True success in business and life isn’t measured by wealth alone but by how that wealth is used. Among the noble companions of Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ), few embodied this truth like Uthmān ibn Affān (رضي الله عنه). His story is one of immense generosity, sincerity, and vision qualities every Muslim founder can learn from.
The Story of Uthmān ibn Affān (رضي الله عنه)
The Well of Ruma
When the Muslims settled in Madinah, water was scarce. The only accessible well,
Bi’r Ruma, was privately owned, and its owner charged high prices for water. The Prophet (ﷺ) encouraged his companions to buy and donate it for public use, promising immense reward from Allah (سبحانه وتعالى).
Uthmān (رضي الله عنه) approached the owner and negotiated to buy half the rights of the well, allowing Muslims to draw water on alternate days. But when that did not solve the issue fully, he purchased the entire well then donated it freely for everyone to use.
The Prophet (ﷺ) said about this act:
”Whoever will buy and dig the well of Ruma will be granted Paradise.” (Sahih Al-Bukhari, Number 2778)
Through this act, Uthmān (رضي الله عنه) turned a commercial transaction into a path toward eternal success.
The Day of Tabuk
The Day of Tabuk
“Nothing will harm Uthmān after what he did today.”
(Jamiʿ al-Tirmidhi, 3701)
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Lessons for Muslim Founders
The story of Uthmān ibn Affān (رضي الله عنه) holds timeless lessons for every Muslim entrepreneur and leader:
1. Wealth is a Trust, Not an Ownership
Uthmān (رضي الله عنه) saw wealth as an amanah, a trust from Allah (سبحانه وتعالى) not a personal possession. The believer’s role is to use it responsibly for good.
2. Sincerity Multiplies Impact
His giving wasn’t for recognition. It was for Allah (سبحانه وتعالى) alone. True barakah in business and life flows from sincerity.
3. Generosity Builds Communities
When he bought the well, he didn’t just solve a problem he empowered a community. Founders should think beyond profit and ask, “How can my work serve others?”
4. Action Brings Reward
Uthmān (رضي الله عنه) didn’t just plan; he acted. His immediate response at Tabuk teaches us that decisive, timely action often defines true leadership.
5. Eternal Return on Investment
His wealth bought more than worldly influence, it purchased Paradise. For Muslim founders, this is the real metric of success: not ROI, but ROP Return on the Pleasure (of Allah سبحانه وتعالى).
Final Reflection
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