Affan ibn Abi al-As
ʿAffān ibn Abī al-ʿĀṣ (Arabic: عفان بن أبي العاص) was a famous 6th-century Arab merchant, a contemporary of the young Muhammad (c. 570–632) and the father of Uthman ibn Affan, the third Rashidun caliph (r. 644–656).
Affan ibn Abi al-As | |
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| Personal details | |
| Born | Mecca, Arabia |
| Died | Arabia |
| Spouse | Arwa bint Kurayz |
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| Children |
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| Parent | Abu al-As ibn Umayya |
His father was Abu al-As ibn Umayya. His nephew was Marwan ibn al-Hakam. His sister was Safiyya bint Abi al-As, who was the mother of Ramla bint Abi Sufyan (a wife of Muhammad).
Affan married Arwa bint Kurayz, who was the daughter of Kurayz ibn Rabi'ah and Umm Hakim bint Abd Al-Muttalib ibn Hashim. She was also a cousin of Muhammad.
His son Uthman was born in Ta'if. The exact date is disputed: both 576 and 583 are indicated.: 57 He is listed as one of the 22 Meccans "at the dawn of Islam" who knew how to write.
Affan died at a young age while travelling abroad, leaving Uthman with a large inheritance. He became a merchant like his father, and his business flourished, making him one of the richest men among the Quraysh.