Uthman Ibn Affan (RA) owns a hotel in Madinah today?

The companion of the Prophet (SAW) and the third Khalifah owns a hotel in Madinah? He lived 1400 years ago. How come he owns a hotel nowadays in Madinah? Let me share the full story with you.?

The early Muslims (Muhajirun) settling in Madinah after the migration struggled to find basic needs such as water.? The most drinkable water came from a well in the city named Rumah, but the Jewish owner insisted on charging the Muslims, even for a handful of water.

In order to help the Sahaba - companions, the Prophet (SAW) asked the owner to sell him the well in exchange for a garden in Jannah. He refused the offer and only asked for money.

When Uthman ibn Affan (RA) heard that Prophet (SAW) offered the reward of Jannah for whoever could secure the well for the community, he went to the owner and placed an offer to buy it. The owner declined once more because he wanted to keep making money. Uthman asked him to sell at least half of it or rent the well to him for alternate days.?

The owner agreed thinking of an immediate pay-out as well as ongoing income. Unsurprisingly, on his day, Uthman would give away the water for free to anyone who came. This resulted in everyone going to draw water from the well on Uthman’s day, leaving the owner with no customers. Realizing his lack of options and to salvage what financial benefit he could, the owner offered to sell his share of the well to Uthman, who readily agreed to a price of about 20 thousand dirhams. Uthman then assigned the well as a Waqf - endowment in Allah’s name. A Waqf for all Muslims to drink freely.

Later on, one of the companions came to Uthman and offered to buy the well for double its price. However, Uthman continually asked him to raise his offers, without accepting any. When the Companion finally asked him who would offer a higher price, Uthman responded “Allah.”

The following decades saw date palms start to grow around the well.? Subsequent rulers over the centuries attended to and cultivated more of them. Nowadays, the dates from these palms are sold in markets and the proceeds are divided into two: one half is distributed amongst orphans and the poor, and the other half goes into a special bank account in Uthman ibn Affan’s name, overseen by the Ministry of Endowments in Saudi Arabia.

The funds in this account have been used to buy land in the central area of the city next to the Prophet’s mosque along with the construction of a hotel. The land is also officially registered in the local municipality under the name of Uthman ibn Affan (RA).

The hotel is now ready and accepting guests. It is estimated to generate around 50.000.000 Saudi riyals (around $13.000.000) per year.

Half of the revenue is distributed among the poor and orphans by the Endowment Minister of Saudi Arabia while the other half is deposited in Uthman ibn Affan’s (RA) bank account for future charitable purposes.

This story gives me goosebumps every time I read it. What a blessing for Sayyidina Uthman (RA). The Prophet (SAW) promised Jannah for this well. Uthman (RA) already earnt it by buying this well and making it available for Muslims. That well keeps generating more barakah for him even long after he is gone. The wealth from the well keeps growing to the point Uthman (RA) owns now a hotel, many plantations, and date palms that keep giving even more. Even today you can walk into a bank in Saudi Arabia and can add funds to his account so your money also will be used in his waqf - endowment.?

This is one of the most beautiful stories and this is what happens when money works for you, not you work for the money. It all started with a sincere intention to earn Jannah.

This is a story from my new book "7 Steps To Success In Deen & Dunya".

Would you like to learn how you make money work for you instead of you work for the money? Check out "7 Steps To Success" Step 7: Prosperity :)

You can get a digital copy here.

You can buy a physical copy on Amazon.