Musannaf Ibn Abi Shaybah 40465 — Reports on Uthman (may Allah be)

It is narrated from Abd al-Aziz bin Rufay' that when Sayyiduna Ali (may Allah be pleased with him) set out for the Battle of Siffin, he left Sayyiduna Abu Mas'ud (may Allah be pleased with him) behind as his deputy over the people. He delivered a sermon on the day of Friday and noticed that the people were few. He said: O people! Go out; whoever goes out will be safe. By Allah, we know that there are among you those who dislike this matter and are reluctant about it. Go out; whoever goes out will be safe. By Allah, we do not count it as well-being that these two armies should meet, each guarding itself against the other; rather, we count it as well-being that Allah should set right the Ummah of Muhammad and establish love and affection among them. Shall I not tell you about Sayyiduna Uthman (may Allah be pleased with him) and why the people became angry with him? The people did not leave Sayyiduna Uthman and his fault to Allah, so that He might punish him or forgive him. And they did not attain what they were seeking, because they envied him for what Allah Almighty had given him. When Sayyiduna Ali came, he said to him: Did you say what has reached me from you, O chick? You are an old man whose mind has gone. Sayyiduna Abu Mas'ud said: My mother gave me a better name than this. Has my mind gone, when Allah and the Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him) have made Paradise obligatory for me? Do you know it? It is by what remains of my mind that we used to discuss that each later one is evil. Saying this, he left. When Abu Mas'ud appeared before the people at al-Saylahin or al-Qadisiyyah, water was dripping from his locks, and the people saw that he had prepared for ihram. When he put his foot in the stirrup and took hold of the saddle, people stood around him and began to say: Give us some advice. Abu Mas'ud said: Hold fast to the fear of Allah (taqwa) and hold fast to the congregation (jama'ah), for Allah Almighty will not gather the Ummah of Muhammad upon misguidance. They asked again for advice, and he again said: Hold fast to the fear of Allah (taqwa) and hold fast to the congregation (jama'ah). Indeed, only the righteous person finds rest, or he said: rest is found from a wicked person.