Sadaqah at a time of Drought
Hazrat Ibn Abbas (ra) relates that during the era of Hazrat Abu Bakr’s (ra) Khilafat, there was a drought and the people presented themselves before Hazrat Abu Bakr (ra) and submitted, “There is no rainfall from the skies and the ground is not producing any vegetation. Consequently, people are facing extreme difficulty.” Hazrat Abu Bakr (ra) replied, “Return and remain patient, Allah the Almighty will alleviate your concerns by this evening.” Meanwhile, Hazrat Uthman’s (ra) trade caravan consisting of 100 camels laden with wheat and other food provisions arrived in Medina from Syria.
Upon hearing news of this, people assembled outside the door of Hazrat Uthman (ra) and knocked on his door. Hazrat Uthman (ra) came out and enquired from the people what they wanted. They replied, “You are aware that we are experiencing a drought. There is no rainfall from the skies and the ground is not producing any crops and people are extremely concerned. We have come to know that you have grain, therefore if you could sell it to us, we will distribute it amongst the needy and poor.” Hazrat Uthman (ra) replied, “Very well, come inside and purchase it.” The merchants entered his house and saw the grain stored inside. Hazrat Uthman (ra) said to the merchants, “How much profit will you give me on all this grain which I have purchased from Syria.” (He asked that he had purchased the provisions from Syria and transported them. How much would they give him for it. Some of them wanted to distribute it free of cost whilst others wanted to enter into a trade agreement.) They stated that they would give 12 in exchange of 10. (In other words, if the cost was 10 dirhams, they would give 12 dirhams in return.)
Hazrat Uthman (ra) said, “I am receiving an offer greater than this.” They replied, “We will offer 15 instead of 10.” Hazrat Uthman (ra) said, “I am receiving even more than this.” The merchants said, “O Abu Amr! There are no merchants in Medina aside from us. Who then is giving you more than this?” Hazrat Uthman (ra) replied, “Allah the Almighty is giving me 10 dirhams in exchange for my one dirham” i.e. giving tenfold in return for every one. “Are you able to give me more than this?” They replied, “No, we cannot give you more than this.” To this Hazrat Uthman (ra) said, “I call upon Allah as my witness that I give this grain for the poor Muslims as sadaqah” i.e. he gave away all the grain to the poor without taking anything in return for it.
Hazrat Ibn Abbas (ra) relates, “On the day this incident took place”, i.e. the grain was given away as sadaqah, “I saw the Holy Prophet (sa) in a dream. He was mounted on a large non-Arab horse. The Holy Prophet (sa) was wearing a garment infused with spiritual light; his shoes were full of light and in his hand, he was wielding a stick full of light. It seemed that the Holy Prophet (sa) was in a hurry. I said to him, ‘O Messenger (sa) of Allah! I was eager to meet you and speak with you! Where are you heading to in such a hurry?’ The Holy Prophet (sa) replied, ‘O Ibn Abbas! Uthman has presented a sadaqah and Allah the Almighty has accepted it and has arranged for his marriage in Heaven. I have also been invited to attend the wedding.’”
(Sirat Amir-il-Momineen Uthman bin Affan li-Ali Muhammad al-Salabi, pp. 51-52, Vol. 1; Dhu al-Nurain Uthman bin Affan bain Makkah wa Madinah, Dar al-Ma‘rifah, Beirut, Lebanon, 2006)