ الْعُسْرَةِ فَلَهُ الْجَنَّةُ". فَجَهَّزْتُهُمْ. قَالَ فَصَدَّقُوهُ بِمَا قَالَ. وَقَالَ عُمَرُ فِي وَقْفِهِ لاَ …
“Whoever will (buy and) dig the well of Ruma will be granted Paradise”
Jami at-Tirmidhi 3699Sahih … الْجَيْشَ قَالُوا نَعَمْ. ثُمَّ قَالَ أُذَكِّرُكُمْ بِاللَّهِ هَلْ تَعْلَمُونَ أَنَّ بِئْرَ رُومَةَ لَمْ يَكُنْ يَشْرَبُ مِنْهَا أَحَدٌ إِلاَّ بِثَمَنٍ فَابْتَعْتُهَا فَجَعَلْتُهَا لِلْغَنِيِّ وَالْفَقِيرِ وَابْنِ السَّبِيلِ قَالُوا اللَّهُمَّ نَعَمْ وَأَشْيَاءُ عَدَّدَهَا. هَذَا حَدِيثٌ حَسَنٌ صَحِيحٌ غَرِيبٌ مِنْ هَذَا الْوَجْهِ مِنْ حَدِيثِ أَبِي عَبْدِ الرَّحْمَنِ السُّلَمِيِّ عَنْ …
“I bought it and made it for the rich, the poor, and the wayfarer”
Sahih al-Bukhari 450Sahih … أَنَّهُ، سَمِعَ عُبَيْدَ اللَّهِ الْخَوْلاَنِيَّ، أَنَّهُ سَمِعَ عُثْمَانَ بْنَ عَفَّانَ، يَقُولُ عِنْدَ قَوْلِ النَّاسِ فِيهِ حِينَ بَنَى مَسْجِدَ الرَّسُولِ صلى الله عليه وسلم إِنَّكُمْ أَكْثَرْتُمْ، وَإِنِّي سَمِعْتُ النَّبِيَّ صلى الله عليه وسلم يَقُولُ " مَنْ بَنَى مَسْجِدًا ـ قَالَ بُكَيْرٌ حَسِبْتُ أَنَّهُ قَالَ ـ يَبْتَغِي بِهِ وَجْهَ اللَّهِ، بَنَى اللَّهُ لَهُ مِثْلَهُ فِي …
“Whoever built a mosque”
Modesty (haya')
Uthman was known for a deep sense of shyness. When he entered, the Prophet would straighten his clothing, explaining that angels were shy of him.
Try this today
Treat modesty as strength; let it shape what you say and show.
Sit with this
What would modesty change in what you say and show today?
Source
Sahih Muslim 2401Sahih … فَخِذَيْهِ أَوْ سَاقَيْهِ فَاسْتَأْذَنَ أَبُو بَكْرٍ فَأَذِنَ لَهُ وَهُوَ عَلَى تِلْكَ الْحَالِ فَتَحَدَّثَ ثُمَّ اسْتَأْذَنَ عُمَرُ فَأَذِنَ لَهُ وَهُوَ كَذَلِكَ فَتَحَدَّثَ ثُمَّ اسْتَأْذَنَ عُثْمَانُ فَجَلَسَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم وَسَوَّى ثِيَابَهُ - قَالَ مُحَمَّدٌ وَلاَ أَقُولُ ذَلِكَ فِي يَوْمٍ وَاحِدٍ - فَدَخَلَ فَتَحَدَّثَ فَلَمَّا خَرَجَ قَالَتْ عَائِشَةُ دَخَلَ …
“Uthman sought permission to enter; Allah's Messenger sat down and he set right his clothes”
Weeping at the graveside
Uthman would stand at a grave and weep until his beard was wet. Asked why he wept more for the grave than for Paradise and Hell, he explained that the Prophet described the grave as the first stage of the Hereafter.
Try this today
Visit a graveyard to soften the heart and put the world in perspective.
Sit with this
When did you last visit a graveyard to put the world in perspective?
