Answering the Allegations of the Hypocrites

The hypocrites would raise the allegations against Hazrat Uthman (ra) that he remained behind during the Battle of Badr, fled from the battlefield in the Battle of Uhud and not being present during the Bai‘at al-Ridwan.

Uthman bin Mauhab narrates:

“A man from Egypt came to perform the Hajj. He saw a few people sitting down”; he said a few things in order to create disorder and strife. “The man asked, ‘Who are these people sitting down?’ Somebody said, ‘They are the people of Quraish.’ He said, ‘Who is the elderly man?’ They said, ‘Hazrat Abdullah bin Umar (ra).’ He went to him and said, ‘O Ibn Umar, I want to ask you about something; tell me do you know that Hazrat Uthman (ra) fled on the day of Uhud?’ Hazrat Ibn Umar said, ‘Yes. He said, ‘Do you know that he [i.e. Uthman] was absent from the Battle of Badr and did not participate in it?’ Hazrat Ibn Umar (ra) said, ‘Yes.’ He then said, ‘Do you know that he was also absent during Bai‘at al-Ridwan and did not take part in it?’ Hazrat Ibn Umar replied, ‘Yes.’ Out of astonishment, the man then said, ‘Allahu Akbar [Allah is the greatest]!’ Hazrat Ibn Umar (ra) said, ‘Come here; (you have raised allegations) I will inform you and explain to you the reality of the matter. As for him [i.e. Hazrat Uthman (ra)] fleeing on the day of Uhud, I testify that Allah the Almighty forgave him and bestowed His mercy upon him.’”

At the time, there was a state of panic and confusion and the disbelievers had spread the [false] news that they had killed the Holy Prophet (sa). Thus, at the time owing to the circumstances, he was forced to leave the battlefield.

Nonetheless, Hazrat Ibn Umar (ra) further said:

“As regards Hazrat Uthman’s (ra) absence from the Battle of Badr, the reason for this was that his wife, the daughter of the Holy Prophet (sa) was unwell. So the Holy Prophet (sa) instructed him to remain behind to look after his wife and said to him, ‘You will receive a reward equal to the one who has fought in the battle and will also have the same share from the spoils.’ As for his absence from Bai‘at al-Ridwan, then know this: had there been anybody more respected than Hazrat Uthman (ra) in Mecca, the Holy Prophet (sa) would surely have sent him as an emissary to the disbelievers instead of Uthman (ra). But the Holy Prophet (sa) sent Hazrat Uthman (ra) and Bai‘at al-Ridwan took place when Hazrat Uthman (ra) had gone to meet the people of Mecca. During the Bai‘at al-Ridwan the Holy Prophet (sa) raised his right hand and indicating towards his left hand, said. ‘This is the hand of Uthman’, and placed it over his other hand, then said, ‘This is for Uthman.’” After narrating all of this, Hazrat Ibn Umar (ra) then said to that man, “Go now and remember all of these points”, i.e. that no allegation can be raised against any of these matters. This is a narration of Sahih Bukhari.

(Sahih al-Bukhari, Kitab Fada‘il Ashab al-Nabi (sa), Bab Manaqib Uthman bin Affan (ra), Hadith 3698)