Uthman ibn Abul'As

Uthman ibn Abul-As al-Thaqafi (may Allah be pleased with him) was a companion of the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ from the tribe of Thaqif in Taif. He embraced Islam when a delegation from Thaqif came to Medina in 9 AH, and the Prophet ﷺ was so impressed by his eagerness to learn the Quran and the religion that he appointed him as the governor of Taif when the delegation returned. This made him the youngest governor appointed by the Prophet ﷺ and a distinguished figure among the companions for both his knowledge and his administrative ability.

A well-known hadith records Uthman asking the Prophet ﷺ to make him the imam of his people. The Prophet ﷺ agreed and gave him the famous counsel: "Lead your people in prayer according to the weakest among them" — meaning to keep congregational prayers accessible and not burdensome. This guidance became a foundational principle of Islamic jurisprudence regarding the duties of an imam.

Utm ibn Abul-As remained governor of Taif throughout the Prophet's lifetime and during the caliphates of Abu Bakr and Umar ibn al-Khattab. He participated in the early Muslim conquests and later settled in Basra. He narrated numerous hadiths that are preserved in the major hadith collections, particularly on topics of prayer, governance, and prophetic character. He died during the caliphate of Muawiyah ibn Abi Sufyan, and his narrations remain a valuable part of the prophetic tradition.