Jannatul-Baqī‘ and the First Person to be Buried Therein

To the end of this year, the Holy Prophet(sa) proposed the creation of a graveyard in Madīnah for his Companions which was referred to as Jannatul- Baqī‘. After its creation, the Companions were generally buried in this very graveyard. The first Companion to be buried in this graveyard was ‘Uthmān bin Maẓ‘ūn(ra).1 ‘Uthmān(ra) was from among the most pioneer Muslims, and was extremely righteous and pious. He was a man of ascetic disposition. On one occasion, after becoming a Muslim, he submitted to the Holy Prophet(sa), “If the Holy Prophet(sa) kindly grants permission, it is my desire to abandon the world completely and separate myself from my wife and children, so that I may devote my life wholly to the worship of Allāh.” However, the Holy Prophet(sa) did not permit him to do so.2 As a matter of fact, even with respect to such people who would not abandon the world completely, but would fast and offer Ṣalāt so often that it would affect the rights of their dependents, the Holy Prophet(sa) would say:

“You should offer the right owed to God, you should offer the rights owed to your wives and children, you should offer the right owed to guests, and you should offer the right owed to your own soul. For all of these rights have been appointed by God, and the fulfillment of them is also a form of worship.”3

Therefore, the Holy Prophet(sa) did not permit ‘Uthmān bin Maẓ‘ūn(ra) to abandon the world, and whilst prohibiting celibacy and asceticism in Islām, the Holy Prophet(sa) established a middle course for his community, which is set between the two extremes. The Holy Prophet(sa) was deeply saddened upon the demise of ‘Uthmān bin Maẓ‘ūn(ra). There is a narration that after his demise, the Holy Prophet(sa) kissed his forehead and at the time there were tears in the eyes of the Holy Prophet(sa).4 After his burial, the Holy Prophet(sa) fixed a stone at the head of his grave to serve as a marking, and then, every so often, he would visit the Jannatul-Baqī‘ and pray for him.5 ‘Uthmān(ra) was the first Muhājir to pass away in Madīnah.