Hazrat Abu Thowr رحمه الله narrates that he once came to Hazrat Uthmaan رضي الله عنه and heard him mention the following at the time when wrong criticism was being levelled against him. He said:
There are ten good deeds which I have secured by Allah Ta’ala and for each deed I hope to receive reward in the Hereafter;
1) I was the fourth person to accept Islam.
2) I never spoke a lie throughout my life.
3) I never placed my right hand on my private part since the time I pledged allegiance with my right hand to Rasulullah صلى الله عليه وسلم.
4) Since the time I accepted Islam, there was not a single jumu’ah that passed without me freeing a slave, and if I did not possess a slave on any jumu’ah, then I ensured that I freed the slave later on.
5) I never committed adultery throughout my life, neither before accepting Islam nor after accepting Islam.
6) I had equipped the army of Tabook with my own wealth.
7) I was blessed with the honour of gathering (i.e. memorizing) the Quraan Majeed in the time of Rasulullah صلى الله عليه وسلم.
8) Rasulullah صلى الله عليه وسلم married his daughter to me, and when she passed away, he married his other daughter to me.
9) I never drank wine throughout my life, neither in the period before Islam nor after Islam.
10) I was responsible for purchasing a piece of land (in Madinah Munawwarah) to extend the musjid, for which Rasulullah صلى الله عليه وسلم promised that the one who purchases it will be blessed with Jannah. (Siyar A’laamin Nubalaa 2/151, Taarekhul Madinah 4/1156, Al-Ibaanah 1/143, Ibnu Asaakir 39/424)
HAZRAT ‘UTHMAAN’S رضي الله عنه TAQWA
Hazrat Haani رحمه الله, the freed slave of Hazrat ‘Uthmaan رضي الله عنه, mentions that when Hazrat ‘Uthmaan رضي الله عنه would stand at a grave, he would weep so profusely that his beard would become wet with his tears. Someone asked Hazrat ‘Uthmaan رضي الله عنه, “We notice that when you remember Jannah and Jahannum and discuss them, then you are not affected to the point that you begin to cry, yet when you stand at a grave, then we see you so overcome by fear that you begin to cry profusely. What is the reason for this?”
Hazrat ‘Uthmaan رضي الله عنه replied, “Rasulullah صلى الله عليه وسلم said, ‘The grave is the first stage from the stages of the Hereafter. If one passes this stage and gains salvation, then there is hope that the stages to come will be easier, and if one does not pass this stage and gain salvation, then the stages to come will be even more difficult and severe for him.”
(Sunan Tirmizi #2308)
REFLECTIONS
This incident shows us a glimpse of the fear of Allah Ta‘ala contained in the heart of Zun Noorain, Sayyiduna Uthmaan رضي الله عنه.
May Allah Ta’ala allow us all to fear Him as he ought to be feared.
Hazrat Shaikh, Moulana Muhammad Zakariyya Sahib رحمه الله mentioned,
“I wish that the Muslims of today could possess even an iota of the fear of Allah Ta’ala which the Sahaabah رضي الله عنهم possessed.”
(Fazaail Amal pg.34)
My respected friends! The sign of the progress of this Ummah is that we respect, love and acknowledge the efforts of the Sahaabah رضي الله عنهم. Just as our parents are the means of our physical existance and well-being, so we will not tolerate the slightest bit of disrespect to be shown to them. In the same light, the Sahaabah رضي الله عنهم were the means for our Deeni and spiritual existence, progress and well-being. Hence, we should not allow or tolerate any type of disrespect to be shown to the Sahaabah رضي الله عنهم.
اللهم ارزقنا حبك وحب نبيك صلى الله عليه وسلم وحب أصحاب نبيك، آمين