Charges/Allegations on Usman (R.A)

Question 1

What was the main allegation regarding Hazrat Usman’s (R.A) appointment of governors?

Answer 1

• He was accused of appointing his inefficient relatives as governors.
• However, Hazrat Umar (R.A) had already appointed Muawiya Ibn Abi Sufyan (R.A) as governor of Syria.
• Hazrat Usman (R.A) extended his control over more territories.

Other relatives appointed as governors:

• Abdullah bin Aamir (Basra)
• Walid bin Uqba (Kufa, Southern Iraq)
• Abdullah bin Saad (Egypt)
• He also made his relatives close advisors.
• He intended to ensure loyalty and maintain unity.
• Public perception was that it was seen as favoritism.

Question 2

How was Hazrat Usman (R.A) accused of being lenient with governors?

Answer 2

• Unlike Hazrat Umar (R.A), he gave governors more independence.
• He did not interfere in their daily administration.
• He was accused of not keeping a check on them.

Question 3

What was the allegation regarding wealth distribution from campaigns?

Answer 3

• Hazrat Usman (R.A) allocated spoils of war to governors instead of dividing them among the fighting soldiers.
• Accused of favoring his family, though he may have aimed to ensure proper state funding.

Question 4

What was the allegation regarding Bait-ul-Maal?

Answer 4

• He was accused of making unreasonable expenditures from Bait-ul-Maal (state treasury).
• His uncle, Hakam bin Aas, was given one lakh dirham.
• His cousin, Marwan bin Hakam, was given 1/5th of war spoils.
• Accused of favoring relatives in state pasture expenditures

Question 5

What happened to the daily wages of Hazrat Abdullah bin Masood (R.A) and Ubbay bin Kaab (R.A)?

Answer 5

• Hazrat Abdullah bin Masood (R.A) and Ubbay bin Kaab (R.A) daily wages were cancelled.
• Some prominent companions, like Hazrat Abu Zar Ghaffari (R.A), left Madinah.

Question 6

What was the allegation regarding the Prophet’s (P.B.U.H) mosque?

Answer 6

• He was accused of demolishing the old structure of Masjid al-Nabawi.
• However, he intended to expand the mosque.
• Senior companions had approved the expansion.

Question 7

What was the allegation regarding the burning of Quranic copies?

Answer 7

• Hazrat Usman (R.A) burnt false copies of the Quran gathered from different parts of the empire.
• He circulated the official version compiled by Zaid Ibn Thabit (R.A).
• This became known as the “Uthmanic Version”.
• He was accused of destroying the Word of Allah, though he intended to preserve the correct version.

Question 8

How did Hazrat Usman’s (R.A) age affect public perception?

Answer 8

• Some believed he was surrounded by people who misadvised him and took advantage of his old age.

Question 9

How was the loss of the Prophet’s (P.B.U.H) ring interpreted by his adversaries?

Answer 9

• When Hazrat Usman (R.A) lost the Prophet’s ring, his opponents claimed it was a divine sign that he should no longer be the Caliph.

Question 10

How did Hazrat Usman (R.A) respond to these allegations?

Answer 10

• He gave a convincing reply to each allegation in the presence of the Prophet’s (P.B.U.H) companions.
• His explanation was accepted.