Introduction
Uthman ibn Madh'un was a respected man of Banu Jumah in Makkah who accepted Islam in its first years and is counted among the earliest to take refuge in Abyssinia. He later migrated to Madinah, where he lodged with the Ansari woman Umm al-'Ala' and her family.
He is remembered for his devotion and his inclination towards asceticism. He spent long nights in prayer, fasted often and wished to give up marriage. The Prophet corrected him gently but firmly, reminding him that his body, his wife and his guests all have rights over him, and that the Prophet's own way includes sleeping, resting, eating and marrying.
He died of illness in Madinah, the first of the emigrants to be buried in al-Baqi', and the Prophet kissed him as he lay shrouded, with tears in his eyes.
The story
c. 615 CE
Takes part in the first migration to Abyssinia.
1 AH / 622 CE
Migrates to Madinah and lodges with Umm al-'Ala' al-Ansariyyah.
Read the wording
Sahih al-Bukhari 3929Sahih Arabic text
… وسلم ـ أَخْبَرَتْهُ أَنَّ عُثْمَانَ بْنَ مَظْعُونٍ طَارَ لَهُمْ فِي السُّكْنَى حِينَ اقْتَرَعَتِ الأَنْصَارُ عَلَى سُكْنَى الْمُهَاجِرِينَ، قَالَتْ أُمُّ الْعَلاَءِ فَاشْتَكَى عُثْمَانُ عِنْدَنَا، فَمَرَّضْتُهُ حَتَّى تُوُفِّيَ، وَجَعَلْنَاهُ فِي أَثْوَابِهِ، فَدَخَلَ عَلَيْنَا النَّبِيُّ صلى الله عليه وسلم فَقُلْتُ رَحْمَةُ اللَّهِ عَلَيْكَ أَبَا السَّائِبِ، شَهَادَتِي عَلَيْكَ لَقَدْ …
“`Uthman bin Maz'un was decided to dwell with them”
2 AH / 624 CE
Takes part in Badr.
3 AH / 625 CE
Dies of illness at Umm al-'Ala's house; the Prophet kisses him as he lies shrouded.
Read the wording
Jami at-Tirmidhi 989Sahih Arabic text
أَنَّ النَّبِيَّ صلى الله عليه وسلم قَبَّلَ عُثْمَانَ بْنَ مَظْعُونٍ وَهُوَ مَيِّتٌ وَهُوَ يَبْكِي. أَوْ قَالَ عَيْنَاهُ تَذْرِفَانِ. وَفِي الْبَابِ عَنِ ابْنِ عَبَّاسٍ وَجَابِرٍ وَعَائِشَةَ قَالُوا إِنَّ أَبَا بَكْرٍ قَبَّلَ النَّبِيَّ صلى الله عليه وسلم وَهُوَ مَيِّتٌ. قَالَ أَبُو عِيسَى حَدِيثُ عَائِشَةَ حَدِيثٌ حَسَنٌ صَحِيحٌ.
“The Prophet kissed Uthman bin Maz'un when he died”
Sahih al-Bukhari 1243Sahih Arabic text
… أَبَا السَّائِبِ، فَشَهَادَتِي عَلَيْكَ لَقَدْ أَكْرَمَكَ اللَّهُ. فَقَالَ النَّبِيُّ صلى الله عليه وسلم" وَمَا يُدْرِيكِ أَنَّ اللَّهَ قَدْ أَكْرَمَهُ". فَقُلْتُ بِأَبِي أَنْتَ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ فَمَنْ يُكْرِمُهُ اللَّهُ فَقَالَ" أَمَّا هُوَ فَقَدْ جَاءَهُ الْيَقِينُ، وَاللَّهِ إِنِّي لأَرْجُو لَهُ الْخَيْرَ، وَاللَّهِ مَا أَدْرِي ـ وَأَنَا رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ـ مَا يُفْعَلُ بِي". قَالَتْ …
“Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) came”
3 AH / 625 CE
The Prophet marks his grave with a stone in al-Baqi'.
Read the wording
Sunan Ibn Majah 1561Hasan Sahih Arabic text
أَنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ ـ صلى الله عليه وسلم ـ أَعْلَمَ قَبْرَ عُثْمَانَ بْنِ مَظْعُونٍ بِصَخْرَةٍ.
