Shahadat (Martyrdom)

• In the whole history of Islam, no one was martyred as cruelly as was Hazrat Uthman (Radiyallahu Anhu).
• The rebels of Egypt had made Hazrat Uthman (Radiyallahu Anhu) starve for forty days, without food and drink, before cruelly murdering him in the neighbourhood of Rasulullah (ﷺ).
• Due to certain circumstances his blessed corpse was left lying unattended and not buried for three days, by the rebels. His Janazah Salaah was performed in secret by Hazrat Zubair ibn Awwam (Radiyallahu Anhu) (Siyarus Sahabah Vo.1 Pg.192)
• He is buried in ‘Jannatul Baqee’. (Siyarus Sahabah Vol.1 Pg.192)
• After the martyrdom of Hazrat Uthman, darkness spread in the History of Islam, as swords were caused to be withdrawn from their sheaths.
• Hazrat Uthman (Radiyallahu Anhu) was martyred on a Friday, 18 Zil Hijjah 35 A.H. in Madinah Munawwarah. He was busy reciting the Qur’aan Kareem and the first drops of his blood fell on the Qur’aan Kareem. He was busy fasting when he was mercilessly martyred. His wife Naailah tried to intervene and protect him. In her efforts to protect him 3 of her fingers were cut off. (Tareekhul Khulafaa Pg.164)
• He was 82 years old at that time. (Tareekhul Khulafaa Pg.164)
• Hazrat Sa’eed bin Zayd (Radiyallahu Anhu) says: “If the mount Uhud had to move from its place due to the martyrdom of Hazrat Uthman, then it would be true.” (Bukhari Vol.1 Pg. 545)
• Hazrat Ali (Radiyallahu Anhu) relates: “On the day that Hazrat Uthmaan was martyred, my senses stopped functioning and my whole life was filled with grief.” (Tareekhul Khulafaa Pg.165)
• Upon the martyrdom of Hazrat Uthman (Radiyallahu Anhu), Hazrat Zayd bin Thaabit (Radhiallahu Anhu) cried for the whole day. (Siyarus Sahabah Vol.1 Pg.193)

Thumarah ibn Hazm Al Qushayri (Radiyallahu Anhu) narrates, “I was present at house of Hazrat Uthman (Radiyallahu Anhu) when he addressed (the rebels who had surrounded his house) from the roof. He said, ‘I ask you in the name of Allah and Islam, are you aware that when Rasulullah (ﷺ) came to Madeenah Munawwarah (after

Hijrah), there was no well of fresh water apart from Bir (well) of Roomah (which belonged to a Jew who sold its water at a high price). Rasulullah (ﷺ) asked, “Who will buy Bir Roomah and allow the Muslims to take its water in exchange of better in Jannah?” So I bought it from my personal wealth (and made it Waqf). And today you prevent me from drinking its water so much so that I am compelled to drink sea water?’ They replied, ‘By Allah! Yes.’

Then Hazrat Uthman (Radiyallahu Anhu) asked them, ‘I ask you in the name of Allah and Islam, do you know that Masjidun Nabawi became too small (and needed to be extended) so Rasulullah (ﷺ) asked, “Who will buy the land of so and so family (which is adjacent to the Masjid) and add it to the Masjid (so the Masjid can be extended) in exchange of better in Jannah?” So I bought it from my personal wealth (so the Masjid could be extended) and today you are preventing me from even performing 2 Rakaats of Salah in the Masjid?’ They replied, ‘By Allah! Yes.’

Hazrat Uthman (Radiyallahu Anhu) then asked, ‘I ask you in the name of Allah and Islam, do you know that I had equipped the army of the Battle of Tabook from my personal wealth?’ They replied, ‘By Allah! Yes.’

Then Hazrat Uthman (Radiyallahu Anhu) asked, ‘I ask you in the name of Allah and Islam, do you know that Rasulullah (ﷺ) was on Mount Thabir in Makkah Mukarramah with Hazrat Abu Bakr, Hazrat Umar and I. The mountain shook and (some of) the stones fell down on the ground below. So Rasulullah (ﷺ) stamped his blessed foot and said, “Stay calm Thabir! At this upon you is a Nabi, a Siddeeq (Hazrat Abu Bakr), and 2 Shaheeds (martyrs i.e Hazrat Umar and Uthman)?” They replied, ‘By Allah! Yes.’

Hazrat Uthman (Radiyallahu Anhu) then said, ‘Allah Akbar! They too have testified. By Allah! I am (going to be) a Shaheed (thrice).’” (Tirmizi #3703, Nasaee #3608, Dar Qutni)

Hazrat Abu Sahlah (Radiyallahu Anhu) narrates,

أنَّ رَسُولَ اللهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ قَدْ عَهِدَ إِلَيَّ عَهْدًا فَأَنَا صَابِرٌ عَلَيْهِ.

“Hazrat Uthman (Radiyallahu Anhu) said to me on the day that his house was surrounded and he was martyred that Rasulullah (ﷺ) had given him an instruction to which he would adhere with patience.” (Tirmizi #3711)

When Hazrat Uthman (Radiyallahu Anhu) was besieged in his home by the rebels, Hazrat Mughirah bin Shu’bah (Radiyallahu Anhu) came to him and offered him three options which would guarantee his safety. Firstly, he could choose to confront the enemy and fight them; secondly, he could flee to Makkah Mukarramah where they could not attack him; or thirdly he could flee to Syria where he could be in the protection of Hazrat Muawiyah (Radiyallahu Anhu). Hazrat Uthman (Radiyallahu Anhu) refused all three options.

The freed slave of Hazrat Uthman (Radiyallahu Anhu), Muslim ibn Saeed, narrates that (on the day that he was made Shaheed), Hazrat Uthman (Radiyallahu Anhu) set twenty slaves free and asked for trousers to be brought to him (and wore that), and he tied it. He had never worn it before, not in Jahiliyyah (before Islam) nor in Islam. He then said, “Last night I saw Rasulullah (ﷺ) in a dream and Hazrat Abu Bakr and Umar (Radiyallahu Anhuma) were with him. They said to me, ‘Uthman be patient. You will make Iftar with by us tomorrow.’” He then asked for the Quran to be brought to him. He opened it and began reciting. He was then made Shaheed while the

Quran was in front of him close to the verse

فَسَيَكْفِيكَهُمُ اللَّهُ

Translation: Soon Allah will suffice against them for you. (Musnad Ahmad #526)