The Martyrdom of Amir al-Mu’minin Sayyiduna Uthman ibn Affan رضی اللہ عنہ
The caliphate of Sayyiduna Uthman ibn Affan رضی اللہ عنہ lasted for twelve years. During this period, the country saw great progress, many regions came under control, and wealth increased abundantly. However, unfortunately, in the final phase of his caliphate, he faced severe difficulties and hardships. Conspiracies began against him, and then a fitnah (trial) arose which ultimately led to his martyrdom. With his martyrdom, the unity of the Muslim Ummah was shattered, and a flood of trials emerged that has not ceased to this day.
Imam Abu Bakr Muhammad bin Hussain Al-Ajri says:
If someone asks who martyred Uthman, it will be said that (those who martyred him) were various people whom Allah afflicted with misfortune because they envied Uthman and rebelled against him, thus martyred him. Those people wanted to create discord and cause division among the followers of Muhammad ﷺ. The misfortune they suffered in this world is one thing, but what they will receive in the Hereafter is far greater.
◈ Prophecies of the Prophet:
❀ The Holy Prophet ﷺ had foretold during his blessed life that Sayyiduna Uthman رضي الله عنه would be tested.
It is narrated from Sayyiduna Abu Musa (RA) that he was with the Prophet ﷺ in one of the gardens of Madinah. The Prophet ﷺ had a stick in His blessed hand which He was striking into the soil and water. During this time, a man came and wanted to open the door. The Prophet ﷺ said to me: “Open the door and give him the glad tidings of Paradise.” I went and found Sayyiduna Abu Bakr (RA) there; I opened the door for him and gave him the glad tidings of Paradise. Then another man wanted to open the door, so the Prophet ﷺ said: “Open the door for him and also give him the glad tidings of Paradise.” This time it was Umar (RA). I opened the door for him and gave him the glad tidings of Paradise. Then a third man wanted to open the door. At that time, the Prophet ﷺ was leaning on something. He then sat up straight and said: “Open the door for him and give him the glad tidings of Paradise, but he will have to face trials in this world.” I went and found Sayyiduna Uthman (RA) there; I opened the door for him and gave him the glad tidings of Paradise and also conveyed what the Prophet ﷺ had said. Sayyiduna Uthman (RA) said: Allah is the Helper.
❀ You ﷺ also foretold that Uthman رضي الله عنه would be martyred. It is narrated from Sayyiduna Anas bin Malik رضي الله عنه that once the Prophet ﷺ climbed Mount Uhud, accompanied by Abu Bakr, Umar, and Uthman رضي الله عنهم. Suddenly, the mountain began to shake, and the Prophet ﷺ said:
“Uhud, stop, for at this moment upon you are a Prophet, a Siddiq, and two martyrs.”
It is narrated from Sayyiduna Abdullah bin Hawalah رضي الله عنه that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said:
“Whoever is saved from three things is saved.” He repeated this statement three times. (These three things are): “My death, the trial of the Dajjal, and the killing of the generous and noble Caliph who stands firm on the truth.”
Sayyiduna Abdullah bin Amr (RA) says:
There will be twelve caliphs in this Ummah, among them will be Sayyiduna Abu Bakr (RA) As-Siddiq. You will find him to be a distinguished figure, and Sayyiduna Umar bin Khattab (RA) Al-Farooq will be among them (as if) he is made of iron. You will also find him to be a distinguished figure, and Sayyiduna Uthman bin Affan (RA) Dhu al-Nurayn will be among them. He will be blessed with double mercy and will be martyred unjustly. You will also find him to be a distinguished figure.
◈ Planned Conspiracy:
Behind the martyrdom of Uthman were those hidden forces who could not tolerate even a moment of the rise of Islam. After being defeated by Muslims on the battlefields, they realized well that they could never succeed in the fields again, so they prepared such individuals who, wearing the cloak of Islam, tore apart the unity of the Ummah. The Holy Prophet ﷺ had already foretold the ugly face of these hypocrites during his lifetime.
It is narrated from Sayyiduna Nu’man bin Bashir رضي الله عنه that Sayyida Aisha رضي الله عنها said:
One day, the Messenger of Allah ﷺ sent a message to Uthman bin Affan رضي الله عنه. When he came, the Messenger of Allah ﷺ turned towards him. When we saw the Messenger of Allah ﷺ in this state, we moved aside and gathered together so that he could speak freely. The conversation continued. In the end, he placed his hand on Uthman’s shoulder and said:
“O Uthman! I hope that soon Allah will clothe you with a shirt. If the hypocrites demand that you remove this shirt, then do not remove it until you meet me.”
He repeated this statement three times. Sayyiduna Nu’man رضي الله عنه says that I asked Sayyida Aisha رضي الله عنها:
Where was this hadith until now? She replied:
I had forgotten it, by Allah! I did not remember it. Sayyiduna Nu’man رضي الله عنه says:
I told this hadith to Sayyiduna Muawiya bin Abi Sufyan رضي الله عنه but he was not satisfied with my report until he wrote a letter to Sayyida Aisha رضي الله عنها asking her to write down this hadith and send it. Accordingly, she sent him a written document in which this hadith was recorded.
These hypocrites secretly began inciting the people against the government. They criticized every action of the Commander of the Faithful, Sayyiduna Uthman (RA), and tried to defame him in every possible way. Thus, very soon they gathered weak-hearted people to their side.
Abu Saeed Mawla Abi Asid says that Sayyiduna Uthman رضي الله عنه while giving us a sermon said:
A caravan has stopped at Dhul-Hilfah, I am going towards them, whoever among you wants to go (with me) should definitely go.
Abu Saeed says:
I was among those who went with him. We came to them; they were sitting under the roof of the animal pens. We saw them from the middle of the garden. Among them was a young man sitting with the Qur’an in his lap. He said:
Amir al-Mu’minin! What do you say about this verse?
مَّا أَنزَلَ اللَّهُ لَكُم مِّن رِّزْقٍ فَجَعَلْتُم مِّنْهُ حَرَامًا وَحَلَالًا قُلْ آللَّهُ أَذِنَ لَكُمْ ۖ أَمْ عَلَى اللَّهِ تَفْتَرُونَ ﴿٥٩﴾
“That which Allah has brought down for you as provision, then you have made some of it lawful and some unlawful. Say: Did Allah give you this permission, or are you inventing lies against Allah?”
Then the Prophet ﷺ said:
Indeed, Umar had designated a pasture, and now that the charity has increased, I have expanded it. In any case, whoever wishes to graze (their animals) there may do so. I repent to Allah and seek His forgiveness. Upon hearing this, they all said: Commander of the Faithful! You have done very well by retracting. Then they said: Commander of the Faithful! Is permission necessary for Hajj to the House of Allah?