“marked the grave of ‘Uthman bin ‘Maz’un with a rock”
A day in their footsteps
4 small, repeatable practices from Uthman ibn Madh'un's life. Each comes with the Arabic text and English wording of its source, and links to read the full report.
Balance between worship and rights
Uthman was drawn to long night prayers and constant fasting. The Prophet told him that his wife, guests and own body all have rights over him, so he should fast and also break his fast, pray and also sleep.
Try this today
Keep worship sustainable; do not neglect your family or health for it.
Sit with this
Is your worship sustainable for you and fair to those around you?
Source
Sunan Abi Dawud 1369Sahih … مَظْعُونٍ فَجَاءَهُ فَقَالَ:" يَا عُثْمَانُ أَرَغِبْتَ عَنْ سُنَّتِي". قَالَ: لاَ وَاللَّهِ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ، وَلَكِنْ سُنَّتَكَ أَطْلُبُ. قَالَ:" فَإِنِّي أَنَامُ وَأُصَلِّي، وَأَصُومُ وَأُفْطِرُ، وَأَنْكِحُ النِّسَاءَ، فَاتَّقِ اللَّهَ يَا عُثْمَانُ، فَإِنَّ لأَهْلِكَ عَلَيْكَ حَقًّا، وَإِنَّ لِضَيْفِكَ عَلَيْكَ حَقًّا، وَإِنَّ لِنَفْسِكَ عَلَيْكَ حَقًّا، فَصُمْ وَأَفْطِرْ، وَصَلِّ …
“your wife has a right on you, your guest has a right on you, your self has a right on you”
Following the Prophet's way, not one's own extremes
When Uthman wished to stop marrying and live in celibacy, the Prophet forbade him. Sa'd ibn Abi Waqqas said that, had permission been granted, they would have castrated themselves.
Try this today
Adopt the sunnah, not invented austerity.
Sit with this
Are you adding hardships the Sunnah never asked of you?
Sources
Sahih al-Bukhari 5073Sahih حَدَّثَنَا أَحْمَدُ بْنُ يُونُسَ، حَدَّثَنَا إِبْرَاهِيمُ بْنُ سَعْدٍ، أَخْبَرَنَا ابْنُ شِهَابٍ، سَمِعَ سَعِيدَ بْنَ الْمُسَيَّبِ، يَقُولُ سَمِعْتُ سَعْدَ بْنَ أَبِي وَقَّاصٍ، يَقُولُ رَدَّ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم عَلَى عُثْمَانَ بْنِ مَظْعُونٍ التَّبَتُّلَ، وَلَوْ أَذِنَ لَهُ لاَخْتَصَيْنَا.
“forbade `Uthman bin Maz'un to abstain from marrying”
Sahih Muslim 1402Sahih أَنَّهُ قَالَ أَخْبَرَنِي سَعِيدُ بْنُ الْمُسَيَّبِ، أَنَّهُ سَمِعَ سَعْدَ بْنَ أَبِي وَقَّاصٍ، يَقُولُ أَرَادَ عُثْمَانُ بْنُ مَظْعُونٍ أَنْ يَتَبَتَّلَ، فَنَهَاهُ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم وَلَوْ أَجَازَ لَهُ ذَلِكَ لاَخْتَصَيْنَا.
“Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) forbade him to do so”
Humble, immediate acceptance of correction
When the Prophet asked whether he disliked his way, Uthman answered that he sought it, and took the correction willingly.
Try this today
Respond to advice with 'I seek to follow', not with defensiveness.
Sit with this
Do you meet advice with "I seek to follow" or with defence?
Source
Sunan Abi Dawud 1369Sahih … مَظْعُونٍ فَجَاءَهُ فَقَالَ:" يَا عُثْمَانُ أَرَغِبْتَ عَنْ سُنَّتِي". قَالَ: لاَ وَاللَّهِ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ، وَلَكِنْ سُنَّتَكَ أَطْلُبُ. قَالَ:" فَإِنِّي أَنَامُ وَأُصَلِّي، وَأَصُومُ وَأُفْطِرُ، وَأَنْكِحُ النِّسَاءَ، فَاتَّقِ اللَّهَ يَا عُثْمَانُ، فَإِنَّ لأَهْلِكَ عَلَيْكَ حَقًّا، وَإِنَّ لِضَيْفِكَ عَلَيْكَ حَقًّا، وَإِنَّ لِنَفْسِكَ عَلَيْكَ حَقًّا، فَصُمْ وَأَفْطِرْ، وَصَلِّ …
“No, by Allah, but I seek your practice”
Being a guest, and living with generous hosts
The Ansar drew lots for the emigrants; Uthman stayed with Umm al-'Ala' and her family, who nursed him through his last illness.
