A Widening Realm

Under 'Uthman, the lands of Islam grew further. Armies reached North Africa, and in the east, Khurasan and lands beyond Persia were brought under Muslim rule. With the governor of Syria, Mu'awiyah ibn Abi Sufyan, the Muslims built their first fleet, crossing to Cyprus — where Umm Haram bint Milhan died, as the Prophet ﷺ had foretold she would be among the first to ride the sea in Allah's cause (Sahih al-Bukhari 2788–2789) — and later defeating the Byzantine navy at the Battle of the Masts.

At home, 'Uthman enlarged the Prophet's Mosque ﷺ, rebuilding it in carved stone with teak for the roof. When some objected to the change, he answered with the Prophet's words ﷺ: "Whoever builds a mosque, seeking the Face of Allah, Allah will build for him its like in Paradise" (Sahih al-Bukhari 450).

The wealth of the conquests flowed to the people, and the early years of his caliphate were remembered as years of ease and plenty. But a vast, fast-changing realm, full of newcomers and restless garrison towns, was also fertile ground for resentment.