Chapter Five: Some of the innovations of Uthman

 

Uthman and Aisha’s innovation in the prayer of journey

We read in Sahih Bukhari:

Narrated ‘Abdullah bin ‘Umar:
I offered the prayer with the Prophet, Abu Bakr and ‘Umar at Mina and it was of two Rakat. ‘Uthman in the early days of his caliphate did the same, but later on he started praying the full prayer.

Sahih Bukhari, Volume 2, Book 20, Number 188

Narrated ‘Abdur Rahman bin Yazid:
We offered a four Rakat prayer at Mina behind Ibn ‘Affan . ‘Abdullah bin Masud was informed about it. He said sadly, “Truly to Allah we belong and truly to Him we shall return.” And added, “I prayed two Rakat with Allah’s Apostle at Mina and similarly with Abu Bakr and with ‘Umar (during their caliphates).” He further said, “May I be lucky enough to have two of the four Rakat accepted (by Allah).”

Sahih Bukhari, Volume 2, Book 20, Number 190

Narrated ‘Aisha:
“When the prayers were first enjoined they were of two Rakat each. Later the prayer in a journey was kept as it was but the prayers for non-travellers were completed.” Az-Zuhri said, “I asked ‘Urwa what made Aisha pray the full prayers (in journey).” He replied, “She did the same as ‘Uthman did.”

Sahih Bukhari, Volume 2, Book 20, Number 196

‘A’isha reported:
The prayer was prescribed as consisting of two rak’abs, the prayer in travelling remained the same, but the prayer at the place of residence was completed. (Zuhri said he asked ‘Urwa why ‘A’isha said prayer in the complete form during journey, and he replied that she interpreted the matter herself as ‘Uthman did.)

Sahih Muslim, Book 004, Number 1460

Some people, in order to defend Uthman, claim that perhaps Uthman bought a home in Makka that is why he started praying four Rakaat there.

We ask them not to put so much attention to their Qiyyas (conjecture). Look at the Sahaba Karam (like Abdullah bin Masud, Ibne Umar, Zuhri), who lived in Uthman’s time. Were all of them were unaware of the house of Uthman in Makka? Look at the words of Abdullah bin Masood (i.e.”May I be lucky enough to have two of the four Rakat accepted (by Allah))

If Uthman had bought a house in Makka, then ONLY he had to pray four Rakaah. But he made the whole Muslim Ummah pray four Rakaats at Mina. If he really had a house in Makka, he would have made it clear to whole Ummah at Mina that he would pray full four Rakaah due to his house in Makka, while the rest of them (from Madina) should pray 2 Rakaah. The reality is neither did Uthman own a house in Makka, nor did he make any announcement for others to pray two Rakaah.

And what about ‘Aisha? Did she also purchase a house in Makka? Remember that Urwa said:

 ”…she (‘Aisha), also interpretated the matter in the same way as Uthman”. 

Ali bin Abi Talib (as)’s refused to adhere to the Bidah of Uthman

Ibn Tamiyah has recorded the following episode in Majmo’a al-Fatawa, Volume 24 page 96:

 اعْتَلَّ عُثْمَانُ وَهُوَ بِمِنَى فَأَتَى عَلِيٌّ فَقِيلَ لَهُ : صَلِّ بِالنَّاسِ فَقَالَ : إنْ شِئْتُمْ صَلَّيْت بِكُمْ صَلَاةَ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ رَكْعَتَيْنِ قَالُوا لَا إلَّا صَلَاةَ أَمِيرِ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ  يَعْنُونَ أَرْبَعًا – فَأَبَى .

When Uthman got ill at Mina, Ali was asked to do the Imamate in prayers to which he replied: ‘If you people deem it appropraite then shall I lead two Rakat prayer as per Holy Prophet (s)?’ To which people replied: ‘No, rather offer four Rakat prayer just like Ameer al-Momineen (Uthman)’.Thus Ali refused.    

Fatwa of Abdullah Ibn Umar against Uthman 

 Imam Jassas al-Razi records in his authority work Ahkam al-Quran, Volume 3 page 233:

قال عبدالله بن مسعود صليت مع النبي ص – بمنى ركعتين ومع أبي بكر ركعتين ومع عمر ركعتين وقال مورق العجلي سئل ابن عمر عن الصلاة في السفر فقال ركعتين ركعتين من خالف السنة كفر فهذه أخبار متواترة

Abdullah Ibn Masud said: ‘I prayed two Rakat with Allah’s Apostle at Mina and similarly with Abu Bakr and with Umar (during their caliphates).’ Ibn Umar was asked as to how prayers during travel shall be offered to which he replied: ‘Two Rakats each and whoever opposed Sunnah (of Prophet) has committed Kufr. And this is Mutawatir.

Uthman’s (and/or Umar’s?) innovation in Hajj-at-Tamattu’

Narrated ‘Aisha:
We set out with Allah’s Apostles (to Makka) in the year of the Prophet’s Last Hajj. Some of us had assumed Ihram for ‘Umra only, some for both Hajj and ‘Umra, and others for Hajj only. Allah’s Apostle assumed Ihram for Hajj. So whoever had assumed Ihram for Hajj or for both Hajj and ‘Umra did not finish the Ihram till the day of sacrifice.

