Hundred Great Muslims

USMAN
Ibn Saba, a Yemenite Jew converted to Islam, was the moving spirit
behind a conspiracy hatched against Hazrat Usman, the third Caliph of Islam,
which in reality, aimed at undermining the very foundations of Islam. Hislater
activities proved beyond doubt that his acceptance of Islam was only a mask to
cover his evil designs. The storms brewing in' Fustat (Cairo), Kufa and Basrah,
later burst upon Medina and culminated in the martyrdom of Usman. On
smelling the foul play, Amir Muawiya, the Governor of Syria, had begged the
Caliph either to move to Damascus, or to keep a strong guard for his self-protection.
The pious Caliph refused both, saying that he would be the last person
to leave the resting place of the Prophet and that he would never like to be
guarded at public expense.
Hazrat Usman ibn Affan, known as Abu Abd Allah, was born in Makkah.
Zunnurain was his epithet of honour as he had married two daughters of the
Prophet one after another. He belonged to the Bani Umayyad clan of the
Quraish and his ancesteral pedigree joins that of the Prophet in the fifth
generation. The Bani Umayyads were only second to Bani Hashims in political
importance and were entrusted with the custody of National Flag of the Quraish
before the advent of Islam.
Hazrat Usman, after his early education, adopted his ancestral occupation
and was one of the leading businessmen of Arabia. He was known for his honesty
and integrity, piety and modesty throughout Hejaz. He was an intimate friend
of Hazrat Abu Bakr Siddiq, the first Caliph of Islam. It was Hazrat Abu Bakr,
who was the first man to carry the message of Islam to him. Hazrat Usman
along with Talha bin Ubaidullah, accepted Islam at the hands of the Prophet.
He was much tortured by his uncle Hakem for joining the new faith but he
refused to renounce it, even at the cost of his life.
Hazrat Usman migrated to Abyssinia along with other Muslims under the
orders of the Prophet. He was only second to ~u Bakr in rendering financial
assistance to the new faith. He served Islam whole-heartedly evep at the cost
of his business. He took active part in the inner councils of Islam. Later on he
migrated to Medina along with other Muslims, leaving his valuable properties
behind. Medina had then only one well of drinking water called Bir Rumah,
which was owned by non-Muslims, who charged heavy water tax from the
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