Maulana Wahiduddin Khan | Speaking Tree website | Sep 4, 2017
When the Prophet emigrated from Mecca, the keys of the Ka’aba were with Uthman Ibn Talha. They had been in his family since ancient times. Before the emigration, the Prophet had asked Uthman for the keys, and Uthman had refused to hand them over. Furthermore, he spoke abusively to the Prophet. The Prophet bore all his rude remarks. All he said in reply was: “Uthman, perhaps you will see that one day I will have these keys in my hands. I will have the power to dispose of them as I will” “It will be a day of disgrace and woe for the Quraish when the keys of the Ka‘aba are handed over to one like you,” Uthman retorted. After the Conquest of Mecca, the Prophet reigned supreme. He asked for the keys of the Ka’aba, and was holding them in his hand when his cousin and son-in-law, Ali Ibn Abu Talib, stood up and asked for them to be handed over to him. The Prophet did not reply to Ali, and asked where Uthman Ibn Talha was. When he came forward, the Prophet said to him: “Uthman, here are your keys; this is a day of righteousness and fulfillment of promises.”