He replied:
My opinion was that Jihad is superior to Hajj (so if permission is necessary for Jihad, it should also be for Hajj). However, if this is the consensus of you all, then I grant permission to everyone that whoever wishes to perform Hajj should certainly do so (there is no restriction). I repent to Allah and seek His forgiveness. Upon this, they said: Commander of the Faithful! Indeed, you have done very well. They asked a few more questions, and he repented and retracted from them. Each time they said: Commander of the Faithful! You have done very well. Then Sayyiduna Uthman ﷺ said: Now return to your region, and they returned. Then he stood up to deliver a sermon and said: I have not seen any caravan better than this caravan in favor of the Commander of the Faithful. By Allah! They spoke the truth and asked the truth. Then the caravan people came back to you. You looked at them and said: When I have given you the truth, then what has brought you back to me? They said: Your letter. You said: Woe to you! Do not destroy yourselves and your people. By Allah! I did not write this letter nor did I have it written. Upon hearing this, Ishtaar said: By Allah! I swear by this man’s oath. I think he has been deceived and he has deceived you. Upon hearing this, those people rushed at you and (beating you) threw you down until you were severely wounded. Seeing this scene, Sayyiduna Saad bin Malik ﷺ stood before them and said: For what crime are you killing him? When he was in error, you left him alone, and now that he is free and pure from error, you are killing him. Upon hearing this, those people began to strike him with spears as well, until he fell on his side and said: Come, kill me. Indeed, my mother named me rightly when she named me Saad (the fortunate), for what greater fortune could there be than to be martyred defending the Commander of the Faithful? Ishtaar came and stopped those people and said: Servants of Allah! Have you taken the Companions of Muhammad ﷺ as sacrificial animals? Saad left from there saying: O Allah! I fled from Mecca to Medina with my religion, and now I am fleeing from Medina back to Mecca.
It is narrated from Abu Saeed, who said:
Our master Uthman (may Allah be pleased with him) heard that a delegation from the people of Egypt had arrived, so he welcomed them. At that time, he was in a settlement outside Medina. When they heard of his presence there, they came to meet him at that place. He disliked that they should come to meet him in Medina. Nevertheless, they came to him and said: “Recite the Quran.” He asked for the Quran, and they said: “Exclude the seventh surah.” Those people referred to Surah Yunus as the seventh surah.
He began reciting that surah until he reached this verse:
قُلْ أَرَأَيْتُم مَّا أَنزَلَ اللَّهُ لَكُم مِّن رِّزْقٍ فَجَعَلْتُم مِّنْهُ حَرَامًا وَحَلَالًا قُلْ آللَّهُ أَذِنَ لَكُمْ ۖ أَمْ عَلَى اللَّهِ تَفْتَرُونَ ﴿٥٩﴾
“Say, ‘Have you considered what Allah has provided for you of provision, then you made some of it unlawful and some lawful?’ Say, ‘Has Allah permitted you, or do you invent [something] about Allah?'”
Then those people said: Wait, tell us, did Allah give you permission to make this pasture, or are you accusing Allah falsely? You replied: Do not bring up this verse; it was revealed concerning such and such matters. As for the pasture, before me, Umar (may Allah be pleased with him) had also designated this pasture for the sacrificial camels. I only did this: when the number of sacrificial camels increased, I expanded the pasture as well. So do not speak about this matter.
The narrator says that those people kept accusing you based on this verse, and you kept saying not to present it, as it was revealed concerning such and such matters. The narrator says: And Sayyiduna Uthman (may Allah be pleased with him) took a promise from them that they would neither create division among the Muslims nor separate from the Muslim community as long as he (Uthman) fulfilled their conditions. Then you asked them: What do you want? They said: We want the people of Madinah not to receive stipends because the right to that wealth belongs to the Mujahideen and the senior companions of Muhammad (peace be upon him) (you accepted this demand as well). After that, they became satisfied and happily came to Madinah with Sayyiduna Uthman (may Allah be pleased with him). After arriving in Madinah, Sayyiduna Uthman (may Allah be pleased with him) gave a sermon and said: (O people of Madinah!) Listen! Whoever has fields should go to his fields, and whoever has milk-producing animals should go and milk them, because now we have no wealth for you; this wealth is only for the Mujahideen and the senior companions of Muhammad (peace be upon him). Hearing this, the people became angry and said: This is the deceit of Banu Umayyah. Then the Egyptian delegation happily returned. They were still on the way when a rider came to them, then he passed them, then returned to them, then separated from them and started abusing them. Seeing this behavior, they asked him: What is your problem? Did you receive any order? Or is there some other matter? He said: I am the messenger of the Amir al-Mu’minin and I am going to the governor of Egypt on his behalf. Then they searched him and found a letter written by Sayyiduna Uthman (may Allah be pleased with him) with his seal on it, addressed to the governor of Egypt. It ordered him to crucify the members of this delegation, or kill them, or cut off their hands and feet. Seeing this, they turned back immediately and came to Madinah. There they met Sayyiduna Ali (may Allah be pleased with him) and said to him: Did you not see that he (Uthman) gave this order against us? Come with us to confront him. Sayyiduna Ali (may Allah be pleased with him) said: No, by Allah! I will not go with you. They said: Then why did you write a letter to us (supporting you and rebelling against Uthman)? He said: By Allah! I never wrote any letter to you. Hearing this, they looked at each other in surprise and said: Do you fight for this person and become angry for his sake? Sayyiduna Ali (may Allah be pleased with him) set out and left Madinah towards a village. Then those people themselves came to Sayyiduna Uthman (may Allah be pleased with him) and said: You wrote such a letter against us. He said: There are only two possibilities: either two Muslim men testify against me, or I swear by Allah, besides whom there is no deity, that I neither wrote this letter nor had it written by anyone, nor do I have any knowledge of it. And you also know that a letter can be written on behalf of another person (i.e., a forged letter can also be written), and a seal like the seal can also be made by Banu Umayyah. The narrator says that then they confined you in the palace of the caliphate.
These narrations make it clear that Sayyiduna Uthman (RA) was martyred through a very large, planned conspiracy, and behind it were those same people who did not tolerate the progress of Islam and peace and security. First, there was intense propaganda against the Amir al-Mu’minin, then inciting people against him, directly confronting and debating the Caliph in front of the people, and spreading forged and fabricated letters attributed to Sayyiduna Ali (RA) — all these were parts of the same organized conspiracy. It is noteworthy that when the Egyptian delegation was returning after getting their demands accepted, a messenger meeting them, sometimes moving forward, sometimes backward, and then abusing them without reason, was clear evidence that Sayyiduna Uthman (RA) writing a letter on their behalf and affixing the seal of Uthman was all part of a plan. It was a scheme to remove Sayyiduna Uthman (RA) from the way to create division among Muslims, break their unity, destroy the peace and tranquility of society, and sabotage the Islamic state from within. If Sayyiduna Uthman (RA) had sent the messenger with the letter, then what was the need for him to repeatedly meet the caravan and abuse them? He should have avoided the caravan, left unnoticed, and reached Egypt before them.
