The assassins who killed Uthman, the third Caliph, leveled many accusations at him, which were reiterated later by people who took a stand against him for political or sectarian reasons, or out of ignorance. One of these accusations refers to his absence on important occasions that took place during the Prophet’s lifetime. His accusers claim “he did not take part in the Battle of Badr, and fled during the Battle of Uhud, and was absent on the day when the Prophet’s companions made the pledge under the tree, known as Bay’at Al-Ridwan.” This accusation is very flimsy and falls apart when we know the circumstances of each of these occasions. Justice Abu Bakr ibn Al-Arabi has this to say about it:
Abdullah ibn Umar, the leading scholar among the Prophet’s companions, explained the situation on all three occasions. As for the Battle of Hunayn, only a very small number of his companions remained alongside the Prophet. We do not have any authentic report detailing who fled and who remained. The reports we have give different information. One report suggests that those who stayed with the Prophet were only his uncle Al-Abbas, backed by Al-Abbas’ two sons, Abdullah and Qutham. Since these reports do not agree, their difference should be enough to stop all argument. Besides, temporary desertion on that day was common to many of the Prophet’s companions, and God and His messenger pardoned them. Hence, it is not permissible to mention what God, His messenger and the believers have dropped.
Al-Bukhari relates a Hadith stating: “A man asked Abdullah ibn Umar about Uthman, and Abdullah mentioned some of his great deeds. He then asked the man: ‘Perhaps mentioning all this displeases you?’ The man confirmed that it did. Ibn Umar said: ‘May God thwart you!’ The man asked him about Ali and he mentioned some of his great deeds, and added: ‘Look at his house there in the middle of the Prophet’s homes. Perhaps this displeases you?’ the man confirmed that it did. Ibn Umar said to him: ‘May God thwart you. You may go and say about me whatever you wish!’”
Al-Bukhari also relates: “A man from Egypt was on his way to perform the pilgrimage when he saw a group of people sitting together. He inquired about them and he was told that they belonged to the tribe of Quraysh. He asked: ‘Who is the learned man among them.’ He was told: ‘Abdullah ibn Umar.’ He addressed him saying: ‘I want to ask you about something and please speak to me about it. Do you know that Uthman fled during the Battle of Uhud?’ Ibn Umar answered in the affirmative. The man asked him: ‘Do you know that he was absent from the Battle of Badr?’ Again the answer was in the affirmative. The man put his third question: ‘Do you know that he was not present either at the time of the pledge known as Bay’at Al-Ridwan?’ Ibn Umar said: ‘Yes.’ Elated, the man said: ‘God is great.’ Ibn Umar said to him: ‘Come forward and I will explain things to you. As for his flight on the Day of Uhud, I declare that God has forgiven him. And as for his absence on the Day of Badr, he was married to the Prophet’s daughter and she was ill. The Prophet told him to stay back to look after her. He later said to him: ‘You will have the same reward and share of the booty as anyone who took part in the Battle of Badr.’ And as for Bay’at Al-Ridwan, had there been among the Prophet’s companions anyone with better standing in Makkah than Uthman, the Prophet would have sent him in his stead. However, the Prophet sent Uthman (as his ambassador to the people of Makkah) and the Bay’at Al-Ridwan took place after Uthman had gone there. The Prophet raised his right hand and said: ‘This is Uthman’s hand’ and held his two hands together saying: ‘And this on Uthman’s behalf.’ Ibn Umar then said to the man: ‘Take with you what I have just said.’”
We perhaps need to further explain some of the points mentioned in this Hadith. The first concerns the Battle of Badr when the Prophet asked Uthman to stay behind to nurse his wife, Ruqayyah, the Prophet’s daughter, who was on her deathbed. When victory was achieved by the Muslims in Badr, the Prophet sent his companion Zayd ibn Harithah with the news of the great victory to Uthman in Madinah. Usamah ibn Zayd reports: “We received the news just after having buried Ruqayyah, the Prophet’s daughter married to Uthman. The Prophet had asked the two of us to look after her.” (Related by Al-Tabari). Six months later, Uthman married the Prophet’s other daughter Umm Kulthoom.
Bay’at Al-Ridwan was the pledge the Prophet’s companions gave him to fight the Quraysh to the finish. They practically pledged that they would fight to the last drop of their blood. This took place when the Prophet traveled with 1,400 of his companions, aiming to visit the Kaabah in Makkah for worship. As its custodians, the Quraysh were duty bound to let them do that, since no one might be turned away from Makkah, if he came for worship. However, the Quraysh felt that the Muslims entry would be a sign of their own weakness. Hence they resolved on preventing them.
However, they sent emissaries to the Prophet to try to persuade him to leave, but after their three emissaries advised the Quraysh to let the Muslims visit Makkah for worship, and they continued to refuse, the Prophet felt that he should send them someone to assure them that he had no intention to fight or claim supremacy. His first choice was Umar, but Umar said: “Messenger of God! I fear that the Quraysh will not respect my mission, and there is no one from my clan in Makkah to give me protection. I suggest that Uthman is far more honored in the city than me.” The Prophet sent him as his personal ambassador to speak to Abu Sufyan and the other tribal chiefs in Makkah.
However Uthman stayed in Makkah several days, which was much longer than expected. Soon news were given to the Prophet that he was killed in Makkah. Hence the Prophet called on his companions to pledge their commitment to him to fight the people of Makkah for killing his ambassador. This means that the very pledge of Bay’at Al-Ridwan was made in Uthman’s honor. What could be more honorable to him than that the Muslim community, led by the Prophet, should commit themselves to fight to the finish to avenge his suspected killing. Had he not been highly respected by the Prophet and the Muslims, they would not make such a commitment. At the last moment, the Prophet received more reliable news that Uthman was alive and that the earlier report about his killing was false. But the Prophet continued taking the pledge, because it was an honorable act. Needless to say, the Prophet’s declared intention to avenge Uthman’s killing was a gesture confirming his great honor. No sane person could take his absence at the time of this pledge against him. How could he be present, when he was presumed dead? But indeed, he took part in it, with the Prophet putting his own hand on Uthman’s behalf.
