Hadhrat ‘Uthman (RA) Generosity

Hadhrat ‘Uthman (May Allah be well pleased with him) Generosity

There are many Hadith which express the excellence of Hadhrat ‘Uthman.  Here by way of illustration a few are being mentioned, which have been mentioned by Shaykh Ul Islam Imam Muhammad Anwarullah Farooqui in his classic “Maqasid Ul Islam” Vol. 6.

There is a Hadith in Kanz Ul Ummal on the authority of Hadhrat ‘Uthman (May Allah be well pleased with him) himself:

Translation: Once for many days, no food grain came to Madina.  People started starving.  I went towards Baq‘ee Gharqad and saw that there were 15 camels laden with food grain.  I bought them.  I held back 3 camels and took 12 camels to the Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) and He (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) prayed for my prosperity.  (Kanz Ul Ummal, Hadith No. 36335)

Imam Ibn Asaker and Imam ‘Ali Muttaqi Hindi (May Allah shower His mercy on him) relate a Hadith:

Translation: It is narrated on the authority of Hadhrat Abu Mas‘ud (May Allah be well pleased with him), he says:  I saw the Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) that out of happiness, He had raised His hands so much that radiance could be seen emanating from His blessed pits.  The supplications which He made for Hadhrat ‘Uthman (May Allah be well pleased with him), I have never heard the Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) supplicate as much as that for anyone before Hadhrat ‘Uthman or after him – “O Allah, grant this to ‘Uthman……. (Kanz Ul Ummal, Hadith No. 36196)

There is a Hadith in Ibn Asaker and Kanz Ul Ummal:

Translation: It is narrated on the authority of Hadhrat Katheer (May Allah be well pleased with him), he said:  I asked Hadhrat Ali (May Allah be well pleased with him) about Hadhrat ‘Uthman (May Allah be well pleased with him).  Hadhrat Ali (May Allah be well pleased with him) said:  How distinguished is he!  He is remembered in the 4th heavens as ”Dhun Nurain”.  One after the other, the Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) wedded 2 of His daughters to him.  The Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) said:  The person who buys the house adjacent to Masjid Nabawi and includes it in Masjid Nabawi will be pardoned by Allah Most High.  Hadhrat ‘Uthman (May Allah be well pleased with him) bought that house and incorporated it into Masjid Nabawi.  Once, the Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) said:  The person who buys the place where dates are dried and gifts it to Muslims will be forgiven by Allah.  Hadhrat ‘Uthman (May Allah be well pleased with him) bought it and gave it away to Muslims.  Once the Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) said:  The person who provides provisions and equipment to the army going to Tabuk will be pardoned by Allah.  Hadhrat ‘Uthman equipped the whole army…..(Kanz Ul Ummal, Hadith No. 36249)

Imam Tabarani, Imam Ibn Asaker and Imam Ali Muttaqi Hindi (May Allah shower His mercy on him) have related a Hadith:

Translation: It is narrated on the authority of Hadhrat Abu Salma Bashar Bin Basheer Aslami (May Allah be well pleased with him) who narrates on the authority of his father that he said:  When the emigrants came to Madina, the water didn’t agree with them.  A person from the clan of Banu Ghifaar had a well which was called “Rooma.”  That person used to sell one waterskin of that for one “Mudd.”  The Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) told him:  Sell this spring to me in lieu of a spring of Jannah.  He said:  O Prophet of Allah (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam)!  Me and my family subsist on this only.  It is not possible for me.  Hadhrat ‘Uthman (May Allah be well pleased with him) learnt of this and bought this off the owner for 35,000 Dirhams.  Then he went to the Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) and said:  O Prophet of Allah (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam)!  The way you had assigned a spring of Jannah for that person, if I buy it will you grant me the spring of Jannah?  He (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) said:  Yes.  He said:  I have bought the spring of Rooma and turn it into an endowment for all Muslims.  (Mo’jam Kabeer Tabarani, Hadith No. 1212; Kanz Ul Ummal Hadith No. 36183)

Allah Most High has granted generosity and munificence to Hadhrat ‘Uthman (May Allah be well pleased with him).  Whenever there was a need for money for the cause of Islam, he would unreservedly spend his money.  There is a Hadith in Kanz Ul Ummal:

Translation: It is narrated on the authority of Hadhrat Imran (May Allah be well pleased with him), Hadhrat ‘Uthman (May Allah be well pleased with him) was present in the army which went to Tabuk.  The Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) had ordered us to give charity, strengthen ourselves and be obedient.  The Christians of Arabia wrote a letter to Heraclius that this person who claims Prophethood, His community is in straitened circumstances as their produce has been destroyed.  If you want to help your religion then this is the time.  He sent a governor by name “Sannaar” and readied an army of 40,000 and sent it.  When this news reached the Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam), He sent epistles to all the neighboring clans.  Everyday, He would grace the pulpit and say:  Lord!  If these few Muslims are slain, there will be none who worships you on the face of this earth.  The financial condition of the Muslims was disastrous.  Hadhrat ‘Uthman had prepared a caravan to go to Syria for food grains.  Looking at the needs of Muslims, he said:  O Prophet of Allah (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam)!  I present 200 camels with their equipment and 200 Oqiyya (a unit of measure).  The Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) said:  Alhamdulillah (praise be to Allah) and said that Takbeer (Allahu Akbar).  The Muslims became so happy with on this that there were cries of Takbeer from all around.  Then the next day, the Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) exhorted Muslims to give their wealth as Sadqa for this cause.  Hadhrat ‘Uthman (May Allah be well pleased with him) stood up and said:  I give 200 camels and 200 Oqiyya.  On this, the Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) said the Takbeer and there were cries of Takbeer from all around.  (Kanz Ul Ummal, Hadith No. 36188)

In this way, in different gatherings, Hadhrat ‘Uthman gave 950 and as per another narration 970 camels, 30 horses and 700 Oqiyya of gold and 10,000 Dinar cash.  Hadhrat Huzaifa (May Allah be well pleased with him) says:  When 10,000 Dinar were presented to the Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam), He would turn them over with His hands and say:  O ‘Uthman!  Allah Most High has forgiven all your sins, be them hidden or apparent, until the Qiyamah.  Then He said:  After this, ‘Uthman (May Allah be well pleased with him) can do whatever he wants, nothing to worry, nothing will harm him.  (Kanz Ul Ummal, Hadith No. 36189)