was born into the wealthy Umayyad clan of the Quraish tribe in Mecca, a few years after Muhammad)SAW( . He was an early convert to Islam, and was well known for using his wealth to benefit charities. This put him into opposition to his powerful clan, which was Muhammad's )SAW( greatest enemy. During the life of Muhammad)SAW( , he was also part of the first Muslim emigration to the city of Axum in Ethiopia, where Muhammad )SAW( sent some of his followers to seek refuge and the later emigration from Mecca to Medina. He frequently served as Muhammad's )SAW( secretary. It is stated in al-Fiqh al-Akbar: 'The most noble person after the Prophets )SAW( is Abu Bakr, the Most Truthful )as-Siddeeq(, )R A(, then 'Umar ibn al-Khattab, the Differentiator )al-Farooq(, )R A(, then 'Uthman Ibn 'Affan, Possesor of Two Lights )Dhun-Nurayn(, )R A(....' His lineage is: 'Uthman, son of 'Affan, son of 'Aas, son of Umayya, sonf of 'Abd Shams, son of 'Abd Manaf, son of Qusayy al-Qurashi al-Umawi. The title of Dhun Nurayn was given to him because the Messenger of Allaah )sallallaahu 'alaihi wa sallam( gave him his daughter Ruqayya )R Anha( in marriage. When she passed away, the Messenger of Allaah )sallallaahu 'alaihi wa sallam( gave him his other daughter Umm Kulthum )R Anha(, and when she passed away, the Messenger of Allah )sallallaahu 'alaihi wa sallam( remarked, 'If I possessed a third daughter, I would marry her to you, too.' This is why Hadrat Uthman )R A( was given the title 'Possessor of Two Lights' )Dhun-Noorayn(. It is related by Anas )RA( that when the Messenger of Allah )sallallaahu 'alaihi wa sallam( ordered the Pledge of Ridwan )Bay'atur Ridwan(, Uthman )R A( was the envoy of the Messenger of Allah )sallallaahu 'alaihi wa sallam( to Makkah )and thus not present(. The Messenger of Allaah )sallallaahu 'alaihi wa sallam( took the pledge from everybody and remarked, ''Uthman )R A(is occupied in the work of Allaah and His Messenger,'' and thereafter struck his one hand over the other. This way, the two hands of the Messenger of Allaah )sallallaahu 'alaihi wa sallam( for Uthman )R A( were superior to everybody else's hands for themselves. )Tirmidhi, al-Manaqib, 1639( IN DETAIL: Uthaman RadiyaAllahu ‘anhu was very handsome. In fact, ” ‘Abdullah bin Hazm )R A( said: “I saw ‘Uthman, and I never saw a man or woman more beautiful than him.” )as quoted in the forums from ‘Siyar A’lam an-Nubala’(. It is said that ” ‘Uthman )R A(was, to the Prophet’s daughters, an ideal husband. He was compassionate with his wi]v[e]s[ and he was very modest.” It is also said that he was well liked by the Quraysh. He was described as being “free of enmity, amiable, soft-spoken;” and “generous towards members of his family.” He was Born in Taa-if. Married Ruqayyah in Makkah and then made hijra to Al-Habasha/Abyssinia, followed by hijrah to Madinah. When RasoolAllah sallahAllahu ‘alayhi wa sallam left for the battle of badr, Ruqayyah )R Anha( was sick, so RasoolAllah sallahAllahu ‘alayhi wa sallam gave ‘Uthman )R A(permission to stay with her. She died during the battle. o After Ruqayyah’s death )Rahmat Allah ‘alayha(, RasoolAllah sallahAllahu ‘alayhi wa sallam gave Umm Kulthoom to ‘Uthman )R A(in marriage. During his lifetime he was given glad tidings of Paradise. He was the third khalifah A few of his notable characteristics: His Modesty It is reported that the Prophet )sallahAllahu ‘alayhi wa sallam( was “lying on his bed covered with the bed sheet of A’isha )radiyaAllahu ‘anha(.” Abu Bakr )radiyaAllahu ‘anhu( was given permission to enter, fulfilled the purpose of his visit, and left. Then Umar )radiyaAllahu ‘anhu( was given permission to enter, fulfilled the purpose of his visit, and then left. However, when ‘Uthman )R A()radiyaAllahu ‘anhu( sought permission to enter, RasoolAllahu )sallahAllahu ‘alayhi wa sallam( “got up and ]s[aid to A’isha: Wrap yourself well with your cloth.” Then ‘Uthman )R A(fulfilled the purpose of his visit, and left. A’isha asked RasoolAllah )sallahAllahu ‘alayhi wa sallam( why he differed in his response to ‘Uthman )R A()in the matter of dressing(. “Thereupon Allah’s Messenger )sallahAllahu ‘alayhi wa sallam( said: Verily ‘Uthman )R A(is a person who is very modest and I was afraid that if I permitted him to enter in this very state he would not inform me of his need