Public Finance in Islam - Contributions of 3rd Caliph Uthman Bin Affan

Public expenditure is necessary to address the diverse social, economic, and regulatory requirements of an economy. The links between public expenditure and economic growth are well recognized. Public expenditure also contributes towards economic growth and social development through multiple channels. During the era of caliph Uthman, major areas of public expenditures are discussed within the article.

1. The salary of the caliph

Uthman did not take anything from the bayt al-mal of the Muslims. He was the wealthiest of Quraysh and the most involved in trade, and he used to spend on his family and those around him from his own wealth. 

2. Salary of governors from the bayt al-mal 

At the time of 'Uthman (Razi Allahu Anhu), the Islamic state was divided into provinces, each of which was ruled by a governor appointed by the caliph, who took his salary from the bayt al-mal and ran the affairs of the province in accordance with the rulings of Islamic Shariah. The fact that the caliph did not appoint a representative to be in charge of the provincial bayt al-mal indicates that it was part of the governor's role to supervise the collection of the province's income, which was the jizyah, kharij and one-tenth on trade goods ('Ushoor) and spend from that income on provincial affairs. Anything that was left over was to be sent to the bayt al-mal of the Muslims in Madinah. As for the zakah which was received from the wealthy in the province, it was spent on the poor in the same region.[1]

3. Expenditure from bayt al-mal on salaries

The bayt al-mal paid salaries to the troops in addition to whatever share of the booty they got. The hoops of each province got their salaries from the provincial bayt al-mal. For example, with regard to the hoops of Egypt, 'Uthman ibn 'Affan wrote the following letter to 'Abd-Allah ibn Sa'd, the governor of Egypt, telling him to pay the salaries of the troops stationed in Alexandria: You know how concerned the Ameer al-Mu'mineen is about Alexandria, because the Byzantines broke the terms of the peace treaty twice. So keep troops stationed in Alexandria and pay them their salaries, and rotate them every six months.[2] 

4. Public expenditure on the Hajj from the bayt al-mal 

At the time of 'Uthman, public expenditure on the Hajj came from the bayt al-mal. The covering of the Ka'bah was made from Qubati cloth, which was a fabric made of linen from Egypt.[3]

5. Financing the rebuilding of the Prophet’s Mosque from the bayt al-mal

The people spoke to 'Uthman when he was first appointed caliph, asking him to expand the Prophet's Mosque, because it had become too crowded at Jumu'ah prayer, due to the spread of conquests and the great increase in the number of inhabitants in Madinah. 'Uthman consulted the wise people and they agreed to demolish the mosque then rebuild and expand it. 'Uthman led the people in praying Zuhr, then he ascended the minbar and praised and glorified Allah, then he said: 

“O people, I have decided to demolish the Mosque of the Messenger of Allah & then expand it."

I bear witness that I heard the Messenger of Allah (Sallahu Alihi Wasalam) say:

” Whoever builds a mosque, All& will build for him a house in paradise. "[4]

 I have a precedent for that in the ruler who came before me, as 'Umar ibn al-Khattab expanded it. I have consulted the wise people among the companions of the Messenger of Allah, and they agreed to demolishing it then rebuilding and expanding it. The people approved of that and prayed for him, then the next day he called the workers and was present there himself.[5]

6. Financing the expansion of al-Masjid al-Haram from the bayt al-mal 

At the time of the Messenger (Sallahu Alihi Wasalam), the Ka'bah had nothing around it but a narrow courtyard in which the people used to pray. The mosque remained like that until the caliphate of Abu Bakr. At the time of 'Umar the mosque was expanded, when he bought the houses around the mosque and demolished them, and incorporated the area into the sacred House of Allah, and built a low wall around it, and installed lamps to illuminate it at night. That was because the mosque was too crowded with pilgrims who came to perform the obligatory duty of Hajj after the conquests of Islam expanded and people entered the religion of Allah in crowds.

