ʿAffān ibn Abī al-ʿĀṣ (Arabic: عفان بن أبي العاص) was a famous 6th-century Arab merchant, a contemporary of the young Muhammad (c. 570–632) and the father of Uthman ibn Affan, the third Rashidun caliph (r. 644–656).

His father was Abu al-As ibn Umayya. His nephew was Marwan ibn al-Hakam. His sister was Safiyya bint Abi al-As, who was the mother of Ramla bint Abi Sufyan (a wife of Muhammad).

Affan married Arwa bint Kurayz, who was the daughter of Kurayz ibn Rabi'ah and Umm Hakim bint Abd Al-Muttalib ibn Hashim. She was also a cousin of Muhammad.

His son Uthman was born in Ta'if. The exact date is disputed: both 576 and 583 are indicated.^[1]: 57 He is listed as one of the 22 Meccans "at the dawn of Islam" who knew how to write.^[2]

Affan died at a young age while travelling abroad, leaving Uthman with a large inheritance. He became a merchant like his father, and his business flourished, making him one of the richest men among the Quraysh.^[3]

Some of his important relatives and the family tree

Uthman (aka Uthman ibn Affan) is known as the Possessor of Two Lights. This is because he was greatly loved by Muhammad and was married to two of his daughters. He was first married to Ruqayyah bint Muhammad (Muhammad's second eldest daughter), and when she died, Hafsa bint Umar came to be the wife of Muhammad, while Umm Kulthum came to be the wife of Uthman.

Umm Kulthum, the third daughter of Muhammad, was married to Uthman after the death of her older sister Ruqayyah. Muhammad had four daughters: Zaynab bint Muhammad, who married Abu al-As ibn al-Rabi'; Ruqqayah bint Muhammad, who married Uthman ibn Affan; Umm Kulthum bint Muhammad, who also married Uthman ibn Affan; and Fatimah al-Zahrah (Fatima bint Muhammad), who married Ali ibn Abu Talib.