Sayyiduna ‘Uthmaan bin Maz‘oon (radhiyallahu ‘anhu) was an illustrious Sahaabi of Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) who hailed from the Quraish tribe. He was the maternal uncle of Ummul Mu-mineen, Sayyidah Hafsah (radhiyallahu ‘anha), and was privileged to have embraced Islam in the very early days, being the fourteenth person to accept Islam. (Usdul Ghaabah vol. 3, pg. 225 and Tabraani – Majma‘uz Zawaaid #15319)
Even during the pre-Islamic days, Sayyiduna ‘Uthmaan bin Maz‘oon (radhiyallahu ‘anhu) had made wine haraam upon himself. He would explain his reason of abstaining from it saying, “I will not drink something which cripples my intelligence, causes someone who is lower than me to laugh at me (due to behaving in an absurd manner) and could (possibly) drive me to get my daughter married to someone who I do not wish (her to get married to).” (Tabaqaat Ibni Sa’d vol. 3, pg. 393 and Usdul Ghaabah vol. 3, pg. 226)
The incident behind him being impressed with Islam is quite unique. Once while Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) was seated in the courtyard of his house (in Makkah Mukarramah), Sayyiduna ‘Uthmaan bin Maz‘oon (radhiyallahu ‘anhu) passed by and smiled at him. Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) requested him to take a seat and he acceded to his request. While speaking to him, Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) glanced at the sky. His blessed gaze then moved towards the ground on his right. Thereafter, he began moving his blessed head as if he was trying to understand something being said to him. Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) once again raised his blessed gaze towards the sky. During this entire time, Sayyiduna ‘Uthmaan bin Maz‘oon (radhiyallahu ‘anhu) was observing this unique spectacle. Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) then returned to the manner in which he was seated before.
Sayyiduna ‘Uthmaan bin Maz‘oon (radhiyallahu ‘anhu) asked Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam), “O Muhammad (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam)! Every other time that I have sat with you and visited you, I have not seen you doing what you have done today.” Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) enquired from him, “What had I done?” Sayyiduna ‘Uthmaan bin Maz‘oon (radhiyallahu ‘anhu) explained what he had witnessed and seen happening. Hearing this, Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) asked, “Did you (really) notice that?” When Sayyiduna ‘Uthmaan bin Maz‘oon (radhiyallahu ‘anhu) replied in the affirmative, Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) explained, “The messenger of my Rabb (i.e. Jibreel [‘alaihis salaam]) had come to me while you were seated.” Sayyiduna ‘Uthmaan bin Maz‘oon (radhiyallahu ‘anhu) asked to reassure himself, “The messenger of Allah?” When Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) assured him, he again asked, “So what did he say to you?” Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) replied by reciting the verse, “Indeed Allah orders justice, good conduct and giving to relatives and forbids immorality, evil deeds and oppression. He admonishes you so that you may be mindful.” (Surah Nahl v90) Sayyiduna ‘Uthmaan bin Maz‘oon (radhiyallahu ‘anhu) relates that it was at that very moment that imaan settled in his heart and he began (deeply) loving Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam). (Musnad Ahmad & Tabraani – Majma‘uz Zawaaid #11164)
Sayyiduna ‘Uthmaan bin Maz‘oon (radhiyallahu ‘anhu) would exert himself in ‘ibaadah. He would fast during the day, perform salaah the entire night, and abstain from all types of pleasures and comforts. (Usdul Ghaabah vol. 3, pg. 226) This reached such a level that he even requested Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) to allow him to remain celibate (i.e. to abstain from marriage). However, Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) did not grant him this permission. Rather, he explained to him the balanced path that Islam has shown. Thereafter, Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) told him, “If you are one of us, then act as we do.” (Sunan Ibni Maajah #1848 and Tabraani – Majma‘uz Zawaaid #7376)
Lessons:
1. In life, many a time an opportunity of great barakah and blessings comes knocking on our door. It could be in the form of a Deeni programme, an inspirational Islamic book, the opportunity of assisting a fellow human being, etc. We do not know which time could be our ‘lucky moment’ of acceptance. Hence, whenever we find an opportunity to do any good, we should seize it. When Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) asked Sayyiduna ‘Uthmaan bin Maz‘oon (radhiyallahu ‘anhu) to sit with him, he acceded to it, not knowing that this will be the door to the greatest blessing in life – being blessed with imaan and the companionship of Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam).
2. Islam is undoubtedly a balanced religion. In Surah Baqarah, Allah Ta‘ala describes this Ummah as a balanced Ummah (v143). This does not mean that a person should become laxed in his ‘ibaadah, etc. Rather, he should do his utmost to fulfil the commandments of Allah Ta‘ala and follow the teachings of Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) without going to such extremes which cause one to deprive himself of his own rights, or other people of their rights. Therefore, Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) did not permit Sayyiduna ‘Uthmaan bin Maz‘oon (radhiyallahu ‘anhu) to live a life of celibacy.
3. No matter how noble a person’s intention maybe, the action will only be accepted in the court of Allah Ta‘ala if it is pleasing to Him, and in accordance to the blessed way of His beloved Rasul (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam). Hence, although Sayyiduna ‘Uthmaan bin Maz‘oon’s (radhiyallahu ‘anhu) intention for celibacy was noble (i.e. in order to completely dedicate himself to Allah Ta‘ala), Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) did not give him permission to do so.