انا لله وانا اليه راجعون۔
◈ Demand for Abdication from the Caliphate:
The rebels surrounded the palace of the caliphate and placed Amir al-Mu’minin Sayyiduna Uthman under house arrest, demanding that he abdicate the caliphate. However, he refused to accept their demand because:
❀ Firstly, the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ had advised him not to relinquish the caliphate at the behest of the hypocrites. Accordingly, Sayyida Aisha (RA) narrates that one day the Prophet ﷺ sent a message to Sayyiduna Uthman bin Affan (RA). When he arrived, the Prophet turned towards him. When we saw you in this state, we moved aside so that you could speak freely. The conversation continued. Finally, the Prophet placed his hand on Uthman’s shoulder and said:
“O Uthman! I hope that very soon Allah will clothe you with a shirt. If the hypocrites demand that you remove this shirt, do not remove it until you meet me.”
The Prophet ﷺ repeated this statement three times.
Sayyiduna Abdullah bin Amr (RA) says that I heard the Messenger of Allah ﷺ say:
“After me, there will be twelve caliphs, among them is Abu Bakr and also the one who will rule over the entire Arabian Peninsula, whose life will be praiseworthy and whose death will be martyrdom.”
Someone asked: Who is he?
You said: “Umar bin Khattab.” Then the Messenger of Allah ﷺ turned towards Sayyiduna Uthman bin Affan (RA) and said:
“O Uthman! If Allah grants you the garment of caliphate and people demand you to remove that garment, do not remove it. By Allah! If you remove it, you will not see Paradise until a camel passes through the eye of a needle.”
❀The second time, the companions also advised the same that you should not leave the caliphate. Accordingly, Sayyiduna Ibn Umar (رضی اللہ عنہ) says that during the siege, Sayyiduna Uthman (رضی اللہ عنہ) asked me for advice and said:
What is your opinion about the statement of Mughirah bin Akhnas?
I said: What does he say? He said: He says that these people are saying that you should abdicate the caliphate and leave that which is between them and you. I (Abdullah) said: What do you think, if you abdicate, will you live forever in this world?
Sayyiduna Uthman (Allah be pleased with him) said: No. I said: If you do not abdicate, can they do anything worse than killing you?
He said: No. I said: Are they the owners of Paradise and Hellfire? He said: No. So I said: Then I do not think it is right for you to continue this way in Islam that when a people become displeased with their leader, they remove him (from leadership), nor do I think it is right that you remove the shirt that Allah has clothed you with upon their demand.
◈The Treachery of the Rebels:
During the siege, the rebels committed acts that had never before been seen in the pure and peaceful city of Madinah where the Prophet ﷺ lived. The oppressors cut off your water supply and prevented you from going to the mosque to perform prayers.
Abu Saeed Mawla Abu Usayd says that when they (the rebels) besieged you in the Caliph’s palace, one day you looked towards them from the roof of the house and said, “As-Salamu Alaikum,” but no man was heard responding to your greeting. Yes, if someone silently replied in their heart, that is a different matter.
You (ﷺ) said:
I swear by Allah, do you know that I bought the well of Rumah with my wealth to obtain sweet water, and my share in it was equal to that of the common Muslims?
The answer came: Yes.
You said: Then why do you prevent me from drinking its water? To the extent that I have to break my fast with the (salty) water of the sea?
You further said: I swear by Allah, do you know that I bought so much land to expand the Prophet’s Mosque?
The answer came: Yes.
You said: Do you know of anyone who was prevented from praying in the mosque before me?
The answer came: No.
Severe stoning was also carried out against you by the rebels. Aban bin Uthman states that when continuous stoning was being done to Sayyiduna Uthman (RA), he came to Sayyiduna Ali (RA) and said:
Uncle! We are being killed by stones. Upon hearing this, Sayyiduna Ali (RA) came, and the rebels pelted him with so many stones on both sides that both his shoulders became numb. Then he said: Nephew! Maintain your dignity and prestige and do as I am doing.
◈Threats of Murder:
When the rebels saw that their efforts were failing, they resorted to threatening you with murder. They said that since this person has betrayed us, Allah Almighty has now made his blood lawful for us, and all the agreements and treaties made between us have now ended.
Sayyiduna Abu Imamah bin Suhail (RA) narrates that we were with Sayyiduna Uthman (RA) when he was besieged in his house. There was a place in the house from where anyone entering could hear the conversations of those sitting in the courtyard. Sayyiduna Uthman (RA) went to that place and then returned to us with a pale complexion. He told us that these people had started threatening to kill him.
We said: Amir al-Mu’minin! May Allah Almighty suffice you against them. He said: Why do they want to kill me?
I have heard from the Messenger of Allah ﷺ that he said: The blood of a Muslim is not lawful except in one of three cases:
1. Apostasy after Islam.
2. Adultery after marriage.
3. Killing someone without retribution (Qisas).
By Allah! I have never committed adultery, neither before Islam nor after its advent, and since Allah Almighty has guided me, I have never wished for any religion other than this (Islam). I have also not killed anyone, so why are these people after my murder?
◈ Addressing the rebels during the siege:
When Sayyiduna Uthman (RA) became certain that these oppressors would not relent without killing him, he delivered various speeches to them as a final warning. These speeches were very heartfelt, in which he reminded them of the occasions when the Prophet ﷺ had given him glad tidings of Paradise.
The trustworthy Tabi’i Abu Abdur Rahman As-Sulmi says that when Sayyiduna Uthman (RA) was besieged, he looked out from above his house and said to them (the rebels):
I swear by Allah, and I only swear by this oath to the companions of the Prophet, do you not know that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said:
“Whoever digs the well of Ruma has Paradise.” So I dug it and dedicated it as a waqf (endowment). Do you not know that the Prophet ﷺ also said:
“Whoever prepares an army for the Battle of Tabuk will have Paradise.” So I prepared the army.
Then the people confirmed the words of Sayyiduna Uthman (RA).
On one occasion, addressing the rebels, he also asked: For what crime do you want to kill me? The Shariah permits killing in only three cases, and I have not committed any of them.
Syedna Ibn Umar رضي الله عنه says that when Syedna Uthman رضي الله عنه was besieged, he looked out from the top of his house towards the crowd and said: Why do you want to kill me? I have heard the Messenger of Allah ﷺ say that the blood of a Muslim is not lawful except in three cases: A man who commits adultery despite being married shall be stoned. Or one who intentionally kills (an innocent person) shall be subject to Qisas (retribution). Or a person who apostatizes after embracing Islam shall be killed. By Allah! I have never committed adultery, neither in the time of ignorance nor in Islam, nor have I killed anyone for whom Qisas could be taken from me, and since Allah has guided me, I have never wished to become an apostate. Indeed, I bear witness that there is no deity except Allah and Muhammad is His servant and Messenger.