Source
Jami at-Tirmidhi 2308Hasan … اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم قَالَ" إِنَّ الْقَبْرَ أَوَّلُ مَنَازِلِ الآخِرَةِ فَإِنْ نَجَا مِنْهُ فَمَا بَعْدَهُ أَيْسَرُ مِنْهُ وَإِنْ لَمْ يَنْجُ مِنْهُ فَمَا بَعْدَهُ أَشَدُّ مِنْهُ". قَالَ وَقَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم" مَا رَأَيْتُ مَنْظَرًا قَطُّ إِلاَّ وَالْقَبْرُ أَفْظَعُ مِنْهُ". قَالَ هَذَا حَدِيثٌ حَسَنٌ غَرِيبٌ لاَ نَعْرِفُهُ إِلاَّ مِنْ حَدِيثِ هِشَامِ بْنِ …
“the grave is the first stage among the stages of the Hereafter”
Virtues
The Prophet said that nothing Uthman did after his contribution for the army would harm him.
“Whatever 'Uthman does after today will not harm him”
Arabic text
… بِأَلْفِ دِينَارٍ - قَالَ الْحَسَنُ بْنُ وَاقِعٍ وَكَانَ فِي مَوْضِعٍ آخَرَ مِنْ كِتَابِي فِي كُمِّهِ حِينَ جَهَّزَ جَيْشَ الْعُسْرَةِ فَنَثَرَهَا فِي حِجْرِهِ. قَالَ عَبْدُ الرَّحْمَنِ فَرَأَيْتُ النَّبِيَّ صلى الله عليه وسلم يُقَلِّبُهَا فِي حِجْرِهِ وَيَقُولُ " مَا ضَرَّ عُثْمَانَ مَا عَمِلَ بَعْدَ الْيَوْمِ". مَرَّتَيْنِ. قَالَ أَبُو عِيسَى هَذَا حَدِيثٌ حَسَنٌ غَرِيبٌ مِنْ هَذَا …
Jami at-Tirmidhi 3701Hasan
The Prophet gave Uthman glad tidings of Paradise, together with a trial that would befall him.
“Admit him and give him the glad tidings of entering Paradise”
Arabic text
… الْحَائِطِ، فَجَاءَ رَجُلٌ يَسْتَأْذِنُ، فَقَالَ" ائْذَنْ لَهُ وَبَشِّرْهُ بِالْجَنَّةِ". فَإِذَا أَبُو بَكْرٍ، ثُمَّ جَاءَ آخَرُ يَسْتَأْذِنُ فَقَالَ" ائْذَنْ لَهُ وَبَشِّرْهُ بِالْجَنَّةِ". فَإِذَا عُمَرُ، ثُمَّ جَاءَ آخَرُ يَسْتَأْذِنُ، فَسَكَتَ هُنَيْهَةً ثُمَّ قَالَ" ائْذَنْ لَهُ وَبَشِّرْهُ بِالْجَنَّةِ عَلَى بَلْوَى سَتُصِيبُهُ". فَإِذَا عُثْمَانُ بْنُ عَفَّانَ. قَالَ حَمَّادٌ …
Sahih al-Bukhari 3695Sahih
During the siege Uthman reminded the people, who confirmed it, of the Prophet's words when Mount Hira shook: only a prophet, a siddiq and martyrs were upon it, and Uthman was among the companions on that mountain.
“a Prophet, a Siddiq, and a martyr”
Arabic text
… حِرَاءُ فَلَيْسَ عَلَيْكَ إِلاَّ نَبِيٌّ أَوْ صِدِّيقٌ أَوْ شَهِيدٌ". قَالُوا نَعَمْ. قَالَ أُذَكِّرُكُمْ بِاللَّهِ هَلْ تَعْلَمُونَ أَنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم قَالَ فِي جَيْشِ الْعُسْرَةِ" مَنْ يُنْفِقُ نَفَقَةً مُتَقَبَّلَةً". وَالنَّاسُ مُجْهَدُونَ مُعْسِرُونَ فَجَهَّزْتُ ذَلِكَ الْجَيْشَ قَالُوا نَعَمْ. ثُمَّ قَالَ أُذَكِّرُكُمْ بِاللَّهِ هَلْ تَعْلَمُونَ أَنَّ بِئْرَ …
Jami at-Tirmidhi 3699Sahih
Sayings and moments
Uthman repeated the Prophet's words that the grave is the first stage of the Hereafter, making him weep.
