Governor, Counsellor of the Qur'an

'Umar appointed Hudhayfah as governor of al-Mada'in, the old Persian capital. The biographers say he arrived riding a donkey, holding a piece of bread and a bit of salt, and addressed the people simply. They were struck by how ordinary he looked. He asked that they give him food and fodder for his animal, and nothing more.

In the caliphate of 'Uthman, Hudhayfah fought in the campaign in Armenia and Azerbaijan, with troops from Syria and Iraq. He saw them disagreeing over how to recite the Qur'an, and came to 'Uthman at once. He urged him to rescue the community before it differed over the Book as the Jews and Christians had. This led 'Uthman to ask Hafsah for the original manuscript and to have copies written and sent to the main cities.

He fell ill at al-Mada'in in 36 AH, a little after the murder of 'Uthman, and died there as the first fighting between the Muslims began. The reports say that he asked about the situation of the Muslims, and died fearing the trials he had asked about all his life. His grave is generally placed at al-Mada'in, though the exact site is not firmly known.