Name: ʻUthmān ibn ʻAffān (عثمان بن عفان) Born: 579, Taif Died: 656, Medina The Third Muslim caliph (644 - 656) Umar (RA), on his death bed formed a committee of six people to choose the next Caliph from amongst themselves.This committee was: • Ali (RA) • Uthman ibn Affan (RA) • Abdur Rahman bin Awf (RA) • Sa`d ibn Abi Waqqas (RA) • Al-Zubayr (RA) • Talhah (RA) Umar(RA) asked that, after his death, the committee reach a final decision within three days, and the next Caliph should take the oath of office on the fourth day. If Talhah joined the committee within this period, he was to take part in the deliberations, but if he did not return to Medina within this period, the other members of the committee could proceed with the decision. Abdur Rahman bin Awf (RA) withdrew his eligibility to be appointed as Caliph in order to act as a moderator and began his task by interviewing every member of the committee separately. He asked them for whom they would cast their vote. When Ali (RA) was asked, he didnt reply. When Uthman (RA) was asked, he voted for Ali (RA), Zubayr (RA) said for Ali (RA) or Uthman (RA) and Saad said for Uthman (RA). After Abdul Rahman (RA) consulted the other leaders of public opinion in Medina, who were in favour of Uthman (RA), he arrived at the conclusion that the majority of the people favoured the election of Uthman (RA). On the fourth day after the death of Umar (RA), 5 Muharram 24 A.H, Uthman (RA) was elected as the third Caliph, with the title Amir al-Muminin. Uthman (RA)s realm extended in the west to Morocco, in the East to South-East of present day Pakistan, and in the North to Armenia and Azerbaijan. During his caliphate, the first Islamic naval force was established and administrative divisions of the state were revised. During the caliphate of Uthman (RA) as many as five thousand (5,000) new mosques were constructed. Uthman (RA) enlarged, extended, and embellished the Al-Masjid al-Nabawi at Medina and the Kaaba as well. Uthman (RA) is perhaps best known for forming the committee which produced multiple copies of the text of the Quran as it exists today. The style of Arabic dialect used was that of the Quraish tribe to which the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) belonged. Hence this style was emphasized over all others.
Posted on: Sat, 09 Nov 2013 19:27:47 +0000
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