❀When the rebels cut off your water and prevented you from going to the mosque, you addressed them.
Abu Saeed Mawla Abi Asid says:
When they (the rebels) besieged you in the palace of the caliphate, one day you looked out from the roof of your house and said, “As-Salamu Alaikum,” but no man was heard replying to you. Yes, if someone silently replied in their heart, that is a different matter. You said: I swear by Allah, do you know that I bought the well of Rumah with my wealth to obtain sweet water, and my share in it was equal to that of the common Muslims? The answer came: Yes. You said: Then why do you prevent me from drinking its water? To the extent that I have to break my fast with the (salty) water of the sea? You further said: I swear by Allah, do you know that I bought so much land to expand the Prophet’s Mosque? The answer was: Yes. Then you said: Do you know of any person who was prevented from praying in this mosque before me? The answer came: No. Then you said: I swear by Allah, have you heard from the Prophet ﷺ that he mentioned anything about me in this way? Abu Saeed says: In my opinion, you mentioned the writing of the detailed Surahs (from Surah Al-Hujurat to Surah An-Nas). Then the news of the siege spread and people began saying: Stop with the Amir al-Mu’minin. Stop with the Amir al-Mu’minin.
Abu Saeed says: Then Ashtar stood up; I do not know whether he stood up that same day or on another day. He said, “It is possible that some trick was played on Uthman and you people.” Then the rebels trampled him underfoot. Sayyiduna Uthman (may Allah be pleased with him) then looked towards them again and gave advice and admonitions, but nothing had any effect on them. The condition of the people had become such that when they heard advice for the first time, it affected them, but when they were advised again, it had no effect on them.
❀ Sayyiduna Uthman (may Allah be pleased with him) also warned that if you kill me, remember you will neither ever pray together nor fight the enemy together.
Abu Ya’li Al-Kindi says that I went to see Sayyiduna Uthman (may Allah be pleased with him) when he was besieged. He looked out from a window and said: O people! Do not kill me (if I have made any mistake) then correct me. By Allah! If you kill me, then you will never again pray together in congregation, nor will you ever fight together against the enemy in jihad, and you will surely fall into disputes among yourselves. To such an extent that you will become like this. And he interlaced his fingers (meaning you will become so entangled with each other). Then he recited this verse:
وَيَا قَوْمِ لَا يَجْرِمَنَّكُمْ شِقَاقِي أَن يُصِيبَكُم مِّثْلُ مَا أَصَابَ قَوْمَ نُوحٍ أَوْ قَوْمَ هُودٍ أَوْ قَوْمَ صَالِحٍ ۚ وَمَا قَوْمُ لُوطٍ مِّنكُم بِبَعِيدٍ ﴿٨٩﴾
“O my people! Let not my opposition to you make you deserving of a calamity like that which befell the people of Noah, or the people of Hud, or the people of Salih. And the people of Lot are not far from you.”
Then you sent a call to Sayyiduna Abdullah bin Salam (RA) and said:
What is your opinion? He said: Enough, enough, you have presented a conclusive argument against them.
◈Advice of the Noble Companions (RA) to the Rebels:
Some Companions (RA) also tried to reason with the rebels, but it had no effect on them.
Sayyiduna Abdullah bin Mughaffal (may Allah be pleased with him) says that Sayyiduna Abdullah bin Salam (may Allah be pleased with him) resided near Medina. Every Friday, he would ride a donkey to Medina, attend the Friday prayer, and then return. When the rebels were incited to kill Sayyiduna Uthman (may Allah be pleased with him), he (Abdullah bin Salam) went to them and said: O people! Do not kill Uthman, and (if he has any fault) repent to him. For there has never been a nation in the world that killed their Prophet and then Allah ever rectified their affairs until they shed the blood of seventy thousand people among themselves. Nor has there ever been a nation that killed their Caliph and then Allah ever rectified their affairs until they killed forty thousand of their people. And no nation will be destroyed until they raise the Quran against the ruler of the time.
Narrator Suleiman says that I asked Hamid bin Hilal: What is meant by raising the Quran against the ruler of the time? He said: Have you not seen the worshippers of selfish desires, how they misinterpret the Quran and under its cover curse the ruler?
(Anyway, Sayyiduna Abdullah bin Salam رضي الله عنه said) Do not kill Uthman, but they (the rebels) refused him. Then when those people martyred Sayyiduna Uthman رضي الله عنه, Sayyiduna Abdullah bin Salam رضي الله عنه came and sat in the path of Sayyiduna Ali bin Abi Talib رضي الله عنه until he arrived. Then Sayyiduna Abdullah رضي الله عنه asked him: Ali! Where do you want to go? He said: I want to go to Iraq. Abdullah رضي الله عنه said: Return to the Prophet ﷺ’s pulpit because if you separate from it now, you will never see it again. Hearing this, one of Sayyiduna Ali رضي الله عنه’s companions said: If permitted, shall we kill him? Sayyiduna Ali رضي الله عنه said: Stop, this is Abdullah bin Salam. He is a righteous man among us.
It is narrated from Thiqah Tabi’i Kathir bin Afalah that he was with Sayyiduna Abdullah bin Salam (RA) when he was passing through a crowd of people and was saying: Fear Allah, do not kill Uthman, for Uthman has as much right over you as a father has over his son. They said: Shall we kill him? No, by Allah! We will not kill him. Sayyiduna Abdullah said: By Allah! You will surely kill him. You kept opposing the killing of Uthman continuously until I (Kathir bin Afalah) clearly felt in my heart (how strongly you were preventing it).
It is narrated from Sayyiduna Ibn Umar (may Allah be pleased with him) that during the siege, he came to Sayyiduna Uthman (may Allah be pleased with him). Sayyiduna Uthman was consulting with him and said: What do you say about these people? Sayyiduna Ibn Umar said: I think that whatever these people are asking from you, you should give it to them. However, do not remove the caliphate that Allah Almighty has bestowed upon you because of their demands. Upon this, Sayyiduna Uthman said: Take your share, and he was somewhat displeased with them. They said: This is not the day (to take a gift). Then Ibn Umar came to the rebels and said: Protect this elder from being killed. By Allah! If you really kill him, you will never be able to gather together to perform Hajj at the House of Allah, nor will you ever be able to unite to fight your enemy in jihad, nor will you ever be able to come together to distribute your spoils. Yes, bodies and various desires will gather. By Allah! Indeed, I have seen myself and a large number of the companions of the Messenger of Allah ﷺ, we used to say: Abu Bakr, then Umar, then Uthman.
◈Avoidance of Fighting:
Sayyiduna Uthman (RA) did not tolerate bloodshed and civil war among the Ummah. The rebels cut off his water supply and prevented him from going to the mosque, but he endured all these hardships with astonishing patience and steadfastness. He did not allow anyone to fight in his support, nor did he let the sanctity of Madinat al-Rasool be compromised for his personal protection.
