Sharing Love: Puspita East & West
The Owner of Two Lights
“If Sharif's liked story how?” Asya still wants to hear the next story. His gaze turned to Amir who was also looking at him. The man also smiled kindly as usual, “Name Uthman bin Affan ra., Khulafah Ar-Rashidin the third. He was an honest yet humble man, a generous merchant, and a capable politician. He was nicknamed Dzun Nurain which means The Owner of Two Lights for marrying two daughters of Prophet SAW., namely Ruqayyah and Umm Kulthum.”
Asya frowned. As far as his knowledge is still small, Islam does not allow marriage with a brother and sister with one husband. Amir smiled as he asked.
“True, it's not allowed. In the case of Uthman bin Affan, he was married first to Raqayyah bint Rasulullah SAW., only after Raqayyah died, he was married to his sister, Umm Kulthum bint Rasulullah SAW.,” explained Amir complex, “This is permissible in Islam. You can check it in a surah that explains in detail about women, namely Surah An-Nisa verses 22-24.”
Amir told the story of Uthman ibn Affan.
He was also called Abu Layla because of his gentleness to the people. Before he converted to Islam, his heart was tethered to the daughter of the Prophet SAW., Raqayyah. Unfortunately, he was preceded by Utbah bin Abu Lahab so that his heart was broken. Back then, Ruqayyah had been proposed by Utbah.
In his turmoil, he met his aunt, Su’da bint Kariz. The aunt told her of the appearance of a prophet who would remove the idolatry professed by the inhabitants of Makkah at that time and call upon the Almighty God. After that, Ustman went to Abu Bakr, his friend to ask news from his aunt.
Abu Bakr confirmed, then invited Uthman to Islam. With his intelligence and wisdom, Uthman accepted the invitation knowing that the statues worshipped by his people had no power at all. He converted to Islam and left idols even though his relatives were against it. He was even expelled.
When al-Lahab descended on Surah who delivered threats to Abu Lahab and his wife who was very opposed to the Prophet SAW, Abu Lahab also ordered his two sons to divorce the two daughters of the Prophet SAW., who was the only one of the two children of the Prophet., Ruqayyah and Umm Kulthum.
“We can guess what happened after that,” Amir sipped a new tea that Asya poured for him before continuing, “Utsman bin Affan also proposed Ruqayyah. On the first hijrah to Habash, he and his wife joined the group to avoid all the severe disturbances that the Quraysh launched. It was in this country that Uthman's son Abdullah was born.”
When the news of the hijrah to Yastrib, now called Medina Al-Munawarah, reached the first hijrah in Habashah, Uthman decided to migrate to Medina with his wife. Because of the migration twice, Ruqayyah bint Muhammad titled Dzatul Hijratain.
In the second year of the Hijri, the Battle of Badr between the Quraish and the Muslims broke out. When the war broke out, Ruqayyah was sick. Uthman was ordered to guard him. Shortly after, the second daughter of the Prophet SAW. died and that was when news of the victory of the Battle of Badr reached the people of Medina. When the Prophet heard the news of the death of the princess, he said, “All praise be to Allah, have buried the daughters of noble women.”
“Either how Uthman ibn Affan felt at that time,” Amir commented a thin smile with a slight look of sadness in his eyes. Aminah's face was in her mind. “If it were me, I would be very sad to lose the figure I love so much.”
Asya. She blinked her eyes several times, curious about what was in her husband's heart. About how much Amir loved him in the most mysterious depths.
After Ruqayyah's death, Uthman had an offer from Umar bin Khattab to marry his daughter, Hafsah bint Umar. However, Uthman rejected the offer. He got a better woman than Hafsah, while Hafsah himself got a better man than Uthman.
The noble woman was Umm Kulthum bint Muhammad, the third daughter of the Prophet SAW, and the younger brother of Ruqayyah. That is how Uthman bears the title of Dzun Nurain, the Owner of the Two Lights. He married the two noble daughters of the Prophet SAW.
“Is her marriage happy?” suddenly Asya asked that. Amir laughed at hearing it. He replied, “Try asking the two daughters of the prophet in heaven, which I obviously never heard that the wives of Uthman ever complained to him. So, isn't it clear that her marriage is happy?”
“Hm, I understand,” Asya nodded slowly.
The Jew set a high price for taking water from his well. People are also in trouble because of it. In these alarming conditions, the Prophet said, “Wahai my Friend, any of you who donated his property to be able to free the well, then donate it to the people then it will get His paradise Allah Ta’ala.”
So Uthman took the opportunity and negotiated with the Jew. Despite a good offer, the Jew still did not want to sell his well. He will lose his daily income for sure if he loses the well.
Finally, Uthman offered to buy half ownership of the well. A day belongs to the Jew, a day belongs to Uthman. Thus, the Jew kept getting a lot of money from Uthman without losing his well. The transaction was approved.
“Utsman free up water charge on the day of turn,” Amir pointed towards the lake which is visible from West Joglo as if the lake was like the well of Uthman, “Then, on the day of Uthman's turn, it was like the lake, people take as much water as possible for their supplies.”
As a result, no one took water on the day of the Jews' turn. Feeling that he was no longer profiting from his well, the Jew came to Uthman and offered full ownership of his well.
Uthman agreed. He also paid half the ownership of the remaining well, then gave the well to the people. The well is called Ruma. Until now, the water is still flowing. Uthman spent 20,000 dirhams or pieces of silver to buy the well. With him, he got the guarantee of heaven.”
“Makanya, Syarif once said that he wanted to be a rich merchant, then alms as much,” Amir closed the story, “He can already understand that the true treasure is invested for the hereafter. He was even very enthusiastic in memorizing the verse about the primacy of infak, that is the 261st verse of the letter of Al-Baqarah which promises a minimum of 700 times the goodness of any that is infused in the way of Allah and Almighty Allah to add it to infinity.”
“Really? Do those exemplary stories have a big impact on a child's character?” Asya could hardly believe it. He had indeed seen Sharif several times distribute snacks that he had to his friends. Now he understood how that character could be formed within his stepson.
“Well, there you have it,” Amir nodded.
“But ...,” Asya stared at his fingers that were adrift to each other, “He still did not want to accept my presence fully.”
“He is still a child, hopefully his attitude does not make you disturbed,” entertain Amir while embracing his wife's shoulders, “Ami has also often reprimanded him. He will understand as time goes by.”
“Yes, I did not enter the heart really,” Asya smiled back at the words of Amir, “Lagian, it is a form of selfishness of children. It's only natural that he is.”
Asya felt a kiss that suddenly landed on her cheek so that it wailed her. Puspita from the West also spontaneously turned her head and found Amir was about to whisper something to her.
“Thank you for having boasted in receiving all of this,” whispered Amir quietly.
That afternoon passed. Asya started thinking about her future. He already had a good husband, a honey sister who received him patiently, and stepchildren who always acted nosy and adorable. His life is happy with gratitude. So, how much happiness will he get when he is blessed with a baby from his womb?
“It will definitely be happier days,” Asya looked at Amir's sleeping face before him. She stroked her husband's cheek and prayed that the light in his heart would be brighter and brighter so that there would be no doubt.
