Haq in the Face of Oppression and the Couplets of Uthmaan bin Madh’oon (radhialla’anhu)
The great Sahabah (Companions of the Prophet Muhammad Sallallahu Alayhi Wassalam) bore much torment and hardship for the sake of Allah Subhanhuwata’ala. These were people who, when suffered did not desist from the Haq (truth), did Shukr and thanked Allah Almighty for making them endure; for they knew that their reward was the pleasure of Allah Almighty, they knew that the reward was in the hereafter in an abode where eternal bliss will be found.

One such man was Uthmaan bin Madh’oon radhialla’anhu. The Muslims were going through much hardship and oppression as a result of the backlash against the religion of Islam and Muhammad Rasoolallah Sallahu Alayhi Wassalam. Uthmaan, may Allah be pleased with him, himself was under the protection of his uncle, Waleed bin Mughiera, who was a polytheist at the time. When he saw that his fellow brothers were being tortured and were being made to suffer, he told his uncle to withdraw his protection. When asked as to why this should happen, the pearls of Iman emanated forth from the mouth of Uthmaan radhialla’anhu:

“I prefer rather the Protection of Allah Subhanhuwata’ala and do not want to seek protection from anyone besides He”.

The two then went to Masjidul Haraam and made an announcement to this effect. SubhanAllah! Knowing full well that as a result of this withdrawal afforded to by his uncle, a great trial awaited him, yet he went ahead and made the announcement in the centre of the great city of Makkah because he knew that there was no pain better than the pain suffered for the sake of Allah Subhanhuwata’ala and there was no Protection greater than the protection given by Allah Most Powerful.

Coming from the Ka’ba, Uthmaan radhialla’anhu and the followers of Islam were called fools by a bystander who understood Uthmaan radhialla’anhu to be a Muslim. Uthmaan radhialla’anhu replied to this and an intense dispute broke out after which he was slapped so hard that one of his eyes blackened as a result.

Concerning this Uthmaan bin Madh’oon radhialla’anhu would recite a couplet which the books of Hadith and history immortalise:

So what if my eye suffered for the pleasure of my Rabb at the hands of an irreligious and misguided person?
Ar-Rahmaan has already granted me His rewards in exchange
And whoever pleases Ar-Rahmaan is certainly most fortunate
Without doubt, even though you call me one who is misguided, astray
And fool, I shall still adhere to the Deen of Muhammad Sallalahu Alayhi Wassallam!
In this I seek only the Pleasure of Allah and our Deen is undoubtedly the truth
Even though this displeases those who oppress us and whoever oversteps the limits

Allahu Akbar!  Such words of strength, Imaan and steadfastness coming from a man who is under oppression.  However these men were not any old men; they were men of understanding whose flesh was like the flesh of this world but their Imaan was unworldly. 

Uthmaan radhialla’anhu was invited by his uncle to return to his protection but he refused.