Sayyiduna Abdullah bin Zubair (RA) says: On the day of the siege, I said to Sayyiduna Uthman (RA): You should come out and fight those (rebels). You have with you those whom Allah had helped even when they were fewer in number. By Allah! Fighting these people has become permissible. Sayyiduna Abdullah (RA) says that Sayyiduna Uthman (RA) refused to fight and said: Whoever has a duty to obey me should obey either Abdullah bin Zubair or Allah.
Sayyiduna Uthman (RA) had appointed him the commander of the Caliphate palace that day and was himself fasting that day.
Abdullah bin Amir says that I heard Sayyiduna Uthman (RA) say: Indeed, the greatest supporter and helper among you is the one who (today) restrains his weapons and hands.
Abu Habibah says that Sayyiduna Zubair (RA) sent me to Sayyiduna Uthman (RA) during the days of the siege. I came to him in the intense heat; he was seated on a bed with a backrest. With him were Sayyiduna Hasan bin Ali, Abu Hurairah, Abdullah bin Umar, and Abdullah bin Zubair (RA). In front of Sayyiduna Uthman (RA) were tubs filled with water and a sheet without seams was spread (meaning a sheet without any joints). I said: Zubair has sent me to you; he sends his greetings and says that he is obedient to you, neither will he change nor break the pledge of allegiance. Therefore, if you wish, I will come to your house and join the people, and if you wish, I will stay here. Also, Bani Amr bin Awf have promised me that they will come to my house tomorrow morning and will obey whatever I command them. When Sayyiduna Uthman (RA) heard this message, he said: Allahu Akbar, all praise is due to Allah who has kept my brother safe. Convey my greetings to him and tell him to come to my house and become one of the people, for his status and rank are very dear to me. Perhaps because of him, Allah will relieve me from this trial.
When Sayyiduna Abu Hurairah رضي الله عنه heard this message, he stood up and said: Shall I narrate to you the Hadith that my ears heard from the Messenger of Allah ﷺ? The people said: Yes, please narrate. He said: “I bear witness that I heard the Messenger of Allah ﷺ say that after me, strange and new trials, matters, and affairs will emerge.” We asked: O Messenger of Allah! Where will be the place of refuge from them? You said: “With the Amir and his group.” And you pointed towards Uthman bin Affan رضي الله عنه. Upon hearing this from Abu Hurairah, the people stood up and said: We have gained insight, so command us to fight. But Sayyiduna Uthman رضي الله عنه said: Whoever is obliged to obey me, I command him not to fight. Then your killers martyred you before the appointed time during the time of Bani Amr bin Awf.
The main reason why Sayyiduna Uthman رضي الله عنه did not allow his companions to fight against the rebels was the advice that the Prophet ﷺ had given him. Aisha رضي الله عنها narrates that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said (in his last days): “Call one of my companions.” I asked: Abu Bakr? He said: “No.” I asked: Umar? He said: “No.” I asked: Your cousin Ali? He said: “No.” I asked: Uthman? He said: “Yes.” When Sayyiduna Uthman رضي الله عنه came, the Prophet ﷺ said to me: “Please move aside a little.” Then he began to speak quietly with Sayyiduna Uthman رضي الله عنه. Sayyiduna Uthman’s color began to change.
Abu Sahl, the narrator of the hadith, says: Then when Sayyiduna Uthman (RA) was besieged in his house, we said: Commander of the Faithful! Why don’t you fight them? He replied: No. (The reason is that) the Messenger of Allah ﷺ took a promise from me, and I am patient upon that (promise).
This promise refers to the same advice of the Holy Prophet ﷺ that you should not yield to the wrongful demands of the corrupt and should show patience and steadfastness in the face of their harm.
Imam Abu Bakr Al-Ajuri (RA) says:
“If a person says that Sayyiduna Uthman (RA) prevented the companions from helping while they were oppressed, and he knew that their fighting on behalf of Uthman was like preventing evil and establishing the truth, then it will be said to that person that this is your negligence. If he asks how, it will be said to him that Uthman’s preventing those gentlemen from helping has several possible reasons, all of which are praiseworthy:
The first thing is that Uthman (RA) knew that he would be killed as an oppressed person; there was no doubt about this because the Prophet ﷺ had informed him that indeed you will be killed as an oppressed person, so be patient. Upon hearing this, Uthman (RA) said that he would be patient. When these people besieged Uthman (RA) and he realized that he would be killed, and he also understood that what the Prophet ﷺ had told him was true and that, as the Prophet ﷺ had said, this would definitely happen, he realized that the Prophet ﷺ had taken a promise from him to be patient regarding his own self. Therefore, Uthman (RA) was patient according to the promise he had made. If he had sought help from others for his own self, then in that case he would not have been counted among the patient ones. Since he had promised patience regarding his own self, this was one reason.
The second reason was that Uthman (RA) knew that the number of the Companions (RA) was small, and those who wanted to martyr Uthman (RA) were many. If Uthman (RA) had allowed these people to fight, there was a fear that many lives of the Prophet’s (SAW) Companions would be lost because of them. Therefore, he sacrificed his own life to save these people because he was a guardian, and it is obligatory for a guardian to protect his subjects as much as possible. Furthermore, Uthman (RA) knew that he would be martyred, so he chose to save these people over himself. This is also a reason.
Another reason for this is that when Uthman (RA) realized that this was a test, and when during a trial the sword is sheathed, there remains the possibility that a person who does not deserve to be killed might be killed. Therefore, he did not allow his companions to sheathe their swords during the turmoil. This was also his effort to protect his companions because during turmoil, it becomes widespread, wealth is destroyed, and sanctities are violated. Thus, Uthman (RA) protected all these people from such things.
One reason for this is also the possibility that Uthman (RA) exercised patience in seeking help so that the Companions (RA) would bear witness against those who had wronged him, opposed his orders, and unjustly shed his blood, because the people of faith are witnesses for Allah on earth. Moreover, he did not want any Muslim’s blood to be shed because of him, nor did he want to become a person after whom any Muslim’s blood was spilled. Therefore, he adopted this approach, even though he was knowledgeable, disabled, guided, and the Companions (RA) were in a position to apologize, while those who martyred him were unfortunate.
◈Permission to pray behind the rebels:
Ubaidullah bin Udi narrates that he was present with Sayyiduna Uthman (RA) when he was besieged, and it was said to him that you are the Imam of all people, yet you are facing a trial that we are witnessing. The situation is that the Imam of the rebellion (the leader of the rebels) leads us in prayer, which makes us distressed. Sayyiduna Uthman (RA) replied:
Prayer is among the good deeds of people; when people do good deeds, you also join them in goodness, and when they do evil deeds, then keep away from their evil.
