Uthman

Uthman ibn Affan was a second cousin and son-in-law of Muhammad, a senior companion present at the faith's founding. In 644, at roughly seventy years old, he was elected caliph by a committee of trustees — the oldest person to hold the position. His reign pushed the Caliphate deep into Persia, reaching Khurasan and Transoxiana in the east and Ifriqiya and Iberia in the west. He centralized administration and oversaw rapid economic expansion. But discontent grew in his final years, hardening into armed revolt. In 656, rebels besieged his residence and killed him inside it. Sunni tradition count…