Medinah Sharif, Saudi Arabia
Coordinates: 24.494608, 39.578526
The well, known today as Bi’ir Uthman or Bi’ir Rummah, was purchased by Hz. Uthman bin Affan رضي الله عنه and opened up for muslims for free, for people of his time and later coming generations. One charitable deed that has earned its giver rewards for over 14centuries.
Buying the well
There was a well in a part of Madinah belonging to a Jew. It was the only source of water in that part, and the Jew charged Muslims exorbitant amounts for water.
Hz. Uthman رضي الله عنه offered to buy the well, but the Jew refused. Hz. Uthman رضي الله عنه then proposed to buy half of the well, with an agreement that each would fetch on alternate days.
The Jew knew Hz. Uthman رضي الله عنه as a clever businessman and was flattered to have him as a business partner, thinking that this would increase his sales.
The exact opposite happened – no one bought water from him again.
Hz. Uthman رضي الله عنه opened the well for Allah’s sake, allowing people to fetch as they wanted. The people would fetch two days’ supply on his day and ignore the Jew’s day.
Despondently, the Jew offered Hz. Uthman رضي الله عنه the other half, which Hz. Uthman رضي الله عنه bought for 20,000 dirhams which was still a very generous offer regarding the situation.
One Charitable deed continued for 14 centuries
A few years later a sahabi, during the time of famine, offered to buy up the well from Hz. Uthman رضي الله عنه. He refused, saying that he had been offered much more.
The man kept increasing his offer, and Hz. Uthman رضي الله عنه kept refusing on the ground that he had been offered much more. Baffled, the man asked him who had offered so much, and how much had been offered.
Hz. Uthman رضي الله عنه said “Allah has offered ten times the reward for charity given to Muslims”.
The well was kept for the free use of Muslims, up to the passing away of Hz. Uthman رضي الله عنه,.
During the Ummayyad dynasty, the well and the surrounding ground (still nominally in the name of Hz. Uthman رضي الله عنه , since it was charitable and not inherited, were kept for free use by Muslims.
Date palms grew on the grounds and grew numerous overtime.
The dates were also harvested and given to charity in the name of Hz. Uthman رضي الله عنه.
This continued during the time of the Abbassid period and later.
In the present history of Saudi Arabia, the decision was made to organise it into a modern plantation. The money was shared into two parts, half to be given in charity, mainly to widows and orphans, the other half to be reinvested.
Bank account of Hz. Uthman رضي الله عنه
This plan was (and is still) being carried out. Today, a bank account exists in the name of Usman bin Affan, from which half of all moneys gained from the plantation are remitted, while the other half is still being given out as charity.
As at now, disbursements from this charity, started off by the virtuous sahabi, Hz. Uthman bin Affan رضي الله عنه, is upwards of SR50million monthly.