◈ Arrival of Umm al-Mu’minin Sayyida Safiyya (RA):
Kana, the freed slave of Sayyida Safiyya (RA), says that I was walking ahead of Sayyida Safiyya (RA). She wanted to remove the rebels from Sayyiduna Uthman (RA). When Ashtar Nakha’i saw her, he struck the face of her mule until it bent to one side, then he said:
Take me back, lest this dog disgrace me. Then she placed a piece of wood between her house and that of Sayyiduna Uthman (may Allah be pleased with him), through which she used to send him food and water.
It is narrated from Kinana that he said: I was present at the time of the martyrdom of Sayyiduna Uthman (may Allah be pleased with him). At that time, I was fourteen years old. Sayyida Safiyya (may Allah be pleased with her) ordered us to prepare a howdah on a mule for him, so we prepared the howdah for him. Then we took him within our protection and reached the gate of the Caliphate palace, where Ashtar al-Nakha’i and some people with him were present. Ashtar told Sayyida Safiyya to return to her house, but she refused. Then Ashtar speared her mule, causing it to leap and the howdah to tilt to one side, almost falling. When Sayyida Safiyya saw this situation, she said:
Take me back, take me back. Meanwhile, four Qurayshis were taken out from the Caliph’s palace; they had been beaten. They were defending Sayyiduna Uthman (RA). They were Sayyiduna Hasan bin Ali, Sayyiduna Abdullah bin Zubair, Sayyiduna Abu Hatib (RA), and Marwan bin Hakam.
◈Dream related to martyrdom:
Sayyiduna Ibn Umar (RA) narrates that Sayyiduna Uthman (RA) was telling people in the morning that last night he saw the Messenger of Allah ﷺ in a dream, and he was saying:
“O Uthman! Break your fast with us.”
Uthman was fasting that day, and on the same day, he was martyred.
Martyrdom:
The trustworthy Tabi’i Abdullah bin Amir bin Rabi’ah says that he was with Sayyiduna Uthman (RA) when he was besieged in his house, and he said:
Ibn Umar! Get up and guard the palace of the Caliphate. Accordingly, Ibn Umar رضي الله عنه took a group from Banu Adi and stood with them Ibn Suraqa, Ibn Mati, and Ibn Naeem also stood. Ibn Umar رضي الله عنه came to the palace of the Caliphate (at the door), opened it, and advised them, but they grabbed Sayyidna Ibn Umar رضي الله عنه by the collar, then went inside and martyred Sayyidna Uthman رضي الله عنه without letting Ibn Umar رضي الله عنه know. Abdullah says:
Then I came inside and saw a man sitting leaning against Sayyidna Uthman رضي الله عنه‘s cot; he had a sword around his neck, and behind him was Sayyidna Uthman رضي الله عنه‘s wife, Bint Shaybah bin Rabi’ah. I heard her saying:
O son of so-and-so! That is, son of Abu Bakr! Defend us today. He said:
By Allah! You are our family.
(Protecting you is our duty.)
Abu Saeed Mawla Abi Usayd says:
Sayyidna Uthman رضي الله عنه saw the Prophet ﷺ in a dream, and he was saying:
“Othman! Today, break your fast at our place.”
Then Sayyiduna Uthman (RA) opened the door and placed the Quran in front of him. When a person came inside, he said:
“Between you and me is the Book of Allah.” Then he left you and went outside. Then another man entered who was called “Al-Mawt Al-Aswad” (Black Death). He strangled your throat and then (again) strangled your throat. Then he went out and said:
“By Allah! I have not seen anything softer than their throat. By Allah! I strangled their throat so hard that I saw their breath (gasping) as if the breath of a snake was in their body (just as the snake writhes, so did Uthman writhe).” Then another man came inside, and you said:
Between me and you is the Book of Allah. At that moment, the Holy Quran was before you; he struck you with a sword, and you tried to block the strike with your hand, which was cut off. I do not know whether the hand was completely severed from the body or not. Sayyiduna Uthman (RA) said:
By Allah! This is the first hand that wrote the chapters from Surah Al-Hujurat to An-Nas. Sayyiduna Uthman (RA)’s wife, Na’ilah bint Farafisa, took off her jewelry and placed it in her lap, and this was before your martyrdom. Then, when you were martyred, she bent over you. One of those rebels said:
May Allah destroy her; how big her arms are. Hearing this, she realized that these enemies of Allah had come only with the intention of worldly gain.
Abdullah bin Shaqiq says:
The first drop of Sayyiduna Uthman (RA)’s blood fell on this verse of the Holy Quran:
﴿ فَسَيَكْفِيكَهُمُ اللهُ وَهُوَ السَّمِيعُ الْعَلِيمُ ﴾
“So Allah will suffice you against them, and He is the Hearing, the Knowing.”
The trustworthy and precise narrator Mu’adh bin Mu’adh says:
In the Mushaf of Uthman ( فَسَيَكفِيكَهُمُ اللهُ ) I also saw bloodstains.
Imam Hasan Basri says:
I saw the killers of Uthman throwing stones at people so much that I could not see the sky. At the same time, the Quran was raised from the chamber of one of the Mothers of the Believers and it was said:
Every person who knows that Muhammad ﷺ is disassociated from every person who causes division in his religion and forms groups knows this.
The freed slave of Umm al-Mu’minin Sayyida Safiyya رضي الله عنها, Kanana, says:
I saw the killer of Sayyiduna Uthman رضي الله عنه; he was a black Egyptian. He was in the palace of the Caliphate with both hands raised or spread, declaring that I am the killer of this foolish old man.
Muhammad bin Talha bin Masraf says that I asked Kinana:
Did Muhammad bin Abi Bakr also have any role in the killing of Sayyiduna Uthman (RA)? He said:
May Allah protect! He had entered inside, but when Sayyiduna Uthman (RA) spoke to him, he came out. He had no connection with the martyrdom of Sayyiduna Uthman (RA). I (Muhammad bin Talha) asked:
Then who martyred Sayyiduna Uthman (RA)? He said:
Jubala bin Aiham, who belonged to the tribe of Mudhar, and he had admitted this three times, saying that I am the killer of that foolish old man. I (Muhammad bin Talha) said:
Where was Uthman at that time?
He said:
In the Caliph’s palace.
Imam Nafi says that on this day (in defense of Sayyiduna Uthman رضي الله عنه), Sayyiduna Ibn Umar رضي الله عنه wore armor twice. The narrator Salim bin Akhdar says:
The day referred to is the day of the siege of Sayyiduna Uthman’s رضي الله عنه house and his martyrdom.
