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Shiavault - a Vault of Shia Islamic Books The Role of Aishah in the History of Islam (volume 1) Part Three 'a'ishah in the Time of 'uthman's Rule Who was 'Uthman? Abu 'Abd Allah and Abu 'Amr 'Uthman was the son of 'Affan, and grandson of Abu al-'As ibn Umayyah al-Qurayshi.

His mother was Arwa, daughter of Kurayz ibn Rabi'ah ibn 'Abd Shams, while Arwa's mother was al-Bayda', daughter of 'Abd al-Muttalib, the Prophet's aunt.121 'Uthman was from the group of men who were the first in embracing Islam. He married Ruqayyah, daughter of the Prophet and emigrated with her to Abyssinia, and after his return from there, went over to Medina.

'Uthman did not take part in the battle of Badr on the excuse of nursing his sick wife, Ruqayyah, and when she died, he married Umm Kulthum, another daughter of the Prophet. She, too, died while her father was alive. 'Uthman did not have any children from the Prophet's daughters.

When 'Umar was wounded by Abu Lu'lu'ah Firuz, slave of al-Mughayrah, he on his death bed nominated 'Uthman as one of the six members of the council, but made the final choice of the caliph subject to the agreement of 'Abd ar-Rahman ibn 'Awf who was also on the six-member council.

Speaking in such a council, 'Abd ar-Rahman stated: "I will forego my being chosen as caliph or the condition that you accept my nominee." When they agreed to this proposal, he too declared that for assuming the position of caliph, one must act upon the Book of God, the Prophet's tradition and policy of Abu Bakr and 'Umar. He made this offer first to 'Ali, but 'Ali refused the last of the conditions.122 Consequently, 'Abd ar-Rahman and after him the council 121.

Refer to his biography in al-Isti'ab, Usd al-ghabah, al-Isabah and Tabaqat. On his death-bed, 'Umar nominated six of the companions of the Prophet as candidates for the caliphate after his ('Umar's) death, arranging that they should choose one from amongst themselves as within three days, in this manner.

If the majority voted for someone and the rest opposed it, these opposers should be beheaded, and if the votes were equally divided in two groups, then the winner would be the group to which 'Abd ar- Rahman belonged. We saw that 'Abd ar-Rahman sidelined himself after 'Umar's death on condition that his nominee should be accepted by the others.