Editing Uthman (section)

== Companionship of Muhammad ==
=== Conversion to Islam ===
On returning from a business trip to [[Syria (region)|Syria]] in 611, Uthman learned of Muhammad's declared mission. After a discussion with [[Abu Bakr]], Uthman decided to convert to Islam, and Abu Bakr brought him to Muhammad to declare his faith. Uthman thus became [[Early Muslims|one of the earliest converts to Islam]], following [[Ali]], [[Zayd ibn Haritha al-Kalbi|Zayd ibn Haritha]], [[Abu Bakr]] and a few others. His conversion to Islam angered his uncle, [[Al-Hakam ibn Abi al-As|Hakam ibn Abi Al-As]], who strongly opposed Muhammad's teachings.<ref name="Basit">{{Cite book |last=Ahmad |first=Abdul Basil |url=https://archive.org/details/uthman-bin-affan_202401/mode/1up |title=Uthman Bin Affan |page=19 |language=en}}</ref> He is listed as one of the twenty two Meccans at the dawn of Islam who knew how to write.<ref>Ahmed ibn Jabir al-Baladhuri. ''Kitab Futuh al-Buldan'', translated by Murgotten, F. C.; (1924), ''The Origins of the Islamic State Part 2'', p. 271, New York, Longmans, Green & Co., and London, P. S. King & Son, Ltd.</ref>

=== Migration to Abyssinia ===
Uthman and his wife, [[Ruqayya bint Muhammad|Ruqayya]], migrated to [[Abyssinia]] (modern Ethiopia) in April 615, along with ten Muslim men and three women. Scores of Muslims joined them later.<ref name="Ishaq">Muhammad ibn Ishaq, ''Sirat Rasul Allah'', translated by Guillaume, A.; (1955), ''The Life of Muhammad'', pp. 146–148, Oxford, [[Oxford University Press]].</ref><ref name="Saad1">Muhammad ibn Saad, ''Kitab al-Tabaqat al-Kabir'', translated by Haq, S. M. (1967), ''Ibn Sa'd's Kitab al-Tabaqat al-Kabir, Volume I, Parts I & II'', Delhi, Kitab Bhavan.</ref>{{rp|235–236}} As Uthman already had some business contacts in Abyssinia, he continued to practice his profession as a trader and he continued to flourish.<ref name="ReferenceC">''Hazrat Usman'' – by Rafi Ahmad Fidai, publisher: Islamic Book Service, page: 32</ref>

After four years, the news spread among the Muslims in Abyssinia that the Quraysh of Mecca had accepted Islam, and this acceptance persuaded Uthman, Ruqayya and 39 Muslims to return. However, when they reached Mecca, they found that the news about the Quraysh's acceptance of Islam was false. Nevertheless, Uthman and Ruqayya re-settled in Mecca.<ref name="Ishaq"/>{{rp|167–169}}<ref name="Saad1"/>{{rp|238}} Uthman had to start his business afresh, but the contacts that he had already established in Abyssinia worked in his favour and his business prospered once again.<ref name="ReferenceC"/>

=== Migration to Medina ===
In 622, Uthman and his wife, Ruqayya, were among the third group of Muslims to migrate to [[Medina]]. Upon arrival, Uthman stayed with Abu Talha ibn Thabit before moving into the house he purchased a short time later. Uthman was one of the richest merchants of Mecca, with no need of financial help from his [[Ansari (nesbat)|Ansari]] brothers, as he had brought the considerable fortune he had amassed with him to Medina. Most Muslims of Medina were farmers with little interest in trade, and [[Jews]] had conducted most trading in the town. Uthman realised there was a considerable commercial opportunity to promote trade among Muslims and soon established himself as a trader in Medina. With hard work and honesty, his business flourished, making him one of the richest men in Medina.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.islam4theworld.com/Sahabah/talhah_bn_ubaydullah_R.htm |title=Talhah bin Ubaydullah |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060601032606/http://www.islam4theworld.com/Sahabah/talhah_bn_ubaydullah_R.htm |archive-date=1 June 2006}}</ref> Two of Uthman's wives having been elder daughters of Muhammad and [[Khadija bint Khuwaylid]], which earned him the honorific title ''Dhū al-Nurayn'' ("The Possessor of Two Lights").<ref>{{cite encyclopedia |date=2009 |title=Uthmān ibn Affān |encyclopedia=The Oxford Encyclopedia of the Islamic World |publisher=[[Oxford University Press]] |location=Oxford |url=http://www.oxfordislamicstudies.com/article/opr/t236/e1089 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190919043355/http://www.oxfordislamicstudies.com/article/opr/t236/e1089 |url-status=dead |archive-date=19 September 2019 |last=Asma Afsaruddin |first=Oliver |editor=John L. Esposito |url-access=subscription}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |date=13 June 2023 |title=Uthman ibn Affan - Biography, Achievements & Assassination |url=https://www.britannica.com/biography/Uthman-ibn-Affan}}</ref>

