Uthman ibn Affan

Uthman ibn 'Affan-The Third Khalifah of Muslims

"Uthman ibn 'Affan (May Allah be pleased with him) was born in the sixth year of the 'Elephant Year' and he accepted Islam very early on being one of those whom Abu Bakr as-Siddiq (R) called to Islam.

He migrated on both emigrations: the first to Abyssinia and the second to Madinah.

He married Ruqayyah (R), the daughter of the Messenger of Allah (S), before prophethood, and she died during the nights of the Battle of Badr. The messenger brought the good news of the victory of the Muslims in Badr on the same day that they buried her in Madinah.... The Messenger of Allah (S) married him to her (Ruqayyah's) sister, Umm Kulthum after her, and she died... in the ninth year of Hijrah. The men of knowledge said: 'We don't know of anyone who married two daughters of a prophet apart from him, and for that reason he is known as "Dhun-Nurayn"--'The Possessor of Two Lights.'

He was one of the first of the Muhaajirun (migrants), one of the ten for whom it was witnessed that they were destined for the Paradise, one of the six with whom the Messenger of Allah (S) was pleased when he died. He was one of the Companions who memorized all of the Qur'an, and indeed Ibn 'Abbad said, "None of the Caliphs memorized all of the Qur'an except for him and al-Ma'mun." One hundred and forty-six Hadiths of his, from the Messenger of Allah (S), have been narrated."