Uthman ibn Affan (OOTH-man)
Whisper of Devotion
(a.k.a. Dhū al-Nurayn (“the Possessor of Two Lights”))
Uthman was born in Ta’if into a wealthy merchant family. Known for his gentle character and generosity, he became one of Muhammad’s closest companions. His marriage to two of Muhammad’s daughters in succession earned him the epithet Dhū al-Nurayn, “the Possessor of Two Lights.”
As a Whisper, Uthman embodied devotion. He invested his wealth into supporting the poor and into preserving Muhammad’s sayings. His careful copying of texts and his encouragement of scribes ensured that the Book of Justice and Devotion was preserved for later generations.
Uthman’s leadership style was quiet, marked by patience and humility. His devotion was not only spiritual but practical — a lifelong commitment to ensuring that memory and teaching endured.
He was assassinated in Medina, but remembered as the Whisper of Devotion, whose piety and generosity safeguarded the School’s continuity.
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