Status & Rank during the era of Hazrat Umar’s (ra) Khilafat

I will present a few accounts with regard to Hazrat Uthman’s (ra) status and rank during the Khilafat of Hazrat Umar (ra). When Hazrat Umar (ra) was appointed as the Khalifa, he decided to seek advice from the eminent companions about their stipends from the treasury [Bait-ul-Maal]. Upon this, Hazrat Uthman (ra) stated, “Make use of it and impart some to us also.”

(Sirat Amir-il-Momineen Uthman bin Affan li-Ali Muhammad al-Salabi, p. 52, Vol. 1, Dhu al-Nurain; Uthman bin Affan bain Makkah wa Madinah, Dar al-Ma‘rifah, Beirut, Lebanon, 2006)

In other words, he should use the money to fulfil his requirements and to also help the people with their needs, so there is no need to fix an amount. When the Islamic Empire began to expand as did its wealth, Hazrat Umar (ra) gathered some of the companions to seek counsel about the wealth. Hazrat Uthman (ra) said, “I feel that the wealth has increased to an amount that it will be enough for the people. If we do not keep a record of the people who have received their share and those who have not, I fear that we will fall into great difficulty”, i.e some people may take it twice, “therefore, a set system should be implemented and records should be kept.” Upon this, Hazrat Umar (ra) accepted the advice of Hazrat Uthman (ra) and a census was carried out in which names were recorded in a register. After this people began to officially receive their share.

(Sirat Amir-il-Momineen Uthman bin Affan li-Ali Muhammad al-Salabi, p. 54, Vol. 1, Dhu al-Nurain; Uthman bin Affan bain Makkah wa Madinah, Dar al-Ma‘rifah, Beirut, Lebanon, 2006)