Khalifa Uthman bin Affan - Governors of Uthman: Walid bin Uqba

Early Years
On the deposition of Sa'ad b Abi Waqas from the governorship of Kufa, Uthman appointed Walid b Uqba as the Governor of Kufa. Walid b Uqba was an uterine brother of Uthman. After the death of Affan the father of Uthman, his mother Urwa had married Uqba b Abi Mo'eet. Uqba b Abi Mo'eet was one of the inveterate enemies of Islam. Among the Quraish he was in the forefront in the persecution of the Muslims. He was taken captive by the Muslims in the battle of Badr and was executed.

Walid became a Muslim at the time of the conquest of Makkah. Thereafter he was commissioned by the Holy Prophet to collect taxes from the Banu Mustaliq tribe. When Walid reached the settlement of the Banu Mustaliq they came out in large numbers to meet him. He got the impression that the Banu Mustaliq meant some mischief. He returned to Madina and reported to the Holy Prophet that the Banu Mustaliq had apostatized and were not willing to pay the taxes.

Later it transpired that the impression of Walid was false. The Banu Mustaliq had not apostatized, on the other hand they had gathered in strength to greet him as an emissary of the Government of Madina. The Holy Prophet felt annoyed at the conduct of Walid. On this occasion a verse of the Holy Quran was revealed enjoining the Muslims that when any news was reported, they should verify it in the first instance.

Walid was, however, intelligent and a man of considerable ability. Later he made amends for his lapse in the matter of the collection of taxes from Banu Mustaliq, and his services were utilized for sundry purposes. Umar a great connoisseur of men employed him for the collection of taxes from the Banu Taghlib tribe in Jazira and he discharged his duties most conscientiously.

When Uthman became the Caliph, Walid came to Madina and remained by the side of Uthman. In his book on Uthman, Raza Misri relates that once when Walid came to Uthman he took his particular seat, but when Hakam b Al A'as the uncle of Uthman came Uthman vacated his own seat for his uncle. Thereupon Walid b Uqba composed the verses:

"I have seen what respect one's uncle commands;

And before the uncle the stature of the brother is diminished:

Perhaps the brother's fault is that he is young in age;

I hope that in course of time 'Amr and Khalid (sons of Uthman) would respect me as uncle as Uthman respects his uncle Hakam."