Musannaf Ibn Abi Shaybah

It is narrated from Hazrat Wasab, who was freed by Amir al-Mu’minin Umar, and he was present before Hazrat Uthman. He said: I saw two spear wounds in the throat of Hazrat Uthman, just as there are marks at the place of branding with branding irons, which were inflicted upon Hazrat Uthman when he was attacked in his house. He (the narrator, Wasab) says: Amir al-Mu’minin Hazrat Uthman sent me to call Ashtar for him. So he came, and a cushion was placed for Hazrat Uthman and for that Ashtar. Hazrat Uthman asked: O Ashtar, what do the people want from me? He said: There is no way out except for one of three things: One, they give you the option to relinquish the matter of the caliphate for them and say to them, “This is your matter of caliphate, choose for it whom you wish.” Or, that you present yourself for retribution. If you refuse both of these, then surely these people will fight you. Hazrat Uthman said: Is there no way out except to choose one of these? He said: There is no way out except to choose one of these. Then Hazrat Uthman said: As for the matter of me separating myself from their matter of caliphate, I will never remove this shirt which Allah, the Lord of Honor, has made me wear forever. Ibn Awn, the narrator, says: Other narrators besides Hasan have reported that he said: “That I go forward and my neck is struck is more beloved to me than that I leave the Ummah of Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him) fighting one another.” Ibn Awn says: This is closer to his words. And as for the matter of me presenting myself for retribution before them, surely I know that two of my companions presented themselves for retribution before me, and my body is not liable for retribution. And if they kill me, by Allah, if they kill me, after me they will never love one another, and after me they will never be able to unite to fight any enemy. So Ashtar stood up and left. We waited a little while. We said: Perhaps there are people. Then Ruhil came, as if he were a wolf. He peeked through the door and then left. Then Muhammad bin Abi Bakr came with thirteen men until they reached Hazrat Uthman and grabbed his beard and pulled it so hard that I heard the sound of his molars falling, and said: “Neither did Muawiyah benefit you, nor did Ibn Amir benefit you, nor did your army benefit you.” He (Hazrat Uthman) said: “Leave my beard, O nephew, leave my beard, O nephew.” The narrator said: Hazrat Uthman looked towards Muhammad bin Abi Bakr as if seeking help from one of his supporters. That man stood up with the tip of a spear towards him until he struck it on his head and held it there. He said: Then what happened? He said: Then they entered, and by Allah, they martyred him.