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Hazrat Sayyiduna Usman Ghani (Radiallahu Ta’ala Anh) is the greatest personality in rank, after the Prophets and the Shaikhain (Sayyiduna Siddiq-e-Akbar and Sayyiduna Farooq-e-Azam (Radiallahu Ta’ala Anhuma). During the pre-Islamic period (the age of ignorance) as well as the Islamic age, Hazrat Sayyiduna Usman Ghani (Radiallahu Ta’ala Anh) was known as ‘Usman’. He was revered not only during the Islamic age, but also during the period of ignorance.
During the period of ignorance, he was regarded amongst the noble and honoured figures of his tribe. Everyone had always been fully overwhelmed by his great and powerful disposition, character and mannerism as well as by his grace and majestic eminence. He was a soft natured and kind hearted person and although he was extremely rich, his lifestyle was very simple and he was a true example of modesty and shyness. Even in the age of ignorance his blessed personality was free from all evil practices. Rather, he was endowed with such great virtues and characteristics that the people of Quraish themselves used to show their deep devotion and attachment towards him. This devotional love developed and grew to such an extent that mothers used to say while making their children sleep, “My Rabb and I love you, likewise the people of Quraish loved Usman.” {Taarikh lbn Asaakir}
He was blessed with many titles due to the excellences he possessed. He is known as ‘Sahib-ul-Hijratain’ (the one who migrated twice) because firstly he migrated to Habshah (Ethiopia) and then to Madinatul Munawwarah. {At-Tabqat-ul-Kubra}
He is also known as ‘Zun Noorain’ (the possessor of two Noors) because Rasoolullah (Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam) gave two of his honourable and blessed daughters’ hands in marriage one after the other to Hazrat Sayyiduna Usman Ghani (Radiallahu Ta’ala Anh). He first married Hazrat Sayyidah Ruqayyah (Radiallahu Ta’ala Anha) and after she passed away he married Sayyidah Umm-e-Kulsoom (Radiallahu Ta’ala Anha). It is for this reason that he is called Zun Noorain. {Tahzeeb-ul-Asma}
This is why Sayyidi A’la Hazrat Imam Ahle Sunnat Imam Ahmad Raza Khan Qadri (Radiallahu Ta’ala Anh) states very beautifully:
نور کی سرکار سے پایا دو شالہ نور کا
ہو مبارک تم کو ذو النورین جوڑا نور کا
You attained two shawls of Noor from the Prophet of Noor
Congratulations to you O Possessor of Two Noors on this pair of Noor
Another honourable title of his is ‘Jami-ul-Qur’an’. Hazrat Sayyiduna Abu Bakr Siddiq (Radiallahu Ta’ala Anh) with the consultation of Hazrat Sayyiduna Umar Farooq (Radiallahu Ta’ala Anh) had collected the manuscripts of the Holy Qur’an from various places during his period of ruling, but three activities remained to be carried out; all the texts to be copied into one manuscript, then to send copies of the same manuscript to all the big cities of the Islamic countries, and lastly to instruct everyone to recite in the accent of the Quraish. Allah Ta’ala chose Hazrat Usman-e-Ghani (Radiallahu Ta’ala Anh) to carry out these blessed actions and the compilation of the Holy Qur’an was accomplished according to the Divine Will. It is for this reason that he is called ‘Jami-ul-Qur’an’ (the compiler of the Holy Qur’an). {Fatawa Razawiyyah}
The rank of Hazrat Sayyiduna Usman Ghani (Radiallahu Ta’ala Anh) is very high and beyond our understanding. During his lifetime, he bought paradise twice from Rasoolullah (Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam). The first time was when he purchased a well called ‘Bir-e-Roomah’ from a Jew.
It is reported that when the Muhaajireen migrated to Madinatul Munawwarah, Muslims faced great difficulty to obtain drinking water. There was no well surrounding the Muslim population except the well of Roomah which was the property of a Jew from the Bani Ghaffar and he used to sell water at a very high cost. Muslims were not able to purchase such expensive water. Rasoolullah (Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam) said to him, “Sell this well to me in exchange for a heavenly well.” He replied, “O Beloved Prophet (Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam)! It is the only source of livelihood for me and my children. I have no ability to do so.”
When Sayyiduna Usman Ghani (Radiallahu Ta’ala Anh) heard this news, he approached the blessed court of Rasoolullah (Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam) and humbly asked, “As you were blessing that person with a heavenly well, if I buy this well, will you bless me with a heavenly well also?” Rasoolullah (Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam) replied in the affirmative. Hazrat Usman Ghani (Radiallahu Ta’ala Anh) bought this well for 35000 dirhams and donated it free amongst the Muslims. {Al Mu’jam-ul-Kabeer}
The second time that he bought paradise was during the Battle of Usrat. It is from this incident that he received the title of ‘Mujahhizu Jaishil ‘Usrah’. It refers to the helper of the army of meagre means. The Muslim army which was prepared on the occasion of the expedition of Tabuk is called ‘Jaish-ul-Usra’ because the army set out during a difficult time of searing heat of the scorching summer season of Arabia and the location was also miles away.
Hazrat Sayyiduna Abdur Rahman Bin Khabbaab (Radiallahu Ta’ala Anh) narrates, “I was present in the blessed court of Rasoolullah (Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam) who, was motivating the Sahaabah for the battle of Tabuk. Hazrat Usman Ghani (Radiallahu Ta’ala Anh) stood up and said, “Ya RasoolAllah (Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam), I take it upon myself to donate 100 camels along with saddles and other related provisions.” Rasoolullah (Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam) then resumed his motivational speech. Hazrat Usman Ghani (Radiallahu Ta’ala Anh) stood up again and said, “Ya RasoolAllah (Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam) I bear the responsibility of contributing 200 camels with all the provisions.” Rasoolullah (Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam) then resumed his motivational speech once again. Hazrat Usman Ghani (Radiallahu Ta’ala Anh) stood up once again and said, “Ya RasoolAllah (Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam), I take the responsibility of donating 300 camels with all the provisions.” When Rasoolullah (Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam) heard this, he came down from his radiant pulpit and declared twice, “From today, whatever Usman does, he will not be held accountable for it.”” {Sunan-ut-Tirmizi}
Commenting on the above-mentioned Hadith, Hakim-ul-Ummat Mufti Ahmad Yaar Khan (Alaihir Rahmah) has stated, “Bear in mind that this was only his announcement but when the time of delivering came, he gave 950 camels, 50 horses and 1000 Ashrafis (gold coins). Later on, he donated another 10,000 Ashrafis.” Note that he initially committed 100, then 200 and then 300 i.e. 600 camels in total.” {Miraat-ul-Manaajih}
SubhanAllah! The generosity of Sayyiduna Usman Ghani (Radiallahu Ta’ala Anh) is beyond our comprehension. The more Allah Ta’ala blessed him with, the more He spent for the sake of Allah Ta’ala.
May Allah Ta’ala grant us an atom of the generosity of Hazrat Usman Ghani (Radiallahu Ta’ala Anh) and the Taufeeq to follow in his footsteps, Allahumma Ameen.