Khalid bin Ararah says:
On the day of the martyrdom of Uthman, people became very terrified, and the clashing of swords proved to be burdensome for us. Disheartened by the situation, I stayed at home. Later, when I had to go to the market for some work, I left the house and saw that under the shadow of the Caliphate palace, about forty people were sitting, and a chain was placed at its door. When I tried to enter, the guards stopped me, but the people said, “Let him go.” I entered and found many prominent people present there. At that moment, a handsome man dressed in armor came in. He was not wearing a shirt nor a turban on his head. He sat down. It was learned that he was Sayyid Na Ali bin Abi Talib (رضي الله عنه).
Muhammad bin al-Hanafiyyah says:
I was with my father Ali (رضي الله عنه) when a man came to him and said:
“Indeed, the Commander of the Faithful has been martyred.” Then another man came and said:
Indeed, the Commander of the Faithful has just been martyred. Upon hearing this, Sayyiduna Ali stood up, and I also stood. When I tried to hold him back out of concern, he said:
Let me go. May your mother not survive. Then he came to the house of the Caliphate; by that time, he (Uthman) had already been martyred. Seeing this situation, Sayyiduna Ali returned to his home and locked the door.
Imam Hasan Basri says:
I was sitting in the circle of Sayyiduna Ali ibn Abi Talib when suddenly a scream was heard from the house of Sayyiduna Uthman ibn Affan. I looked at Sayyiduna Ali; he raised his hands towards the sky and said:
O Allah! I declare innocence before You from the blood of Uthman.
Asim’s father, Kalib ibn Shahab, says that when I came to Basra, I saw people preparing an army. I asked:
What has happened to them?
So the people said that these people have received information that some people have gone to Sayyiduna Uthman (RA). (To attack him) Therefore, these people are preparing an army to go to Sayyiduna Uthman (RA) and help him. At that moment, Ibn Amir stood up and said:
Indeed, the Amir al-Mu’minin has made peace and (those who intended to attack) have returned. Upon hearing this, they all returned to their homes. After that, the martyrdom of Sayyiduna Uthman (RA) caused them great sorrow. Kaleeb says:
I had never seen so many old men crying so much before. Their beards had become wet with tears.
◈The Role of the Companions:
The rebels martyred Sayyiduna Uthman ibn Affan (RA), tearing apart the unity of the Muslim Ummah forever. The objections against him were merely an excuse. The real purpose was something else. What was the role of the noble Companions in this entire tragedy?
➊ The Companions of the Prophet ﷺ were ready to sacrifice their lives for the Commander of the Faithful, Sayyiduna Uthman ﷺ, but for this, the permission of the Commander of the Faithful was also necessary. They repeatedly sought permission from him, but not only did he not grant permission for fighting, he strictly forbade it, the reasons for which have already been explained in the previous lines.
➋ The Companions also tried to advise the rebels not to martyr the Commander of the Faithful, warning that the unity of the Muslim community would be destroyed, but their advice had no effect on the rebels.
➌ The Companions kept watch over the Commander of the Faithful, placing their lives in their hands.
➍ Some of the Companions were injured while defending the Commander of the Faithful. For example:
❀ Sayyiduna Ali ﷺ was pelted with stones, which left both his shoulders helpless.
❀ Sayyiduna Hasan ibn Ali ﷺ was severely wounded. He was brought from the Commander of the Faithful’s house in an injured state.
❀ Sayyiduna Husayn ibn Ali ﷺ was also severely wounded.
❀ Sayyiduna Abdullah bin Zubair (may Allah be pleased with him) was also injured.
❀ Sayyiduna Abu Hatib (may Allah be pleased with him) was also injured. (Also)
❀ The honor of Umm al-Mu’minin Sayyida Safiyya (may Allah be pleased with her) was insulted. (Also)
➎ The Companions of the Prophet (may Allah be pleased with them) were extremely distressed by this tragedy; they used to grieve over it and curse the killers of Uthman:
❀ Muhammad bin al-Hanafiyyah says that when Sayyiduna Ali (may Allah be pleased with him) received the news that Sayyida Aisha (may Allah be pleased with her) was cursing the killers of Uthman at Maqam al-Murabid, he also raised his hands to his face and said two or three times:
I also curse the killers of Uthman; may Allah curse them in the battlefields and on the mountains (everywhere).
❀ Sayyiduna Saeed bin Zaid (may Allah be pleased with him) says:
By Allah! I saw myself in such a state that before Sayyiduna Umar رضي الله عنه accepted Islam, he had tied me up as a punishment for bringing me into Islam. But the treatment you people have meted out to Sayyiduna Uthman رضي الله عنه is such that even if Mount Uhud were to move from its place, it would be deserving of it.
❀ Rabi’ bin Harash says:
The night Sayyiduna Hudhaifa رضي الله عنه passed away, that night he asked:
What night is this?
Then he sat up straight and said:
O Allah! I declare my dissociation before You from the blood of Uthman رضي الله عنه. I was neither present at that occasion, nor did I kill him, nor did I give any indication to anyone to do so.
❀ It is narrated from Abu al-Ash’ath that Sayyiduna Thumama al-Qurashi رضي الله عنه was the governor of Sana’a and he had the companionship of the Messenger of Allah ﷺ. When he received the news of the martyrdom of Uthman, he wept and wept for a long time and said:
Today, the caliphate was taken away from the nation of Muhammad ﷺ, and (now) there will be kingship and oppressive monarchy; whoever gains control over something will consume it.
❀ Zaid bin Wahb says:
We received a noble letter from our master Uthmanؓ which was read in front of the people:
Peace be upon you! As for what follows: The army of Dhi Marwah came to us, and among the terms on which we reconciled with them is that they will fulfill the rights of every rightful person. Therefore, whoever has any right against us should go to that army; if he delays or is negligent, he should forgive while giving charity, because Allah rewards those who give charity. Upon hearing this, the people said:
O Allah! We gave charity. We stayed for forty nights, then we received the news of the martyrdom of (Uthman رضي الله عنه). People were deeply saddened upon hearing this news. I (Zaid) went to one of my friends with whom I used to rest, and I said to him:
People have done what you see; among us is a group of the companions of Muhammad ﷺ. Come, let us go to them. So we came to Sayyid Abu Musa رضي الله عنه. At that time, he was the Amir of Kufa. He ordered us to avoid sedition and to stay in our homes. We left from there and came to Hudhayfah’s house, but he was not present. We went to the mosque and found him leaning against a pillar. There was another man with him. I said:
I thought this man had some business with (Hudhaifa رضي الله عنه), so we went and sat apart from them. Meanwhile, another man came and sat beside those two. Then we also got up and sat beside them. Sayyiduna Hudhaifa رضي الله عنه was pressing his thumb under his teeth and said, “A trial will come to you in which black stones will be thrown. Then another trial connected to it will come in which hot stones will be thrown. Then there will be such a dark age that a person will be guided in the morning and misguided in the evening, and guided in the evening and misguided in the morning. During this time, a wise person will be confused and troubled; he will not know whether he himself is misguided or guided. Remember! In this dark age, there will be ups and downs; whoever can die during its intervals should die.” Hearing this, the man sitting beside the young man said:
Companions of Muhammad! May Allah give you the worst punishment, I swear by Allah! You have confused the matter for us; we do not know whether to sit or stand. Why did you not stop the people on Friday (the day when a fitnah occurred)?