Across the Muslim world, Uthman is known by his honorific title "Ghani" that translates to "exceedingly generous" which was bestowed upon him for his remarkable donations towards helping those in need and for the cause of Islam.

=== Life in Medina ===
When [[Ali]] married [[Fatima]], Uthman bought Ali's shield for five hundred [[dirhams]]. Four hundred was set aside as ''[[mahr]]'' ([[dower]]) for Fatima's marriage, leaving a hundred for all other expenses. Later, Uthman presented the armour back to Ali as a wedding present.<ref>{{cite book |title=The Heirs Of The Prophet Muhammad - And The Roots Of The Sunni–Shia Schism |first=Barnaby |last=Rogerson |author-link=Barnaby Rogerson |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ExbdVf5fFmUC&pg=PT26 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150918212902/https://books.google.com/books?id=ExbdVf5fFmUC&pg=PT26 |archive-date=18 September 2015 |isbn=9780748124701 |date=4 November 2010 |publisher=Little, Brown Book}}</ref><ref>''A Chronology Of Islamic History 570–1000 CE'', by H.U. Rahman, 1999, pp. 48, 52–53</ref>

=== Battles ===
{{Main|List of expeditions of Muhammad}}

Uthman participated in all major battles which took place in the early period of Islam except for [[Battle of Badr|Badr]] and that too because the Prophet of Islam commanded him to stay back and tend to his wife who was unwell at the time.<ref>Nisa' Ahl al-Bayt by Ahmad Khaleel Jumu'ah, pp. 491-504</ref> Regarding this, there is a hadith which states, "You (Uthman) will have the reward and the share of booty of a man who was present at Badr".<ref>al-Bukhari, no. 3698 at-Tirmidhi 3706</ref>

Furthermore, during the campaigns of Ghatafan and Dhat al-Riqa the Prophet of Islam left Uthman in charge of Madinah when the Muslim army ventured out of the city.<ref>al-Rawd al-Anf, 3/137; al-Tabaqit by Ibn Sa'd, 2/34, 35</ref>

=== Muhammad's last years ===
{{Main|The event of Ghadir Khumm}}

In 632, the year Muhammad died, Uthman participated in the [[Farewell Pilgrimage]].<ref name="Nectar" /> Uthman was also present at [[the event of Ghadir Khumm]], where, according to [[Shia Islam|Shia]] sources, he was among those who pledged allegiance to [[Ali]].<ref>{{cite web |title=A Shi'ite Encyclopedia |url=https://www.al-islam.org/shiite-encyclopedia-ahlul-bayt-dilp-team |website=al-islam.org |date=12 November 2013 |publisher=Ahlul Bayt Digital Islamic Library Project}}</ref><ref>{{cite book |title=Musnad Ahmad Ibn Hanbal |volume=4 |page=281}}</ref><ref>{{cite book |last1=al-Razi |first1=Fakhr |title=Tafsir al-Kabir, Volume 12 |pages=49–50}}</ref><ref>{{cite book |last1=al-Tabrizi |first1=al-Khatib |title=Mishkat al-Masabih |page=557}}</ref><ref>{{cite book |last1=Khand |first1=Mir |title=Habib al-Siyar |volume=1, part 3 |page=144}}</ref>