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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 'All, but 'All refused e
last of the conditions.(122) Consequently, 'Abd ar-Rahman
and after him the council members pledged allegiance
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