We were with Uthman when he was besieged in the house. There was an entrance to the house. He who entered it heard the speech of those who were in the Bilat. Uthman then entered it. He came out to us, looking pale.
He said: They are threatening to kill me now. We said: Allah will be sufficient for you against them, Commander of the Faithful! He asked: Why kill me? I heard the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) say: It is not lawful to kill a man who is a Muslim except for one of the three reasons: Kufr (disbelief) after accepting Islam, fornication after marriage, or wrongfully killing someone, for which he may be killed.
I swear by Allah, I have not committed fornication before or after the coming of Islam, nor did I ever want another religion for me instead of my religion since Allah gave guidance to me, nor have I killed anyone. So for what reason do you want to kill me?
Abu Dawud said: 'Uthman and Abu Bakr (Allah be pleased with them) abandoned drinking wine in pre-Islamic times.
Types of Blood-Wit (Kitab Al-Diyat)
Sunan Abi Dawud 4502
Contextual Analysis
This narration depicts the final moments of Caliph Uthman ibn Affan's life during the siege of his residence. The historical context reveals this occurred during the first major civil strife (fitna) in Islamic history, where rebels besieged the legitimate Caliph despite his established piety and leadership.
Uthman's reference to the Bilat (a specific location in Medina) indicates his awareness of the conspirators' plans through overhearing their conversations, demonstrating the gravity of the situation where the ruler's own capital had turned against him.
Legal Exegesis of the Three Capital Crimes
Kufr after Islam: Classical scholars interpret this as apostasy (riddah), where a Muslim consciously rejects Islam after having embraced it. The consensus holds that this requires clear evidence of intentional rejection of fundamental Islamic tenets.
Fornication after marriage: Jurists specify this refers to married persons (muhsan) who commit adultery, punishable by stoning (rajm). The condition of marriage distinguishes this from the punishment for unmarried fornicators.
Wrongful killing: This refers to intentional murder (qatl al-amd) where legal retaliation (qisas) applies. Scholars emphasize the requirement of conclusive evidence and proper judicial process before implementation.
Uthman's Defense & Moral Position
Uthman's triple denial demonstrates the Islamic legal principle of innocence until proven guilty. His assertion of never committing fornication "before or after Islam" references his pre-Islamic chastity, remarkable in Jahiliyyah society.
His declaration of never desiring another religion "since Allah gave guidance" affirms his unwavering faith, while his denial of murder establishes his clean record according to Islamic law.
Scholarly Observations
Abu Dawud's final note about Uthman and Abu Bakr abstaining from wine even before Islam highlights their inherent righteousness, strengthening Uthman's moral position against his accusers.
Classical commentators note this hadith establishes crucial limitations on capital punishment in Islam, rejecting arbitrary execution and emphasizing due process. The martyrdom of Uthman despite his innocence serves as a profound historical lesson about political turmoil and justice.