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The Caliphate of Hazrat Usman R.

A
The dilemma of Hazrat Umar R.A
When Hazrat Umar R.A lay on his death bed, the question that vexed him was whether he
should or should not nominate his successor. If he did not nominate a successor he would be
following the precedent set by the Holy Prophet (PBUH). On the other hand if he nominated a
successor he would be following the precedent of Hazrat Abu Bakr R.A.

Hazrat Umar's (R.A) Dream


As Hazrat Umar R.A lay thinking about the issue of nominating a successor he fell asleep. In
the dream he saw that a man who had laid out the garden was plucking all the ripe and unripe
fruit, and gathering it on the ground. He interpreted this dream to mean that he should name the
eligible candidates and then leave them to choose one of themselves as the Caliph. Hazrat Umar
R.A accordingly constituted a Committee of six persons to choose the next Caliph out of
themselves.
This Committee comprised:
Ali b Abu Talib
Usman b Affan
Abdur Rahman b Auf
Saad b Abi Waqas
Zubair b Awwam
Talha b Ubaidullah
All these persons were among the most eminent companions of the Holy Prophet PBUH, whom
he had given the tidings of paradise in their lifetime.
The Committee in session
When the Committee was constituted, Hazrat Talha RA was out of Madina. The remaining five
members met immediately. It was soon found that there were strong differences among the
members over the question of choosing a leader, and loud voices were raised projecting the
differences. When the dying Caliph heard of these voices he ordered that the Committee should
adjourn and meet after his death. He directed that after his death the Committee should reach the
final decision within three days, and the next Caliph should take the oath of office on the fourth
day.Hazrat Umar's (RA) son Abdullah was to sit with the Committee as Adviser or Moderator,
but he was not to have a vote, nor was he to be eligible for election as the Caliph. If Hazrat Talha
RA joined the Committee within this period, he was to take part in the deliberations, but if he did
not return to Madina within this period, the other members of the Committee could proceed to
take the decision. If there was a tie among the members, Hazrat Abdul Rahman b Auf RA was to

have the casting vote. Pending the election of the Caliph, Hazrat Suhaib RA was to lead the
prayers. When the Caliph was elected, the prayers were to be led by him.

Death of Hazrat Umar R.A and after


When Hazrat Umar RA died, looking at the dead face of Hazrat Umar RA, Hazrat Usman RA
said, "Out of us who can equal Hazrat Umar RA". That was a great tribute to Hazrat Umar RA.
When Hazrat Umar RA died, both Hazrat Ali RA and Hazrat Usman RA wanted to lead the
funeral prayer. Hazrat Abdul Rahman b Auf RA, however, advised that as both of them were
candidates for the office of the Caliph they should not lead such prayer. The funeral prayers were
accordingly led by Hazrat Suhaib RA, the man who had been authorized by Hazrat Umar RA to
lead the ordinary prayers. Hazrat Umar RA was put in the grave by all the five members of the
Selection Committee constituted by him. Immediately after the burial of Hazrat Umar RA, the
Selection Committee constituted by him to nominate his successor met in session. As Hazrat
Talha b Ubaidullah RA was still out of Madinah, the meeting of the Committee was attended by
five persons only. The Committee had a long session for two days, but it was unable to arrive at
any decision. The differences among the parties were acute, and no reconciliation appeared to be
in sight.
Act of Hazrat Abdul Rahman b Auf RA
The instructions of Hazrat Umar RA were that the Selection Committee should choose the
successor within three days, and he should assume office on the fourth day. As two days passed
away without arriving at a decision, the members felt anxious that the time was running fast, and
still no solution to the problem appeared to be in sight.
On the night after the second day, Hazrat Abdul Rahman b Auf RA had a dream; That dream
made Hazrat Abdul Rahman b Auf RA feel that he should not covet the office for himself. On the
third day addressing the members of the Selection Committee, Hazrat Abdul Rahman b Auf RA
observed that if they went on debating and wrangling in that way, differences among them would
grow in dimensions, and they would fail in the objective set for them. He suggested that in order
to narrow down the choice, some of them should withdraw from the contest voluntarily.
Thereupon he declared that in the interests of the Muslim community, he withdrew from the
contest of his freewill. The choice now came to be restricted to the remaining four members, but
still no headway was made. There were some further deliberations, and thereafter it was decided
that as Hazrat Abdul Rahman b Auf RA had retired voluntarily from the contest and had given
proof of his selflessness, he might choose the Caliph out of the remaining four members. Hazrat
Abdul Rahman RA accepted the onerous task, and undertook that in arriving at his decision he
would be just and impartial, and would be guided solely by the interests of the Muslim
community. He added that he would try to ascertain public opinion, and his choice would be in
accord with such opinion.

Selection Of Hazrat Usman RA As Third Caliph


Commissioned to make the selection Hazrat Abdul Rahman b Auf RA began his task by
interviewing each member of the Committee separately. Interviewing Ali he asked him,

"Suppose I do not choose you; in that case whom would you like me to choose? " Ali said, "In
that case you may choose Hazrat Usman RA". Hazrat Usman RA was interviewed next, and he
was asked the question, "If you are not selected who should be the next choice?" Hazrat Usman
RA said, "In that case the obvious choice would
be Ali". When Hazrat Zubair b Awamm RA was put the same question he said, "Hazrat Ali RA or
Hazrat Usman RA. When Hazrat Saad b Abi Waqas RA was interviewed he said that he would
like Hazrat Abdul Rahman b Auf RA to be the Caliph. Hazrat Abdul Rahman RA said that as he
had withdrawn from the contest his choice should be from among the other four members.Hazrat
Saad b Abi Waqas RA said that in that case, Hazrat Usman RA would be his choice.
Analyzing these answers, Hazrat Abdul Rahman b Auf RA came to the conclusion that Hazrat
Usman RA commanded the majority of votes among the members of the selection committee.
Thereafter Hazrat Abdul Rahman b Auf RA proceeded to consult the other leaders of public
opinion in Madina. Some Bedouiin chiefs had arrived in Madina to participate in the funeral
ceremonies of Hazrat Umar RA. Hazrat Abdul Rahman b Auf RA consulted these men as well.
Obviously the choice lay between Hazrat Ali RA and Hazrat Usman RA. Out of these Hazrat Ali
RA was still young being less than fifty, while Hazrat Usman RA was old being nearly seventy.
According to the Arab traditions of respect for old age the common men expressed themselves in
favor of Hazrat Usman RA, the older among the two candidates.

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