Biography

ʿUthman was a wealthy, gentle and deeply modest man. He married two daughters of the Prophet ﷺ, Ruqayyah and then Umm Kulthum, which earned him the title Dhu al-Nurayn. He emigrated to Abyssinia and later to Madinah.

He spent generously for Islam — buying the well of Rumah for the Muslims and equipping the army of hardship for Tabuk. As the third Caliph he sent standard copies of the Quran to the major cities, unifying its written form. He was killed in his house in Madinah in 35 AH, reciting the Quran and refusing bloodshed in his defence.

Virtues

• The Prophet ﷺ said: “Should I not be modest before a man whom even the angels are modest before?”

  Sahih Muslim 2401

• He reminded the people that the Prophet ﷺ promised Paradise to whoever bought the well of Rumah and equipped the army of hardship — and he did both.

  Sahih al-Bukhari 2778

• He had the Quran copied from Hafsah’s sheets into standard copies sent to the provinces.

  Sahih al-Bukhari 4987

• Named by the Prophet ﷺ among the ten promised Paradise.

  Jamiʿ at-Tirmidhi 3747