'I have an offer that none of you can beat'

Uthman b. Affan, the third Caliph (d.656), one of the pioneer Muslims, is one of the greatest philanthropists in the history of Islam. He never missed any opportunity to be charitable, during Prophet's time or after. He was chiefly responsible for financing the Prophet's campaign to Tabook. In the reign of Abu Bakr, a similar opportunity knocked: Madinah was experiencing one of the worst economic conditions, when a trading caravan of Uthman arrived with a hundred camels' load of goods. No sooner the news reached the merchants, eager to make rich profits, they rushed to his house offering to buy the goods to sell them at higher prices to consumers. They continued to outbid one another until Uthman told them, “I have an offer that none of you can beat!” Surprised, they asked, “We want to know the identity of the bidder!” He replied, “Allah promised me to multiply dividends ten times or more. Can you offer a better deal?” He continued, “Allah is my witness! I offer the entire merchandise in charity to the poor people of Madinah”.