al-Tabarani (d.971)

Abu al-Qasim Sulayman ibn Ahmad al-Tabarani (873-971 AD) was born in Tiberias, Palestine, and became a prominent Islamic scholar and hadith compiler.

The Hadith of the Blind Man:

"A man used to visit Uthman ibn Affan, but Uthman would not pay attention to him or look into his need. So he met Uthman ibn Hunayf and complained to him about that, so he said: “Go to the ablution area and perform ablution, then pray two rak’ahs, then say: O God, I ask You and turn to You through Your Prophet Muhammad, the Prophet of Mercy. O Muhammad, I turn to my Lord through you regarding my need so that it may be fulfilled for me, then go so that I may go with you.” The man went and did what he said, then he came to Uthman’s door. The doorman came and took him by the hand and brought him in to Uthman ibn Affan, who seated him on his carpet and said: “What do you need?” He mentioned his need to him, and he fulfilled his need and said: “I did not mention your need until this hour.” Then he went out from him and met Uthman ibn Hunayf and said: “May Allah reward you with good. He did not look into my need or pay attention to me until I spoke to him about me.” Uthman ibn Hunayf said: "By Allah, I did not speak to him, but I witnessed the Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, when a blind man came to him and complained to him about the loss of his sight. He, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, said: “If you wish, I will be patient, and if you wish, I will supplicate for you.” He said: “O Messenger of Allah, the loss of my sight is hard on me and I have no guide.” He said to him: “Go to the ablution place and perform ablution and pray two rak’ahs, then say these words.” The man did what he said, and by Allah, we did not disperse nor did we stay long until the man came to us and he had He saw as if he had never been harmed.”