First Address Delivered as Khalifa
There is a narration in regard to the very first address delivered by Hazrat Uthman (ra) upon being elected Khalifa. Ismail bin Ibrahim bin Abdir Rahman bin Abdillah bin Abi Rabiyyah Makhzumi relates from his father that when they performed the bai‘at at the hands of Hazrat Uthman (ra), he came before the people and delivered an address. After praising and glorifying Allah the Almighty, Hazrat Uthman (ra) stated, “O people! Doing something for the first time can be difficult.” It can be challenging when doing something for the first time. “There will be many days to come after this one. If I remain alive, then God-willing, I will deliver a more comprehensive address before you.”
In other words, he was only delivering a brief address at the time, but stated that there would be many days to come and he would deliver a more comprehensive address. Hazrat Uthman (ra) further stated, “I am not a speaker; however, Allah the Almighty will teach me” i.e. Allah the Almighty would teach him the ability to deliver a speech.
(Ibn Saad, Al-Tabaqat al-Kubra, Vol. 3, Uthman bin Affan [Beirut, Lebanon: Dar Ihya al-Turath al-Arabiyy, 1996], pp. 34-35)
Badr bin Uthman relates from his uncle that when the members of the electoral committee pledged their oath of allegiance [bai‘at] to Hazrat Uthman (ra), he came out in a state whereby he was the most emotional amongst them all. Hazrat Uthman (ra) then stood upon the pulpit of the Holy Prophet (sa) and delivered an address. Hazrat Uthman (ra) praised and glorified Allah the Almighty and invoked salutations [Durood] upon the Holy Prophet (sa). Thereafter, Hazrat Uthman (ra) stated, “Verily, you all dwell in an abode, which you will one day have to depart from”; in other words, the life in this world. “You are in the advanced years of your lives, therefore perform as many virtuous deeds as you can before your demise. Indeed, death is imminent and this enemy [i.e. death] can launch its attack at any moment in the day or in the night.
“Hearken! The life of this world is filled with deception and dishonesty, therefore let not the life of this world deceive you and nor let the deceptive ploys of Satan deceive you in matters relating to God. Take heed from the example of those who have gone before you. Strive to your utmost and do not become negligent because Allah is not unmindful of what you do. Where are the worldly people and their brethren who would dig up the earth and populated the land, remaining therein for a long period of time? Did Allah not cast them out from it?
“Thus, treat this world as Allah deals with it and seek the Hereafter, seek the Hereafter, for Allah gives an example of this world comparing it to something most excellent when He says:
وَ اضۡرِبۡ لَهُمۡ مَّثَلَ الۡحَيٰوةِ الدُّنۡيَا كَمَآءٍ اَنۡزَلۡنٰهُ مِنَ السَّمَآءِ فَاخۡتَلَطَ بِهٖ نَبَاتُ الۡاَرۡضِ فَاَصۡبَحَ هَشِييۡمًا تَذۡرُوۡهُ الرِّيٰحُ ؕ وَ كَانَ اللّٰهُ عَلٰي كُلِّ شَيۡءٍ مُّقۡتَدِرًا اَلۡمَالُ وَ الۡبَنُوۡنَ زِيۡنَةُ الۡحَيٰوةِ الدُّنۡيَا ۚ وَ الۡبٰقِيٰتُ الصّٰلِحٰتُ خَيۡرٌ عِنۡدَ رَبِّكَ ثَوَابًا وَّ خَيۡرٌ اَمَلًا
“(These are verses of Surah Al-Kahf.) ‘And set forth to them the similitude of the life of this world: it is like the water which We send down from the sky, and the vegetation of the earth is mingled with it, and then it becomes dry grass broken into pieces which the winds scatter. And Allah has power over everything. Wealth and children are an ornament of the life of this world. But enduring good works are better in the sight of thy Lord in respect of immediate reward, and better in respect of future hope.’ [Ch.18: V.46-47]
“Subsequently, the people rushed forth to pledge allegiance to him.”
(Muhammad Ibn Jarir al-Tabari, Tarikh al-Tabari, Vol. 5, p. 87, year 24, Khutbat Uthman wa Qatl Ubaid Allah bin Umar al-Harmazan, Dar al-Fikr, Beirut, 2002)