“the grave is the first stage among the stages of the Hereafter”
Arabic text
… اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم قَالَ" إِنَّ الْقَبْرَ أَوَّلُ مَنَازِلِ الآخِرَةِ فَإِنْ نَجَا مِنْهُ فَمَا بَعْدَهُ أَيْسَرُ مِنْهُ وَإِنْ لَمْ يَنْجُ مِنْهُ فَمَا بَعْدَهُ أَشَدُّ مِنْهُ". قَالَ وَقَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم" مَا رَأَيْتُ مَنْظَرًا قَطُّ إِلاَّ وَالْقَبْرُ أَفْظَعُ مِنْهُ". قَالَ هَذَا حَدِيثٌ حَسَنٌ غَرِيبٌ لاَ نَعْرِفُهُ إِلاَّ مِنْ حَدِيثِ هِشَامِ بْنِ …
Jami at-Tirmidhi 2308Hasan
Words on this page
- Fajrالفجر
- The dawn prayer, prayed between first light and sunrise. It is preceded by two short voluntary rak'ahs.
- Hadithحديث
- A report of what the Prophet ﷺ said, did or approved, passed down through a chain of narrators.
- Haya'حياء
- Modesty and a sense of shame that holds a person back from what is wrong; the Prophet ﷺ called it a branch of faith.
- Hijrahالهجرة
- The migration of the Prophet ﷺ and the Muslims from Makkah to Madinah in 622 CE, the starting point of the Islamic calendar.
- Ishaالعشاء
- The night prayer, the last of the five daily prayers, prayed after twilight has gone.
- Madinahالمدينة
- The city, formerly Yathrib, to which the Prophet ﷺ migrated and where the first Muslim community was built.
- Makkahمكة
- The city of the Ka'bah, where the Prophet ﷺ was born and revelation began.
- Qurayshقريش
- The leading tribe of Makkah, to which the Prophet ﷺ belonged, and which opposed him for most of his mission.
- Rak'ahركعة
- One unit of the prayer: standing and reciting, bowing, and two prostrations.
- Wuduالوضوء
- The ritual washing of the face, arms, head and feet before prayer.
Related companions
- أبو بكر الصديقAbu Bakr al-SiddiqThe Prophet's closest companion and first caliph, remembered for truthfulness, tender-hearted worship and giv…
- عمر بن الخطابUmar ibn al-KhattabUmar ibn al-Khattab, al-Faruq and second caliph: his night prayer, justice, generosity and respect for the Bo…
- علي بن أبي طالبAli ibn Abi TalibCousin and son-in-law of the Prophet, among the first to believe, and fourth caliph; remembered for knowledge…
- أم كلثوم بنت محمدUmm Kulthum bint MuhammadUmm Kulthum bint Muhammad, the Prophet's third daughter: her migration, her marriage to Uthman and the Prophe…
Sources and review
- Uthman ibn Affan - Wikipedia (dates and life events) (opens in a new tab)
- Hadith texts via the open Hadith API mirroring sunnah.com numbering (opens in a new tab)
Hadith numbers follow sunnah.com. Each report links to sunnah.com, and, where the numbering matches, to al-Hadees or HadithUnlocked as well. Quran verses link to quran.com, Tafsir Ibn Kathir and Tanzil. The Arabic is taken from the hadith editions and trimmed around the quoted words, so read the full report at the source before relying on it. Grades are the ones those editions give.
This page is pending scholar review. It was compiled from public sources, and its citations were last checked on 7 October 2026. If you notice a mistake or a missing source, please tell us.