OTHMAN, (Ar. `Uthmtin, fiin). The third Caliph of the Moslems. lle was born about 574. He belonged to the family of the Prophet, and was cousin german of Abu Suf yan. An early convert to I slam, he was one of its most zealous supporters, and linked himself still more strongly to Mohammed by becoming his son-in-law, marrying first his daughter, Rukaiva, and after her death, her younger sister, Chun Kulthum. Ile was elected to succeed Omar in the Caliphate late in the year 044. The choice was not made without much unseemly strife, Othman's most formidable '11,1)4i/wilt being Ali. The_ worldly motives that entered into the policy U of nman soon brought on serious difficulties. The able and energetic leaders who had been ap pointed by Omar were superseded by members of Othman's own family, and of that of Abu Suf yen. Egypt revolted, and the Caliph was com pelled to reinstate Aniru in the government of that country, ail several other rebellions were only quelled by a similar restoration of the pre vious governors. Zealous deplored the
folly of their chief, and were indignant at seeing the chair of the Prophet occupied by Othman while Abu-bekr, and even Omar, were accus tomed to seat themselves two steps below it. Emboldened by the knowledge of his vacillating and cowardly disposition, they showered upon him reproaches and menaces; the bearer of their remonstrances having been hastinadord by Oth niatfs order, a general revolt (it b ma n averted the crisis by unconditional submission: but having soon after attempted to put to death Mohammed, the son of Abu-bekr, the latter made his appearance at Medina at the head of a troop of malcontents. and forcing his way to the presence of Othman, stabbed him to the heart (656). It was under Othman that the second revision of the Koran was made, and an authen tic copy prepared which served as the standard and prototype. See CALIPH; MOHAMMEDANISM.