Is the Hadith About Uthman’s Martyrdom While Reciting Quran Authentic?
Answered by Mawlana Ilyas Patel
Question
Is the hadith stating that Sayyiduna Uthman (Allah be pleased with him) would be martyred while reciting Surat al-Baqara, with his blood falling on a specific verse, authentic?
Answer
In the Name of Allah, the Most Merciful and Compassionate.
I hope you are in good health and faith. Thank you for your question.
The prophecy and prediction of Uthman’s (Allah be pleased with him) martyrdom is authentic, as confirmed by many other narrations. However, the claim that he was martyred while reciting Surat al-Baqara is fabricated, as explained below.
Narration
Narrated from Ibn ‘Abbas, who said: “I was sitting when Uthman approached. The Prophet (Allah be pleased with him) said: ‘O Uthman, you will be killed while you are reciting Surat al-Baqara, and a drop of your blood will fall upon “…فَسَيَكْفِيكَهُمُ اللهُ,” So Allah will suffice you against them.’” [Hakim]
Grading
Imam Dhahabi said in Talkhis al-Mustadrak:
“This is an outright lie. In its chain is Ahmad ibn Muḥammad ibn Abd al-Hamid al-Ju‘fi, and he is the one accused of fabricating it.”
Imam Haytami said in al-Sawa‘iq al-Muhriqa (1/325):
“Dhahabi said: it is a fabricated (mawdu) hadith — meaning the part that says: ‘while you are reciting …’ to the end. As for the foretelling of the killing itself, that is authentic, as established in many other narrations …” [Markaz al-Dirasat wa al-Malumat al-Quraniyya, Mawsu‘at al-Tafsir al-Ma’thur]
A fabricated narration must never be attributed to the Prophet (Allah bless him and give him peace), even when it contains authentic elements. Before sharing any hadith, verify its authenticity with reliable sources.
May Allah Most High grant us the discernment to distinguish truth from falsehood in all matters of our religion.
[Mawlana] Ilyas Patel
Checked and Approved by Shaykh Faraz Rabbani
Related: Sayyiduna Uthman Ibn Affan (Allah be pleased with him)
Mawlana Ilyas Patel has received a traditional education in various countries. He started his schooling in the UK and completed his hifz of the Quran in India. After that, he joined an Islamic seminary in the UK, where he studied secular and Aalimiyya sciences. Later, he traveled to Karachi, Pakistan, and other Middle Eastern countries to further his education. Mawlana has served as an Imam in the Republic of Ireland for several years and taught the Quran and other Islamic sciences to both children and adults. He also worked as a teacher and librarian at a local Islamic seminary in the UK for 12 years. Currently, he resides in the UK with his wife and is interested in reading and gardening.
