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English translation
3639. It was narrated from Abū Salamah bin 'Abdur-Raḥmān that 'Uthmān looked out over them when they besieged him and said: "By Allāh, I adjure a man who heard the Messenger of Allāh ﷺ, on the day when the mountain shook with him, and he kicked it with his foot and said: 'Be still, for there is no one upon you but a Prophet or a Ṣiddīq or two martyrs,' and I was with him." Some men responded and affirmed that. Then he said: "By Allāh, I adjure a man who witnessed the Messenger of Allāh ﷺ, on the day of Bai'at Al-Riḍwān, say: 'This is the Hand of Allāh and this is the hand of 'Uthmān.'" Some men responded and affirmed that. He said: "By Allāh, I adjure a man who heard the Messenger of Allāh ﷺ say, on the day of the army of Al-'Usrah (i.e., Tabūk): 'Who will spend and it will be accepted?' And I equipped half of the army from
my own wealth.” Some men responded and affirmed that. Then he said: “By Allāh, I adjure a man who heard the Messenger of Allāh ﷺ say: ‘Who will add to this Masjid in return for a house in Paradise,’ and I bought it with my own wealth.” Some men responded and affirmed that. Then he said: “By Allāh, I adjure a man who witness Rûmah being sold, and I bought it from my own wealth and allowed wayfarers to use it.” Some men responded and affirmed that. (Hasan)
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Commentary
1. The purpose of ‘Uthman ﷺ in presenting these witnesses was not to take pride in self, ostentation, or to seek fame. On the contrary, at that moment, he wanted to prove that he was on the right, and the rebels were on the wrong. Allāh’s Messenger’s ﷺ commands concerning this are very clear and explicit.
2. The Prophet’s ﷺ striking the mount with his foot and addressing it, is his Prophetic rank.
3. ‘Bait ar-Ridwān’: The Pledge of (Allāh’s) Goodly Acceptance; as a result of it, those who pledged gained the pleasure of Allāh, Most High, and its formal announcement was made in the Glorious Qur’ān. This incident took place during the Truce of Hudaybiyyah, on account of a rumor that ‘Uthman had been martyred, which reached the Muslim camp (at Hudaybiyyah).
4. This is Allāh’s Hand and this is ‘Uthman’s, because ‘Uthman was not present on the occasion, and Allāh’s Messenger ﷺ had certitude that he was alive. That is why Allāh’s Messenger ﷺ stated, placing his one hand upon the other. This pledge is on behalf of ‘Uthman. He affirmed his one hand as the hand of Uthman and his other as the Hand of Allāh, because the Pledge was being sworn under the Command of Allāh, Most High. It occurs in the Glorious Qur’ān too: “Behold, all who pledge their allegiance to you, pledge their allegiance to Allāh, the Hand of Allāh is over their hands.” (48: 10) The sublime exaltedness of ‘Uthman ﷺ and of the Prophet ﷺ himself is well-displayed in this Ayah of the Qur’ān.
5. ‘Half the army’: So to speak, he had a considerable share in the preparation or the equipment of this army.
