The Keys Returned to Uthman ibn Talhah

Shaykh Yasir Qadhi explains:

The Prophet ﷺ still held the keys of the Kaʿbah in his hand. ʿAlī ibn Abī Ṭālib asked him to join the siqāyah and the ḥijābah, the watering of pilgrims and the custodianship, both in the hands of Banū Hāshim, an honour his clan had long coveted from the century-old division of Meccan offices. The Prophet ﷺ did not answer him. Instead he called, أَيْنَ عُثْمَان بْن طَلْحَة, "Where is ʿUthmān ibn Ṭalḥah?", of Banū ʿAbd al-Dār, the family that had always held the key. When he came, the Prophet ﷺ handed it back: إِلَيْكُمْ مِفْتَاحَكُمْ, "Here is your key; today is a day of faithfulness and kindness." Many scholars read the verse أَدُّوا الْأَمَانَاتِ إِلَىٰ أَهْلِهَا, "render trusts back to their owners" (4:58), as revealed for this very moment. And from that day to this, no one has dared take the custodianship from the descendants of ʿUthmān ibn Ṭalḥah of Banū ʿAbd al-Dār.