Download PDF: [S] Divine Protection of Allah (Islamic Story)

Hadrat Sayyiduna Uthman bin Maz’un – may Allah be pleased with him – is considered as one of the foremost of Muslims. Before him, only thirteen people had accepted Islam. He was one of those who took his son, Saa’ib and migrated to Abyssinia. Among the Muhaajir in Madina Shareef, he was the first to pass away and was buried in Jannatul Baqi.

 

Imam Tirmidi – may Allah be pleased with him – records from Sayyidah Ayesha – may Allah be pleased with her – that even after Hadrat Sayyiduna Uthman bin Maz’un – may Allah be pleased with him – passed away, the Holy Prophet – may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him – had kissed him. At that time, the Holy Prophet – may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him – also wept. When the blessed son of the Holy Prophet – may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him, Hadrat Ebrahim – may Allah be pleased with him, passed away, the Holy Prophet – may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him – declared, “The one who had passed away has gone to meet our pious one ‘Uthman bin Maz’un.” (Al Usaabah. 2/464)

 

Hadrat Sayyiduna Uthman bin Maz’un – may Allah be pleased with him – was also noted for his bravery and steadfastness in the Path of Allah Almighty. He was prepared to face any challenge in the path of Islam. He was also one of those blessed companions who was not prepared to live a peaceful existence while other Muslims suffered oppression around him. He did not think of his own life and his own safety and even refused to continue to be under the protection of Waleed bin Mughayrah. When he did this, he suffered untold acts of oppression like the other Muslims around him.

 

It is said that after Hadrat Sayyiduna Uthman bin Maz’un – may Allah be pleased with him – had migrated to Abyssinia and returned to Mecca Shareef with his other companions, he was already under the protection of Waleed bin Mughayrah. This is the reason that he used to walk around the streets of Mecca Shareef without anyone causing harm to him. In fact, no one even raised their heads to look at him. This was contrary to the other poor Muslims at the time who suffered immense oppression at the hands of the Meccans.

 

When the blessed companion saw what was happening to the Muslims around him, he could not remain silent. Hadrat Sayyiduna Uthman bin Maz’un – may Allah be pleased with him – said to himself, “How can I live under the protection of a Mushrik all the time when my Muslim brothers are suffering all of this oppression and are being tormented all the time. There is no doubt that this is certainly something which is against my religion.”

 

He immediately approached Waleed bin Mughayrah and said, “O Abu Abde Shams! What protection you have given me, you have fulfilled that. Now, I am returning this protection back to you.”

 

Waleed asked, “O my nephew! Why are you doing this? Has anyone from my tribe caused any trouble to you?”

 

Hadrat Sayyiduna Uthman bin Maz’un – may Allah be pleased with him – replied, “Nothing of this nature. However, now I wish to enter the Divine Protection of the Allah Almighty. I am not prepared to accept the protection of anyone else besides His Protection.”

 

Waleed then said, “If this is the case, then you should go to the Haram and announce this publicly that you have turned away from my protection as when I publicly announced that I had given you protection.”

Thereafter, both of them then went to the Haram and Waleed made a public announcement that Uthman bin Maz’un had turned away his protection. Hadrat Sayyiduna Uthman bin Maz’un – may Allah be pleased with him – also mentioned this himself. In fact, he declared, “That is true whatever is being said by Waleed bin Mughayrah. There is also no doubt that whatever protection he had given me, he had fulfilled that. I am aware of his favour. However, from this moment onwards, I do not wish to live under anyone’s protection except under the Divine Protection of the Allah Almighty. Therefore, I am returning the protection of Waleed back to him.”

 

After doing this, Hadrat Sayyiduna Uthman bin Maz’un – may Allah be pleased with him – entered a function of the Quraish where Labeed bin Rabee’ah was reciting a few lines of poetry. Bear in mind that at that time, Labeed had not yet accepted Islam. The lines were:

 

“Whatever exists besides Allah Almighty is false”.

 

Hadrat Sayyiduna Uthman bin Maz’un – may Allah be pleased with him – mentioned that he had spoke the truth.

 

Labeed then mentioned: “And every bounty will surely end”.

 

When the blessed companion heard this, he replied, “You are speaking a lie because the bounties of Jannah will never cease.”

 

Labeed then became angry and declared to the Quraish, “Who is this person who is insulting your guest. Where had he come from?”

 

When Labeed asked this, one of the people in this gathering replied, “O Labeed! this is one of those fools who had divorced himself from our religion and adopted the religion of Muhammad – may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him. Therefore, do not pay attention to the words of this fool.”

 

When he heard these insults, Hadrat Sayyiduna Uthman bin Maz’un – may Allah be pleased with him – also became very angry. He also answered in an angry fashion. Because of this, there were blows traded. Without him noticing this person, the person who had insulted Hadrat Sayyiduna Uthman bin Maz’un – may Allah Almighty be pleased with him – also landed a blow on the face of the eminent companion.

 

This resulted in him receiving a blue eye. Waleed bin Mughayrah was also nearby and was watching all of this. When he saw the state of Hadrat Sayyiduna Uthman bin Maz’un – may Allah be pleased with him, he said to him, “O my nephew! Look at what has happened to your eye, if you were under my protection, this would not have happened. The reason is because you would have been under strong protection.”

 

Hadrat Sayyiduna Uthman bin Maz’un – may Allah be pleased with him – replied, “I swear by Allah Almighty that even my good eye is ever ready to face the same test as the other eye. O Abu Abde Shams, I have entered His Protection Who is more Powerful than you and has much more Strength than you.”

 

When Waleed saw the determination of his nephew, he declared, “O my nephew! If you wish, you may return to your former protection. I will certainly welcome you.”

 

However, the blessed companion replied, “No, I have left your protection and entered the Divine Protection of Allah Almighty. I now have no need for protection from anyone else.” (As Seerat Ash Shaamiyah. 2/490; Ar Roudul Anaf. 2/157)