Try this today
Be a grateful guest and a generous host.
Sit with this
Are you a grateful guest and a generous host?
Source
Sahih al-Bukhari 3929Sahih … الأَنْصَارُ عَلَى سُكْنَى الْمُهَاجِرِينَ، قَالَتْ أُمُّ الْعَلاَءِ فَاشْتَكَى عُثْمَانُ عِنْدَنَا، فَمَرَّضْتُهُ حَتَّى تُوُفِّيَ، وَجَعَلْنَاهُ فِي أَثْوَابِهِ، فَدَخَلَ عَلَيْنَا النَّبِيُّ صلى الله عليه وسلم فَقُلْتُ رَحْمَةُ اللَّهِ عَلَيْكَ أَبَا السَّائِبِ، شَهَادَتِي عَلَيْكَ لَقَدْ أَكْرَمَكَ اللَّهُ. فَقَالَ النَّبِيُّ صلى الله عليه وسلم" وَمَا يُدْرِيكِ أَنَّ اللَّهَ …
“I nursed him till he died”
Virtues
The Prophet kissed him after his death and wept.
“The Prophet kissed Uthman bin Maz'un when he died, and he was crying”
Arabic text
أَنَّ النَّبِيَّ صلى الله عليه وسلم قَبَّلَ عُثْمَانَ بْنَ مَظْعُونٍ وَهُوَ مَيِّتٌ وَهُوَ يَبْكِي. أَوْ قَالَ عَيْنَاهُ تَذْرِفَانِ. وَفِي الْبَابِ عَنِ ابْنِ عَبَّاسٍ وَجَابِرٍ وَعَائِشَةَ قَالُوا إِنَّ أَبَا بَكْرٍ قَبَّلَ النَّبِيَّ صلى الله عليه وسلم وَهُوَ مَيِّتٌ. قَالَ أَبُو عِيسَى حَدِيثُ عَائِشَةَ حَدِيثٌ حَسَنٌ صَحِيحٌ.
Jami at-Tirmidhi 989Sahih
More sources (1)
Sunan Ibn Majah 1456Sahih Arabic text
قَالَتْ قَبَّلَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ـ صلى الله عليه وسلم ـ عُثْمَانَ بْنَ مَظْعُونٍ وَهُوَ مَيِّتٌ فَكَأَنِّي أَنْظُرُ إِلَى دُمُوعِهِ تَسِيلُ عَلَى خَدَّيْهِ.
“kissed ‘Uthman bin Maz’un when he had died”
A dream of a flowing spring for him was interpreted by the Prophet as his good deeds.
“That flowing spring symbolizes his good deeds”
Arabic text
حَدَّثَنَا أَبُو الْيَمَانِ، أَخْبَرَنَا شُعَيْبٌ، عَنِ الزُّهْرِيِّ، بِهَذَا وَقَالَ" مَا أَدْرِي مَا يُفْعَلُ بِهِ". قَالَتْ وَأَحْزَنَنِي فَنِمْتُ، فَرَأَيْتُ لِعُثْمَانَ عَيْنًا تَجْرِي، فَأَخْبَرْتُ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم فَقَالَ" ذَلِكَ عَمَلُهُ".
Sahih al-Bukhari 7004Sahih
Words on this page
- Ansarالأنصار
- "The Helpers": the Muslims of Madinah, from the Aws and Khazraj tribes, who welcomed and sheltered the Prophet ﷺ and the emigrants from Makkah.
- Badrبدر
- The first major battle between the Muslims and Quraysh, in 2 AH. Those who fought there hold a special rank among the Companions.
- Hadithحديث
- A report of what the Prophet ﷺ said, did or approved, passed down through a chain of narrators.
- 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.
- Muhajirunالمهاجرون
- "The emigrants": the Muslims who left Makkah for Madinah for the sake of Allah.
- Sunnahالسنة
- The way of the Prophet ﷺ: his words, actions and approvals. Also used for a recommended act.
Related companions
Sources and review
- Uthman ibn Maz'un - Wikipedia (life outline) (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.