Abu ʿUthman said, “ʿUthman was killed in the middle of the Days of Tashriq. Others held that he was killed on a Friday, three days into Dhu al-Hijjah, while another view is that his death occurred on the Day of Sacrifice. Ibn ʿAsakir records this latter opinion and cites in support the poet’s verse:

They slaughtered a grey-haired man whose brow bore the mark of prostration;
he would divide the night in constant glorification and Qur’an recitation.

He adds that the first opinion is the most widespread. Another report (1) states that he was killed on a Friday, eighteen nights having passed of Dhu al-Hijjah in the year thirty-five, which is the sound and famous position. A further view places the event in the year thirty-six; this was related by Musʿab ibn al-Zubayr (2) and a number of others, though it is a rare opinion. Thus his caliphate lasted twelve years minus twelve days, for he received the pledge of allegiance on the first of Muharram in the year twenty-four.

As for (3) his age (may Allah be pleased with him), it exceeded eighty-two years. Salih ibn Kaysan said he died at eighty-two years and some months. Others said eighty-four years (4). Ahmad (5) transmitted, from Hasan ibn Musa—who said, “Abu Hilal (6) narrated to us from Qatadah”—that he died at eighty-eight or ninety years; in another narration from him he died at eighty-two (7). Hisham ibn al-Kalbi is reported to have said that he died at seventy-five years, which is very unusual; stranger still is what Sayf ibn ʿUmar related from his shaykhs—Muhammad, Talhah, Abu ʿUthman and Abu Harithah—that they said ʿUthman (may Allah be pleased with him) was killed at sixty-three years (8).

Concerning his burial place, there is no dispute that he was buried in Ḥush Kawkab, to the east of al-Baqiʿ. During the Umayyad era (9) a large dome was erected over the site, and it remains to this day.

Imam Malik (may Allah be pleased with him) said, “It has reached me that ʿUthman (may Allah be pleased with him) used to pass by the spot where his grave now lies in Ḥush Kawkab and would say, ‘A righteous man will be buried here.’”

Ibn Jarir (10) mentioned that ʿUthman (may Allah be pleased with him) remained unburied for three days after his assassination.

I say: It seems the people were preoccupied with pledging allegiance to ʿAli (may Allah be pleased with him) until the affair was concluded. Another view is that his body remained for two nights; yet another holds that he was buried on the very night he was killed, his burial taking place between Maghrib and ʿIshaʾ out of fear (11) of the Khawarij. Still another opinion says that permission was sought