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Biography of Uthman bin Talhah
His real name is Uthman bin Thalhah bin Abdullah bin Abdul Uzza bin Uthman bin Abdud Dar bin Qushayy bin Kilab al-Qurasyi al-'Abdariy. His father's name was Thalhah bin Abi Talhahرضي الله عنه, and his uncle's name was Uthman bin Abi Talhahرضي الله عنه. He has three siblings; Musafi', al-Jallas, and al-Harits. They were all killed as infidels at the Battle of Uhud.
He converted to Islam in 8 Hijriah, along with Khalid bin Walidرضي الله عنه and Amru bin al-'Ashرضي الله عنه. When he met Uthman on the way to Madinah, Khalidرضي الله عنه was hesitant to invite him to convert to Islam, because he knew that Uthman's entire family had been killed by Muslims at the Battle of Uhud.
But apparently, after Khalidرضي الله عنه offered it, Uthmanرضي الله عنه agreed to join him. Together with Amru bin al-Ashرضي الله عنه, the three of them went to Madinah to jointly pledge allegiance to Rasulullahﷺ. and converted to Islam.
Uthmanرضي الله عنه then lived in Madinah until Rasulullahﷺ demised. After his death, Uthman returned to Makkah and lived there, until he died in 42 AH. After his death, the keys to the Kaaba were handed over to Syaibahرضي الله عنه, his cousin.
The purpose of this writing is to tell the story of Uthman bin Thalhahرضي الله عنه which became the reason for Nuzul or the reason for the revelation of verse 58 of Surah Alnisa, and the wisdom behind the story which can also be a lesson for all human beings who have faith in good manners.
۞ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ يَأْمُرُكُمْ أَن تُؤَدُّوا۟ ٱلْأَمَـٰنَـٰتِ إِلَىٰٓ أَهْلِهَا وَإِذَا حَكَمْتُم بَيْنَ ٱلنَّاسِ أَن تَحْكُمُوا۟ بِٱلْعَدْلِ ۚ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ نِعِمَّا يَعِظُكُم بِهِۦٓ ۗ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ كَانَ سَمِيعًۢا بَصِيرًۭا ٥٨
[Lo! Allah commandeth you that ye restore deposits to their owners, and, if ye judge between mankind, that ye judge justly. Lo! Comely is this which Allah admonished you. Lo! Allah is ever Hearer, Seer.]
— M. Pickthall
(Surah An Nisa / 58)
Rasulullahﷺ circumambulated the Ka'bah after the city of Makkah was successfully liberated. While circumambulating, Rasulullahﷺ destroyed the statues standing around the Ka'bah with his stick or arrow. At that time, there were about 360 idols and statues around the Kaaba. When touching the idols, Rasulullahﷺ while calling QS. al-Isra verse 81 repeatedly. At that moment, the idol and the statue fell apart. "Truth has come and falsehood has been destroyed. Verily falsehood will be destroyed forever," said Rasulullahﷺ.
It was then followed by his friends. After circumambulation, Rasulullahﷺ prayed at Maqam Ibrahim. Proceeded to the zam-zam well and drank the water. At that time, Uthman bin Talhahرضي الله عنه, was the doorkeeper of the Ka'bah. He is the one who holds the key to the Kaaba. Rasulullahﷺ then called him to open the Kaaba. However, he did not immediately enter the Kaaba because there were still many idols and pictures inside. He then ordered his companions to take out the idols and remove the pictures on the wall of the Kaaba.
Rasulullahﷺ with Usamahرضي الله عنه, Bilalرضي الله عنه, and Uthman bin Talhahرضي الله عنه entered the Ka'bah after there were no more idols and pictures inside. One narration says that he prayed two rak'ahs inside the Kaaba, while another narration mentions that he did not pray. Referring to the book Reading the Head of Rasulullahﷺ in the Highlights of the Qur'an and Authentic Hadiths (M Quraish Shihab, 2018), after leaving the Ka'bah, Sayyidina Ali bin Abi Talibرضي الله عنه, asked Rasulullahﷺ to give him the keys to the Ka'bah.
