Hadhrat Uthman (radhiyallahu anhu) is the third Khalifah. He assumed the reigns of the khilaafate on a Saturday in Muharram 24 Hijri. He was appointed by the decision of the Ahl-e-Shْra (the senior Sahaabah who constituted the Shْra committee).

According to Hafiz who wrote in Isabah, Hadhrat Uthman was born 6 years after the Episode of the Elephants. He accepted Islam as a result of Hadhrat Abu Bakr’s efforts. When he accepted Islam, Rasulullah (صلى الله عايه وسالم) gave his daughter, Ruqayyah in marriage to him.

His blessed name is Uthman and his title is Thun-Nurain (the one with two lights). He was thus titled because Rasulullah’s two daughter’s, Ruqayyah and Umm-e-Kulthoom came into his Nikah one after the other. There is no man besides Hadhrat Uthman who had the good fortune of marrying two daughters of a Nabi. After the demise of Hadhrat Ruqayyah, Rasulullah (صلى الله عايه وسالم) said that he had been commanded by Allah to perform Umm-e-Kulthoom’s nikah to Hadhrat Uthman. When Hadhrat Umm-e-Kulthoom too died in the year 9 Hijri, Rasulullah (صلى الله عايه وسالم) observed that if he had another daughter, he would have given her in marriage to Hadhrat Uthman.

His genealogy is as follows:
Uthman the son of Affan, the son of Abil ‘Aas, the son of Umayyah, the son of Abdush Shams. His ancestry links up with Rasulullah (صلى الله عايه وسالم) in Abdu Manaf who had two sons. Rasulullah (صلى الله عايه وسالم) was of the progeny of the one son while Hadhrat Uthman (radhiyallahu anhu) was of the progeny of the other son.

Hadhrat Uthman (radhiyallahu anhu) was an embodiment and a treasurehouse of modesty and shame. Even when taking a bath in an enclosed bathroom, his modesty did not permit him to be in the nude. In the presence of Hadhrat Abu Bakr and Hadhrat Umar, Nabi-e-Akram (صلى الله عايه وسالم) would appear with his dress in any state. But, he would take care of correctly arranging his attire when Hadhrat Uthman came into his presence.

Tilaawat and Ibaadat in abundance were his special characteristics. He perpetually fasted. Even on the day he was martyred he was fasting. He would sleep a short while in the early part of the night and spend the rest of the night making tilaawat of the Qur’aan Shareef. He would complete the recitation of the entire Qur’aan in a night.

Inspite of being extremely wealthy, his dress was generally of a very cheap and inferior kind. But, he was very generous in charity. It was his practice to emancipate a slave every Friday. When sometimes he failed to observe this Friday practice, he would compensate the omission by emancipating two slaves on the next Friday.

In view of the extreme difficulties which Nabi-e-Akram (صلى الله عايه وسالم) and the Sahaabah experienced on the occasion of the Tabْk campaign, the name Jaishul Usrah (the Army of Hardship) is famous for this expedition. Exhorting the Sahaabah to contribute, Rasulullah (صلى الله عايه وسالم) said:

“He who contributes for this army will receive Jannat.”

Hadhrat Uthman (radhiyallahu anhu) presented ten thousand gold coins. Seated on the mimbar, Rasulullah (صلى الله عايه وسالم) transferring the coins from one hand to the other, said:

“After today, it does not matter if Uthman does not render any act of virtue.”

Rasulullah (صلى الله عايه وسالم) said of Hadhrat Uthman:

“Every Nabi had a close companion. My close companion in Jannat will be Uthman.”

“After Nabi Ibrahim (alayhis salaam) and Nabi Lْt (alayhis salaam), Uthman is the first person who had migrated with his entire family.”

Once Hadhrat Uthman (radhiyallahu anhu) had contributed substantially for the army. His contribution was loaded on several camels. On this occasion Rasulullah (صلى الله عايه وسالم) raising both hands towards the heavens, supplicated:

“O Allah! I am pleased with Uthman (He repeated this thrice). You too be pleased with him.”

The Sahaabah too repeated this dua.