Musannaf Ibn Abi Shaybah

It is narrated from Abu Sa'id that he heard from Hazrat Uthman that a delegation from Egypt came, so Hazrat Uthman welcomed them. They were in a settlement outside Madinah. The narrator says that he thinks Hazrat Uthman disliked that they should come to him in Madinah, or it was something of that sort. So the people of Egypt came to him and said, "Send for the scroll." So he had the scroll brought. Then they said, "Open it and bring out the 'Sabi'ah.'" They used to call Surah Yunus 'Sabi'ah.' So Hazrat Uthman began to recite, and when he reached this verse: { قُلْ أَرَأَیْتُمْ مَا أَنْزَلَ اللَّہُ لَکُمْ مِنْ رِزْقٍ فَجَعَلْتُمْ مِنْہُ حَرَامًا وَحَلاَلاً قُلْ آللَّہُ أَذِنَ لَکُمْ أَمْ عَلَی اللہِ تَفْتَرُونَ } (Say: Tell me, what provision Allah has sent down to you, and you have made some of it unlawful and some lawful? Say: Has Allah permitted you, or do you invent (things) against Allah?) Hazrat Uthman said, "Leave this; this verse was revealed regarding such-and-such matter. As for the issue of pasture you are talking about, before me Hazrat Umar had set aside pasture for the camels of charity. Then when I was made governor, the camels of charity increased, so I expanded the pasture as well, considering the abundance of camels." So the people of Egypt kept arguing from the verses, and Hazrat Uthman kept saying, "Leave it," and kept saying, "This verse was revealed regarding such-and-such incident." The one speaking to Hazrat Uthman was of his age. Abu Nadrah says that Abu Sa'id told him this. Abu Nadrah says, "I was of your age that day." He says, "The full signs of youth had not appeared on my face," or he said, "I was not fully grown up." I do not know if he said the second time, "I was thirty years old that day." Then they made such objections to Hazrat Uthman that he could not get rid of them, and Hazrat Uthman fully recognized the reality of those things. Then he said, "I seek forgiveness from Allah and turn to Him." Then he said to them, "What do you want?" Then they took a pledge from Hazrat Uthman. The narrator says, "I think they also set some conditions," and Hazrat Uthman took a pledge from them that they would not weaken the strength of the Muslims nor spread division among the Muslims as long as I abide by the conditions." Then Hazrat Uthman said, "What else do you want?" So they said, "We want the people of Madinah not to take any grants, because this wealth is only for those who fight and for the companions of Muhammad (peace be upon him)." So they agreed and came to Madinah with Hazrat Uthman. Then Hazrat Uthman stood up and gave a sermon and said, "By Allah, I have not seen a better delegation than this one for my need." And then he said the same thing a second time. The narrator says, "I think its participants were the people of Egypt. Listen, whoever has land should farm it, and whoever has a milking animal should live off its milk. I have no wealth for you. And the wealth is for the fighters and the companions of Muhammad (peace be upon him)." So the people became angry and said, "This is the deception of Banu Umayyah." Then the Egyptian delegation happily returned. They were on the way when a rider came to them, then left them, then returned to them and left again, and abused them. So they said to him, "What is your matter?" He said, "I am an envoy from the Commander of the Faithful to the governor of Egypt." So the delegation investigated and found a letter with him from Hazrat Uthman, sealed with Hazrat Uthman's seal, and it was written to the governor of Egypt that he should kill this delegation or cut off their hands and feet. So the delegation returned and reached Madinah and presented themselves to Hazrat Ali (may Allah be pleased with him) and said to him, "Do you not see the enemy of Allah who has issued such an order about us? Allah has made his blood lawful. Come with us." But Hazrat Ali (may Allah be pleased with him) said, "By Allah, I will never go with you." The delegation asked Hazrat Uthman, "Why did you write this letter about us?" So Hazrat Uthman replied, "By Allah, I did not write any letter for you." So they began to look at each other and said to one another, "Will you fight because of this? Will you become enraged because of this?" Hazrat Ali (may Allah be pleased with him) left Madinah and went towards a settlement. So they went and reached Hazrat Uthman and said, "Why did you write this about us?" Hazrat Uthman said, "Then there are only two things: one is that...