Hazrat Usman’s services to Islam before Caliphate
He was a very prominent Muslim to serve Islam by all means. He participated in almost all the battles against the non-believers in which Rasulallah, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, had also taken part, except the Battle of Badr.
At the time of the Treaty of Hudaibiya, he was sent to Makkah to negotiate with the non-believers. Shortly after, the Muslims were wrongly informed that he was murdered by the Kuffar of Makkah. It is for this reason that Rasulallah, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, sought a pledge by the Muslims to fight with the non-believers in revenge of his murder. That pledge is known as Bai’at al-Ridwan (the Pledge of Ridwan). For Hazrat Usman’s pledge, Rasulallah, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, put his left hand (representing Hazrat Usman’s hand) on his right hand.
When the Muhajirin (emigrants) from Makkah came to Madinah, they had great difficulty in getting drinking water. Hazrat Usman (, may Allah be pleased with him.) bought a well named bi’r-i-Rumah from a Jew for twenty thousand dirhams for free use for the Muslims.
That was the first trust ever made in the history of Islam. Rasulallah, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, gave him the glad tidings of Paradise for this act.
When the number of Muslims increased, Rasulallah, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him,’s mosque became too small to accommodate the increasing population. It was Hazrat Usman (, may Allah be pleased with him.) who responded to Rasulallah, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him,’s call and bought land for its extension.
When Rasulallah, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, went to the expedition of Tabuk, Hazrat Usman bore the expenses for one third of the Islamic army (about 10,000 men). He also gave one thousand camels, fifty horses and one thousand Dinars (gold coins) to support the rest of the army.
On this, Rasulallah, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, remarked, “Nothing will do any harm to Usman from this day, whatever he does.”
Hazrat Usman (, may Allah be pleased with him.) was one of the scribes of the Wahi (revelation) and also used to write other documents (letters and messages etc.) for Rasulallah , peace and blessings of Allah be upon him.
At the time of the election of Hazrat Abu Bakr (, may Allah be pleased with him.), Hazrat Usman (, may Allah be pleased with him.) was present in the Assembly Hall of Madinah. During the caliphate of Hazrat Abu Bakr and Hazrat Umar, he was a member of the Shura (Advisory Council). He occupied a prominent position in the affairs of the Islamic State during that time.
