Reproving A Person Who Regarded Hadrat 'Uthman (May Allah be pleased with him) As A Jew

Khatib Baghdadi narrates that Muhammad Ibn 'Abdur-Rahman said: A man in Kufa believed Hadrat Uthman (radiallahu 'anhu) was (Na'oothu Billah) a Jew. When Imam Abu Hanifa (rahmatullahi alaih) heard of this, he went to his house. The man gave him a hearty welcome.

Imam Sahib (rahmatullahi alaih) told him: "I have brought a marriage proposal." He asked, "For whom?" Imam Sahib (rahmatullahi 'alaih) replied: "For your daughter. The man who seeks your daughter's hand is very noble and affluent. He is a Hafiz of the Holy Qur'an. He spends the entire night in a single Rak'at of Salah. He is also very generous. He weeps very bitterly out of fear of Allah ('azza wa jal)." The man explaimed, "Abu Hanifa, you didn't have to mention so many of his attributes. Less than that would have also sufficed." Imam Sahib (rahmatullahi alaih) then added: "However, there is one attribute I did not mention." He asked: "What is that?" Imam Sahib (rahmatullahi alaih) replied: "The problem is that he is a Jew."

The man retorted: "Subhanallah! Are you suggesting I hand my daughter over to a Jew?" Imam Sahib (rahmatullahi 'alayh) replied: "Will you not hand her over then?" He replied, "Never!"

Upon this Imam Sahib (rahmatullahi alaih) remarked, "You are not prepared to marry your daughter off to a Jew, whereas Rasulullah (sallallahu 'alaihi wasallam) got two of his daughters married to a Jew?"

The man then realized the wickedness of his belief and seeking forgiveness from Allah ('azza wa jal), he retracted what he said.

('Uqudul-Jamman fi Manaqibil Imamil-A'zam Abi Hanifata An-Nu'man, By Muhaddith 'Allamah Shasud-Deen Muhammad Ibn Yusuf Salihi Dimashqi Shafi'ee rahmatullahi 'alayh)