UTHMAAN EMBRACES ISLAM
‘Uthmaan, may Allah be pleased with him, was among the early converts to Islam. Me and Abu Bakr were close friends, and it was Abu Bakr who convinced him to embrace Islam, when the latter was thirty-four years of age.
It is narrated that when ‘ Uthmaan was informed about Prophet Muhammad’s giving his daughter Ruqayyah in marriage to his paternal cousin ‘ Utbah Ibn Abi Lahab, he regretted he had not asked for her hand before him, because everyone wanted to marry her because of her good manners and noble descent. ‘Uthmaan went home one day in a state of sorrow to find his maternal aunt Su’ da Bint Kurayz. who was a very wise and old woman. She gave him the glad tidings that a Prophet would be sent to abolish idol worship and call to monotheism, and she started calling him to the new faith, which she said would fulfil his desires.
‘Uthmaan narrates: I went away thinking of my aunt’s words. I met Abu Bakr and told him of what she said, whereupon Abu Bakr said to me: “By Allah, your aunt has spoken the truth, and has given you glad tidings. O ‘ Uthmaan! You are a wise man of sound opinion. You know exactly where the truth lies, and falsehood cannot find a way to your heart.” Then he said to me: “What are those idols which our people take as lords?! Are they not idols which neither see nor hear, and do not respond to our prayer?! “Definitely yes,” I replied. Abu Bakr continued, “What your aunt foretold has come true: Allah has sent His Messenger to all mankind with a religion of truth and guidance.” 1 asked, “Who is lie?” Abu Bakr answered, “He is Muhammad Ibn ‘Abdellaah Ibn ‘Abdel Muttalib.” I wondered, “The Truthful and Trustworthy?!” “Yes, he is,” said Abu Bakr. I said, “Would you accompany me to him?” Abu Bakr accepted, and we went together to the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him. When the Prophet saw me he said, “Respond to Allah’s call, O ‘Uthmaan, for I am Allah Messenger to you in particular and to all people in general.”
‘Uthmaan added: “By Allah, no sooner had I looked at him and listened to his words than he became the apple of my eye and found his way quickly to my heart. I therefore did not hesitate to acknowledge his prophethood and believe in him. I pronounced Shahuclah: there is no god but Allah, and Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah.
When he accepted Islam, the Quraysh who once loved ‘Uthmaan became his enemies. Even his relatives began to rebuke him and chastised him severely.
One of the daughters of the Prophet, Ruqayyah was married to one of the sons of Abu Lahab (an arch-enemy of Islam). When the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, started to preach Islam, Abu Lahab asked his son ‘ Utbah to divorce her. No sooner had ‘ Uthmaan heard of the divorce of Ruqayyah than he rushed to ask for her hand, and the Prophet in turn gave her in marriage to him. Thus he fulfilled his long- established desire.
(Source: Biographies of the rightly guided Caliphs )
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