Wifāq ul Ulāma (SA) ASSOCIATION OF SOUTH AFRICAN 'ULAMA
‘Uthmaan bin Mawhab (rahimahullah) narrates the following:
On one occasion, a person from Egypt arrived in Makkah Mukarramah and performed haj. While in Makkah Mukaaramah, he saw a group of people seated and asked, “Who are these people?” They replied, “These are the Quraish.” He then asked, “Who is the most learned amongst them?” They replied, “The most learned among them is Hazrat ‘Abdullah bin ‘Umar (radhiyallahu ‘anhuma).”
The Egyptian man thus addressed Hazrat ‘Abdullah bin ‘Umar (radhiyallahu ‘anhuma) saying, “O Ibnu ‘Umar (radhiyallahu ‘anhuma)! I wish to ask you regarding something, so please answer my questions.” The man thereafter commenced asking his questions. He asked, “Do you know that Hazrat ‘Uthmaan (radhiyallahu ‘anhu) fled during the Battle of Uhud?” Hazrat ‘Abdullah bin ‘Umar (radhiyallahu ‘anhuma) replied, “Yes.”
The man next asked, “Do you know that Hazrat ‘Uthmaan (radhiyallahu ‘anhu) was absent during the Battle of Badr?” Hazrat ‘Abdullah bin ‘Umar (radhiyallahu ‘anhuma) replied, “Yes.”
Finally, the man asked, “Do you know that Hazrat ‘Uthmaan (radhiyallahu ‘anhu) was absent during the Bay‘ah of Ridwaan and did not participate in it?” Hazrat ‘Abdullah bin ‘Umar (radhiyallahu ‘anhuma) replied, “Yes.” As this Egyptian was biased against Hazrat ‘Uthmaan (radhiyallahu ‘anhu) and had ill feelings for him, he exclaimed, “Allahu Akbar!” in happiness, thinking that Hazrat ‘Abdullah bin ‘Umar (radhiyallahu ‘anhuma) supported the stance that he held against Hazrat ‘Uthmaan (radhiyallahu ‘anhu). Hazrat ‘Abdullah bin ‘Umar (radhiyallahu ‘anhuma) then said to him, “Come, let me explain to you the reality of what you are asking about.”
Hazrat ‘Abdullah bin ‘Umar (radhiyallahu ‘anhuma) then explained:
As for Hazrat ‘Uthmaan (radhiyallahu ‘anhu) fleeing during the Battle of Uhud, I bear witness that Allah Ta‘ala pardoned him and forgave him, together with the other Sahaabah (radhiyallahu ‘anhum) that fled during the Battle of Uhud (as Allah Ta‘ala declared forgiveness in the Qur’aan Majeed for all those who fled during the Battle of Uhud).
As for Hazrat ‘Uthmaan (radhiyallahu ‘anhu) not participating in the Battle of Badr, then the reason is that he was married to the respected daughter of Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) and she was ill. Hence, Hazrat ‘Uthmaan (radhiyallahu ‘anhu) remained behind on the instruction of Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) so that he could attend to her and nurse her. Thus Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) said to him, “You will receive the reward of the one who participated in Badr and you will also receive a share in the booty.”
As for Hazrat ‘Uthmaan (radhiyallahu ‘anhu) being absent during the Bay‘ah of Ridwaan, then the reason is that there was no person who was more honored in the sight of the people of Makkah Mukarramah then Hazrat ‘Uthmaan (radhiyallahu ‘anhu). Hence, Rasululah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) sent him to speak to the people of Makkah (and inform them that the Muslims had only come to perform ‘umrah and had not come to fight). Had anyone been more honored than Hazrat ‘Uthmaan (radhiyallahu ‘anhu), Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) would have sent that person instead of him. The Bay‘ah of Ridwaan only took place after Hazrat ‘Uthmaan (radhiyallahu ‘anhu) went to Makkah on the instruction of Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) (as the rumor had spread that the people of Makkah had killed Hazrat ‘Uthmaan (radhiyallahu ‘anhu)). Since Hazrat ‘Uthmaan (radhiyallahu ‘anhu) was not present for the bay‘ah, Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) gestured with his own blessed right hand saying, “This is the hand of Hazrat ‘Uthmaan (radhiyallahu ‘anhu).” Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) then placed his blessed right hand on his left hand and pledged allegiance on behalf of Hazrat ‘Uthmaan (radhiyallahu ‘anhu).
Hazrat ‘Abdullah bin ‘Umar (radhiyallahu ‘anhuma) then addressed the man and said, “Go, and take these answers to your objections against Hazrat ‘Uthmaan (radhiyallahu ‘anhu) so that you do not harbor ill feelings against him.”
(Saheeh Bukhaari #3698)
