The Illustrious Sahaabah The Illustrious Sahaabah of Rasulullah (sallallahu alaihi wasallam)
On the day when Hazrat Abu Bakr Siddeeq (radhiyallahu ‘anhu) embraced Islam, he began to invite people towards Islam. Allah Ta‘ala made him the means of many other Sahaabah (radhiyallahu ‘anhum) entering into the fold of Islam. Among them was Hazrat Uthmaan (radhiyallahu ‘anhu).
Hazrat Uthmaan (radhiyallahu ‘anhu) explains:
I once entered my home and found my aunt (mother’s sister), Su’daa, sitting among the household. My aunt would engage in soothsaying. The moment she saw me, she said:
أبشر وحييت ثلاثا وترا ثم ثلاثا وثلاثا أخرى
ثم بأخرى كي تتم عشرا لقيت خيرا ووقيت شرا
نكحت والله حصانا زهرا وأنت بكر ولقيت بكرا
Accept glad tidings and congratulations thrice, then thrice more, and then thrice more
And then once more to complete ten. You have encountered goodness and have been saved from evil
By Allah! You have married an extremely chaste and beautiful woman. You are a virgin and you have married a virgin.
I was astonished and perplexed at what my aunt had said, and so I asked her, “O aunt! What are you saying?” She replied by reciting the following couplets:
عثمان يا عثمان يا عثمان لك الجمال ولك الشان
هذا نبي معه البرهان أرسله بحقه الديان
وجاءه التنزيل والفرقان فاتبعه ولا تغيا بك الأوثان
Uthmaan! O Uthmaan! O Uthmaan! You have been blessed with beauty and you have been blessed with prestige.
This is a Nabi with whom there are clear proofs and signs. The Lord of recompense has deputed him with the truth.
The word of Allah is revealed to him, which distinguishes between truth and falsehood. So follow him and do not allow the idols to misguide you.
I responded, “O aunt! You are speaking of something which is such that I have never before heard its name in this city. I don’t understand.” Upon this, Su’daa elaborated:
محمد بن عبد اللّٰه رسول من عند اللّٰه جاء بتنزيل اللّٰه يدعو إلى اللّٰه قوله صلاح ودينه فلاح وأمره نجاح ما ينفع الصياح لو وقع الرماح وسلت الصفاح ومدت الرماح
Muhammed, the son of Abdullah, is the Rasul (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) sent by Allah. He brought the message of Allah, inviting mankind towards Allah. His word is righteousness and piety, his deen is one of success and his affair is one of salvation. Calls and shouts made against him will be of no avail, even if the spears fall (against him), sides are struck and spears are wielded (against him).
Saying this, she departed, but her words left a deep impression upon my heart. From that moment, I began to ponder and reflect over what she had said.
Since I had a good relationship with Hazrat Abu Bakr (radhiyallahu ‘anhu), I went and sat with him. Noticing that I was in deep thought, he asked, “What are you pondering over?” I replied by giving him a verbatim account of what my aunt had said.
Hazrat Abu Bakr (radhiyallahu ‘anhu) exclaimed, “O Uthmaan! By the grace of Allah, you are an intelligent and foresighted man. You are able to discern and distinguish between truth and falsehood. A person like you is not confused between truth and falsehood. What are these idols that our people worship? Are these idols not blind and deaf, unable to hear and see, and unable to cause harm and benefit to anyone?”
I replied, “By Allah! They are definitely as you describe!” Upon this, Hazrat Abu Bakr (radhiyallahu ‘anhu) said, “By Allah! Your aunt spoke the truth! Muhammed bin Abdullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) is the messenger of Allah. Allah Ta‘ala sent him with His message to the entire creation. If you feel it appropriate, you may sit in his blessed presence and listen to his message.”
While I was in conversation with Hazrat Abu Bakr (radhiyallahu ‘anhu), it so happened that Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) passed by. Hazrat Ali (radhiyallahu ‘anhu) was with him, and Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) had a cloth in his blessed hand.
On seeing Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam), Hazrat Abu Bakr (radhiyallahu ‘anhu) stood and whispered something into his ear. Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) then came and sat with us, after which he turned to me and said, “O Uthmaan (radhiyallahu ‘anhu)! Allah invites you to Jannah, so accept His invitation! I am the messenger of Allah Ta‘ala who has been deputed to you and the entire creation.”
Hazrat Uthmaan (radhiyallahu ‘anhu) relates:
فوالله ما تمالكت حين سمعت قوله أن أسلمت وأشهدت أن لا إله إلا الله وحده لا شريك له وأن محمدا عبده ورسوله
By Allah! The moment I heard this, I could not hold myself back and was overcome by the urge to accept Islam. I thus embraced Islam declaring, “I bear witness that there is none worthy of worship besides Allah who is alone and has no partner, and I bear witness that Muhammed (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) is His slave and messenger.”
Not even a few days had passed when the respected daughter of Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam), Hazrat Ruqayyah (radhiyallahu ‘anha), came into my nikaah. Everyone was overjoyed and pleased with our nikaah. In this regard, my aunt, Su’daa, recited the following poetry:
هدى الله عثمان الصيفي بقوله فأرشده والله يهدي إلى الحق
فتابع بالرأي السديد محمدا وكان ابن أروى لا يصد عن الحق
وأنكحه المبعوث إحدى بناته فكام كبدر مازج الشمس في الأفق
فدى لك يا ابن الهاشميين مهجتي فأنت أمين الله أرسلت للخلق
Allah has guided His fortunate servant Uthmaan towards the path of guidance. Allah has blessed him with divine guidance and Allah alone guides those whom He wishes towards the truth.
After all, he is the son of Arwaa, and the son of Arwaa treaded on the path of truth and did not move away from it.
And the one sent as the Nabi of Allah (Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam)) handed one of his daughters to him in marriage. This union is such that it resembles the sun and the full moon combining on the horizon.
May my life be sacrificed for you, O son of the Banu Haashim (Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam))! You are the trustee of Allah over deen and you have been sent for the guidance of the entire creation.
(Isaabah vol. 4 pg. 327 and Al-Riyaadh-un-Nadhrah vol. 3 pg. 8)