Another story mentions that it was Abbas bin Abdul Muttalib who asked for the key to the Kaaba when Rasulullahﷺ received the key from Sayyidina Ali at the well of Zam-zam. At that time, Abbas was the person in charge of providing water for visitors to the Kaaba. By asking for the key to the Ka'bah, he hoped to be able to combine the management of the Ka'bah with his duties. But Rasulullahﷺ rejected the request. He then looked for Uthman bin Talhah to hand over the keys of the Kaaba, while reciting Al-Qur'an Surat an-Nisa verse 58 which he had just received: "Indeed, God commands you to fulfill the mandate to those who deserve it."
When handing over the key to the Kaaba to Uthman bin Thalhahرضي الله عنه, Rasulullahﷺ said: "This is your key, O Uthman. Today is a day of virtue and loyalty, take this (O Uthman and your descendants) forever and ever, no one will take it from you except the wrongdoers or persecutors." This was Rasulullahﷺ's firm stance regarding who had the right to guard the keys to the Kaaba. He still gave it to the rightful party, even though there were close relatives who asked for the key to the Kaaba.
In the book Makkah: Holy City, Power, and the Example of Ibrahim, it is explained that the Quraish tribe used to divide three positions to improve the management of the city of Mecca. First, al-Siqayah. The position's job is to prepare water and other basic necessities for those making the pilgrimage to the Kaaba. Second, al-Rafadah. They are tasked with providing accommodation and food for pilgrims who come to the Kaaba.
Third, al-Sadanah. This department is responsible for preparing and guarding the keys of the Kaaba. Qusai bin Kilabرضي الله عنه was the person assigned to fill this position at that time. Qusai then handed over the keys of the Kaaba to his first son, Abdu al-Dar. Then, Abdul al-Darرضي الله عنه handed over the keys of the Kaaba to his first son. And so did his grandchildren, always handing over the keys of the Kaaba to his first child. During the time of Rasulullahﷺ, the person in charge of taking care of the Kaaba and holding the key was Uthman bin Talhahرضي الله عنه.
Uthman bin Talhahرضي الله عنه then bequeathed the key to the Kaaba to his sister, Syaibah. Until today, the keys to the Ka'bah are held by descendants of Bani Syaibah. Until today, the descendants of Bani Syaibah are responsible for taking care of the Ka'bah, including opening and closing it, cleaning and washing it, as well as taking care of the Kiswah or casing.
The key to the Kaaba itself has changed several times. Finally, the key to the Ka'bah was renewed last November 2013. Now, the key to the Kaaba is made of nickel. It is 35 cm long and plated with 18-carat gold. In Turkey, there is a museum that keeps 48 keys to the Ka'bah -with different shapes- from the era of the Ottoman Turkish Empire. While in Saudi Arabia there are two replica keys made of pure gold
The Story of Uthman bin Talhah and the Reason for Nuzul Surah Alnisa' Verse 58
Story of Utsman bin Thalhah al-'Abdaryرضي الله عنه, named one of the companions of Rasulullahﷺ,, who became one of the people involved in the revelation of Surah Al-Nisa' [4]: 58. Utsman bin Thalhahرضي الله عنه converted to Islam at the time of the conquest of Makkah, And he is the one who was entrusted as the guardian of the Kakbah.
ا standsy بِالْعَدْل follow ۗ اِنَاّ الل amb stay نِعven MLA يَعusionth now بِهٖ ۗ ۗ ا ا stand اللالهَ كَانَ سَمِيْعًاۢ بَريْرًاۢاۢاۢ
۞ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ يَأْمُرُكُمْ أَن تُؤَدُّوا۟ ٱلْأَمَـٰنَـٰتِ إِلَىٰٓ أَهْلِهَا وَإِذَا حَكَمْتُم بَيْنَ ٱلنَّاسِ أَن تَحْكُمُوا۟ بِٱلْعَدْلِ ۚ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ نِعِمَّا يَعِظُكُم بِهِۦٓ ۗ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ كَانَ سَمِيعًۢا بَصِيرًۭا ٥٨
"Truly Allah told you to convey trust to the owner. When you establish law between men, you must establish it justly. Truly Allah has given me the best lesson. Verily, Allah is great, listening and seeing great."
(Alnisa' [4]: 58)
Credit & References:
a. (Abu Umar Yusuf bin Abdullah an-Namiri al-Qurthubi, al-Isti'ab fi Ma'rifatis Shahabah, Volume 3,1034).
b.(Abul Fida` Isma'il bin Umar bin Katsir, al-Bidayah wan-Nihayah, Volume 6, 405).
c.(Ibn al-Atsir, Jami'ul Ushul, Volume 12, 597).