When the mosque became too small a second time during 'Uthman's reign, he followed the example of 'Umar and added to the Ka'bah some land that he bought, and surrounded it with a wall that was no taller than a man, as 'Umar had done before.[6] The governors also built mosques in their provinces and spent on them from the provincial bayt al-mal, as happened in the building of Masjid al-Rahmah in Alexandria, and a mosque in Istakhr during the conquests in the east.[7]

7. Spending on the establishment of the Fist Navy 

The bayt al-mal played a role in the establishment of the first navy in Islam, at the time of 'Uthman. The role of the navy in the Islamic conquests will be discussed in later articles, InshAllah.[8]

8. Spending on moving the port from Al-Shu'aybah to Jeddah 

In 26 AH, the people of Makkah spoke to 'Uthman about moving the port from Shu'aybah, which was the old port of Makkah during the Jahiliyyah, to where it is now in Jeddah, because it was closer. 'Uthman went out to Jeddah to see its location, and he ordered that the port be moved there. Then he went into the sea and washed himself with seawater, and said: It is blessed. And he said to those who were with him: Go into the sea and wash yourselves with seawater, but keep your izars (waist-wrappers) on. Then he set out from Jeddah via 'Asfan to Madinah, and the people abandoned the port of al- Shu'aybah at that time, and Jeddah has remained the port of Makkah until now.[9]

9. Digging wells with funds from the bayt al-mal of the Muslims

Among the works that were financed by the bayt al-mal of the Muslims at the time of 'Uthman was the digging of a well in Madina which was called Bi'r Arees, which was two miles from Madina. This occurred in 30 AH. It so happened that 'Uthman sat in the edge of this well with the ring of the Messenger of Allah & on his finger, and the ring slipped from his finger and fell into the well. They looked for it in the well and took out the water, but they could not find it.

He offered a huge reward to the one who found it, and he was very distressed by this incident. When he gave up hope of finding it, he had another ring made of silver that looked like it, and had the words "Muhammad Rasool Allah engraved on it, and he wore it on his finger until he was killed. When he was killed the ring disappeared from his hand and no one knew who took it.[10]

10. Spending on Moazzins from the bayt al-mal 

'Uthman was the first one to give the muezzins money from the bayt al-mal. Imam al-Shafai said: The muezzins were given salaries by the imam of guidance 'Uthman ibn 'Affan.[11] 'Uthman paid them for giving the Adhan.[12]

11. Financing the sublime aims of Islam 

It is clear from the study of public expenditure discussed above that the bayt al-mal played a role in financing the sublime aims of the Islamic state. In addition to expenditure on state administration and the interests of the people, money was spent on spreading Islam so that the word of Allah would become supreme. The bayt al-mal financed the establishment of the first navy of the Islamic state; houses of Allah were built by financing the construction and renovation of mosques; and salaries were paid to muezzins, governors, judges, troops and government agents and workers. Money was also spent on Hajj to the sacred House of Allah, and the covering of the Ka'bah which was the Qiblah of Islam and the Muslims. The bayt al-mal of the Muslims also funded the digging of wells to provide drinking water for all citizens of the Islamic state. From the income of the state, such as Zakah and the khumus (one-fifth) of the war booty, the weak sectors of society in the Islamic state were sponsored, namely the poor and needy, orphans, strangers and wayfarers, and slaves were set free.[13]'

Reference:

[1] As-Siytsah Al-Maliyyah li 'Uthman, p. 130

[2] Futooh Misr, p. 192; Fath al-Buldan li'l-Baiadhuri, 1/152-157

[3] Al-Awa'il by al-'Askari, 2/26, 27

[4] Al-Musnad, no. 434, (1/61) its isnad is saheeh.

[5] AI-Bidiyah wa'n-Nihaiyah, 7/60; Tareekh at-Tabari, 5/267

[6] Tareekh at-Tabari, 5/250; Dhuh-Noorayn, by Muhammad Rasheed, p. 25

[7] AsSiyaisah al-Maliyyah li 'Uthman ibn 'Affan, p. 147, 148

[8] Majma' al-Zawa'id, 9/93, 94; Fasl al-Khitab fi Mawafiq Al-Ashaaib, p. 52

[9] Dhuh-Noorayn 'Uthman ibn 'Affan, by Muhammad Rasheed, p. 26

[10] Al-Bidiyah wah-Nihiyah, 7/161; Tareekh at-Tabari, 5/284

[11] Mawsoo'at Fiqh 'Uthman ibn 'Affan, p. 14

[12] As Siyrasah al-Maliyyah li 'Uthman ibn 'Affan, p. 150

[13] Al-Idtrah al-'Askariyyah fl-Dawlah al-lslamiyyah (2/6836); an-Nujoom al-Zahirah (1/87)