Sayyid Na Hudhayfah (RA) said:
I had stopped both myself and Ibn al-Khadraamah from it; if I had not stopped him, he would certainly have been among those who stood and spoke in it.
❀ Abu Khalid al-Walabi says that Sayyidah Aisha (RA) said:
Abu Khalid! How did they first demand compensation from him (Uthman) until they left him like a washed-out cloth, then killed him?
❀ Talq bin Khashaf says that I came to Sayyidah Aisha (RA) and asked:
For what crime was the Commander of the Faithful martyred?
She said:
They were martyred as oppressed victims. May Allah curse their killers.
➏ None of the Companions participated in the martyrdom of Uthman. All the Companions are free from the blood of Uthman.
Sayyiduna Abu Bakrah رضي الله عنه says:
If I were to fall from the sky and be torn into pieces, it would be more beloved to me than to be involved in shedding the blood of Sayyiduna Uthman رضي الله عنه.
❀ Imam Abu Bakr Al-Jurri رضي الله عنه says:
And Allah protected the Companions of the Prophet ﷺ from being involved in the killing of Sayyiduna Uthman رضي الله عنه.
❀ Historian and commentator Allama Ibn Kathir رحمه الله says:
And this claim made by some people that certain companions abandoned Sayyiduna Uthman (رضي الله عنه) and approved of his killing is not true about any one of the companions; rather, all of them disliked it, hated it, and condemned the one who committed this act.
Some people who claim that certain companions participated in the killing of Uthman have made this claim without evidence.
For example:
❀ Muhammad ibn Abi Bakr:
It is said about Muhammad ibn Abi Bakr (رضي الله عنه) that he was with the rioters and that he even grabbed Sayyiduna Uthman’s beard, but when Sayyiduna Uthman (رضي الله عنه) said, “Nephew! If your father saw this act, he would definitely not approve of it,” then he became ashamed and let go. This narration does not reach the level of authenticity.
Firstly:
Historians have stated this without any chain of narration, and if there is any chain, it is not free from weakness. Some are disconnected. Some have weak or unknown narrators. There is not a single authentic or good grade narration that proves that Muhammad ibn Abi Bakr held the beard of Sayyiduna Uthman (may Allah be pleased with him).
It is surprising that these people see Muhammad ibn Abi Bakr holding Sayyiduna Uthman’s beard in these weak and fabricated narrations, but they do not see these words of his:
والله ! ما قتلته ولا امسكته۔
By Allah! I neither killed him (Uthman) nor held him.
In any case, Sayyiduna Muhammad ibn Abi Bakr (may Allah be pleased with him) neither held Sayyiduna Uthman’s beard nor participated in his killing.
Muhammad ibn Talha ibn Masraf (a trustworthy unknown) says that I asked Kanana, the freed slave of Sayyida Safiya:
Did Muhammad ibn Abi Bakr have any role in the bloodshed of Sayyiduna Uthman?
He said:
God forbid! They had gone inside. Sayyiduna Uthman (RA) spoke with them and they came out. Their Sayyiduna Uthman (RA) martyrdom has no connection.
From this narration, it is understood that Sayyiduna Muhammad bin Abi Bakr (RA) has no connection with the martyrdom of Uthman.
❀ Abdul Rahman bin Adees:
Similarly, Sayyiduna Abdul Rahman bin Adees (RA) is also mentioned as leading the Egyptian delegation that came to marty Sayyiduna Uthman (RA).
To the best of our knowledge, there is no authentic or good narration indicating that Sayyiduna Abdur Rahman bin Adees was involved in any way in the martyrdom of Uthman (رضی اللہ عنہ). All the narrations related to this matter are either mere statements without chains of transmission, or if there is any chain, it is weak. The statements mentioned in Al-Isti’ab by Ibn Abd al-Barr and Tarikh al-Islam by Al-Dhahabi are without chains. Indeed, Allama Al-Dhahabi is an expert in the science of narrators, but how can a statement mentioned by him, which has no chain of transmission at all, be considered evidence or proof?
❀ Abdullah bin Badeel bin Waraqah Al-Khuza’i:
Sayyiduna Abdullah bin Badeel bin Waraqah Al-Khuza’i رضي الله عنه is mentioned as having killed Mughirah bin Akhnas Al-Shaqfi, who came to defend Sayyiduna Uthman رضي الله عنه.
This narration narrated by Imam Al-Tabari is weak. Ja’far bin Abdullah Al-Ahmadi, Hussain bin Isa, and his father are unknown. Moreover, there is also a discontinuity in it. There is not a single authentic or good narration regarding Sayyiduna Ibn Badeel Dillah that proves he was involved in this incident.
❀ Umar bin Hamq Al-Khuza’i:
Muhammad bin Sa’d writes that he (Umar bin Hamq) was among those who went out to (murder) Sayyiduna Uthman and he (Umar) also assisted in the martyrdom of Uthman.
Ibn Abd al-Barr says that he was among the four men who entered (Sayyiduna Uthman’s) house by climbing over the wall to kill him.
Where did Imam Ibn Sa’d and Ibn Abd al-Barr get these statements from?
There is no trace or evidence. How can someone be called a murderer based on such matters? Especially regarding the companions of the Prophet ﷺ, those statements for which there is no chain of narration, or if there is a chain, it is weak and worthless, how can we consider it as proof?
In any case, there is no clear and explicit evidence implicating any companion in the martyrdom of Sayyiduna Uthman or in his killing. These are all hearsay statements that some scholars have mentioned in their books without investigation and scrutiny.
➐ The companions had love for Sayyiduna Uthman ﷺ. Hameed says:
I asked Sayyiduna Anas bin Malik ﷺ:
Some people claim that Ali and Uthman cannot both be loved in one heart. So he said:
By Allah! They speak falsehood. Indeed, Allah has united the love of both in our hearts.
➑ The person who martyred Sayyiduna Uthman (RA) was a black-skinned Egyptian man.
His title was “Al-Mawt al-Aswad” (Black Death).
His name was Jibalah bin Aiham. He belonged to the tribe of Mudar.
He was also called Himar (donkey).
❀ The fate of the killers of Uthman (RA) Sayyiduna Jundub Waliullah and Sayyiduna Hudhayfah (RA) narrate that when people set out towards Sayyiduna Uthman (RA) (to martyr him), they (Sayyiduna Hudhayfah) said:
“By Allah! These people will surely martyr him.” I asked:
“In that case, where will Uthman go?” He replied:
“To Paradise.” I asked: “And where will his killers go?” He replied: “By Allah! They will go to Hell.”
