Sayyidina Abu ‘Amr 'Utsman ibn 'Affan (r.a.) & the Ahl al-Bayt had Close Ties

بِسۡمِ ٱللهِ ٱلرَّحۡمَـٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ

In 35 AH, Sayyidina ‘Abdullah ibn ‘Abbas (r.a.) was appointed ‘amir for haj under the caliphate of Sayyidina Abu ‘Amr ‘Utsman ibn ‘Affan (r.a.).  This is found in both Sunni and Shi’ah sources.  There were also other members of the Ahl al-Bayt appointed to important positions, including Sayyidina Hasan ibn ‘Ali (r.a.), and Sayyidina Husayn ibn ‘Ali (r.a.).  Sayyidina ‘Ali ibn Abi Thalib (k.w.) was a personal advisor for the caliph, and functioned as the chief qadhi, in addition to other responsibilities.  Even Qurb al-Asnad, a major Shi’ah text, acknowledges the fact that in the preceding caliphates, almost all hudud cases were handled by Sayyidina ‘Ali (k.w.). 

Another of the Banu Hashim, Sayyidina Mughirah ibn Nawfal (r.a.), married a widow of Sayyidina ‘Ali (k.w.) after his death.  He was the grandson of Sayyidina ‘Ali’s (k.w.) uncle, Sayyidina al-Harits ibn ‘Abd al-Muththalib, and acted as governor during the caliphate of Sayyidina ‘Utsman (r.a.). 

Shi’ah traditions admit that the swalah al-janazah of Sayyidina ‘Abbas ibn ‘Abd al-Muththalib (r.a.) was also lead by Sayyidina ‘Utsman (r.a.), and he was buried in Jannat al-Baqi.  This would not have been possible if there were tensions between him and the Ahl al-Bayt. 

We know, for a fact, that Sayyidina ‘Ali (k.w.) named his son “‘Utsman” after Sayyidina ‘Utsman (r.a.).  It was reported from Sayyidina Abu Sa’id Sa’id ibn Malik al-Khazraji al-Khudri (r.a.), that he once saw a beautiful boy near Sayyidina ‘Ali (k.w.), and asked after him.  Sayyidina ‘Ali (k.w.) answered, “This is ‘Utsman ibn ‘Ali.  I named him after ‘Utsman ibn ‘Affan …” 

In continuing that tradition, Sayyidina Husayn (r.a.) also named one of his sons “‘Utsman”.  And Hadhrat ‘Utsman ibn ‘Aqil ibn Abi Thalib (r.a.) had a son named “‘Utsman’ as well. 

Sayyidina Husayn’s (r.a.) daughter, Sayyidah Sakinah (r.a.) was married to Hadhrat Zayd ibn ‘Umru ibn ‘Utsman (r.a.), the grandson of Sayyidina ‘Utsman ibn ‘Affan (r.a.). 

Sayyidina Hasan’s (r.a.) granddaughter, Sayyidah Umm Qasim bint Hasan ibn Hasan (r.a.), was married to Hadhrat Marwan ibn Aban ibn ‘Utsman (r.a.), another grandson of Sayyidina ‘Utsman (r.a.). 

Sayyidina Ja’far ibn ‘bi Thalib’s (r.a.), granddaughter, Hadhrat Umm Kultsum (r.a.) was married to Hadhrat Aban ibn ‘Utsman (r.a.). 

Sayyidina ‘Abbas’ (r.a.) granddaughter, Hadhrat Lubabah bint ‘Ubaydullah (r.a.) was married to Hadhrat Walid ibn ‘Utbah, the grandson of Abu Sufyan ibn Harb (r.a.).  Sayyidina ‘Abbas (r.a.) and Sayyidina Abu Sufyan (r.a.) were friends from the beginning, before they converted to Islam.  When we dig further, we find that they were close and inter-related, as were most of the close companions of the Prophet (s.a.w.).