Sahih Bukhari, Volume 2, Book 26, Number 633 (See also Hadith No. 631, 636, and 639)

Sa’id b. al-Musayyab reported that ‘Ali and ‘Uthman (Allah be pleased with them) met at ‘Usfan; and Uthman used to forbid (people) from performing Tamattu’ and ‘Umra (during the period of Hajj), whereupon ‘Ali said: What is your opinion about a matter, which the Messenger of Allah (may peace be upon him) did but you forbid it? Thereupon Uthman said: You leave us alone, whereupon he (‘Ali) said: I cannot leave you alone. When ‘Ali saw this, he put on Ihram for both of them together (both for Hajj and ‘Umra).
Sahih Muslim, Book 007, Number 2816:

Narrated Said bin Al-Musaiyab:
‘Ali and ‘Uthman differed regarding Hajj-at-Tamattu’ while they were at ‘Usfan (a familiar place near Makka). ‘Ali said, “I see you want to forbid people to do a thing that the Prophet did?” When ‘Ali saw that, he assumed Ihram for both Hajj and ‘Umra.

Sahih Bukhari, Volume 2, Book 26, Number 640

Actually, Uthman was only following Umar, while he was the first person who forbade it.

Abu Musa, (Allah be pleased with him) reported that he used to deliver religious verdict in favour of Hajj Tamattu’. A person said to him: Exercise restraint in delivering some of your religious verdicts, for you do not know what the Commander of Believers has introduced in the rites (of Hajj) after you (when you were away in Yemen). He (Abu Musa, ) met him (Hadrat Umar) subsequently and asked him (about it), whereupon ‘Umar said: I know that Allah’s Apostle (May peace be upon him) and also his Companions did that (observed Tamattu’), but I do not approve that the married persons should have intercourse with their wives under the shade of the trees, and then set out for Hajj with water trickling down from their beads.
Sahih Muslim, Book 007, Number 2814

‘Imran b. Hussain (Allah be pleased with him) reported:
We performed Tamattu’ (Hajj and ‘Umra combining together) in the company of Allah’s Messenger (may peace be upon him), and nothing was revealed in the Qur’an (concerning the abrogation of this practice), and whatever a person (Hadhrat ‘Umar) said was his personal opinion. ‘Imran b. Hussain narrated this hadith (in these words also):” Allah’s Apostle (may peace be upon him) performed Hajj Tamattu’ and we also performed it along with him.”

Sahih Bukhari, Book 007, Number 2830

Any Salafi Fatwa on this innovation and misguidance of Umar/Uthman?

Double Standards!

Uthman’s innovation in distribution of Zakat

Narrated Ibn Al-Hanafiya:
If Ali had spoken anything bad about ‘Uthman then he would have mentioned the day when some persons came to him and complained about the Zakat officials of ‘Uthman. ‘Ali then said to me, “Go to ‘Uthman and say to him, ‘This document contains the regulations of spending the Sadaqa of Allah’s Apostle so order your Zakat officials to act accordingly.” I took the document to ‘Uthman. ‘Uthman said, “Take it away, for we are not in need of it.” I returned to ‘Ali with it and informed him of that. He said, “Put it whence you took it.”

Narrated Muhammad bin Suqa: I heard Mundhir At-Tuzi reporting Ibn Hanafiya who said, “My father sent me saying, ‘Take this letter to ‘Uthman for it contains the orders of the Prophet concerning the Sadaqa.’ ”
Sahih Bukhari, Volume 4, Book 53, Number 343

No comments from our side. But comments from our Salafi friends are welcome.

Uthman’s introduction of a second Adhan before Friday Prayer

Narrated As-Sa’ib bin Yazid I :
‘Uthman bin ‘Affan introduced the second Adhan on Fridays when the number of the people in the mosque increased. Previously the Adhan on Fridays used to be pronounced only after the Imam had taken his seat (on the pulpit).

Sahih Bukhari, Volume 2, Book 13, Number 38

Why don’t now Salafies declare Uthman for an innovator and misguided one?

Salafi defence of Uthman

Salafies claim that Uthman introduced it in order to fulfil one need i.e. the population of city became very big and people were not able to hear the Adhan. So in order to let them hear the call for prayer, he introduced a third Adhan in the market of Madina.

Reply

It’s a lame excuse. Indeed Madina was a big city even in the times of Rasool Allah [saww] too, and when Adhan was called in Masjid al-Nabawi, not Every One in Madina was able to hear it.
So, Rasool Allah [saww] must have also introduced this 3rd Adhan in his time too. But he never did it. And it was only Uthman who introduced it.

And what about all the Muslims who are living in small towns and villages. They all were able to hear the call of Adhan. But despite this, they followed Uthman’s innovation of the 2nd Adhan. Did they not all become innovators?

If not Uthman, the Salafies should declare all the Muslims (including Sahaba and Taba’een from earlier centuries) of those small villages and town to be innovators and misguided people. But where is the Salafi Fatwa?

Double Standards!

Conclusion

After reading the some of the innovations by Umar and Uthman, it’s become easy to understand the following Hadith of Rasool Allah (saww).

Narrated Anas:
The Prophet said, “Some of my companions will come to me at my Lake Fount, and after I recognise them, they will then be taken away from me, whereupon I will say, ‘My companions!’ Then it will be said, ‘You do not know what they innovated (new things) in the religion after you.”

1. Sahih Bukhari, Hadith: 8.584
2. Sahih Muslim, part 15, pp 53-54

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