Musannaf Ibn Abi Shaybah

It is narrated from Jahm Fahri who says: I personally witnessed this incident that Sa’d and ‘Ammarah sent a message to Hazrat Uthman, saying, “Come to us, we want to inform you about things that you have newly introduced.” Hazrat Uthman sent a message back, “You may go today, I am busy today. I have set a day to meet you so that I may prepare for the dispute.” Abu Muhsin says that the meaning of “ashzan” is “so that I may prepare for the dispute with you.” Sa’d went back, but ‘Ammar refused to return. Abu Muhsin said this twice. So the messenger of Hazrat Uthman seized and beat him. Then, on the appointed day, when they all gathered, Hazrat Uthman said to them, “What is it that you are angry with me about?” They said, “We are angry because you beat ‘Ammar.” Hazrat Uthman said, “Sa’d and ‘Ammar came, I sent them a message to leave. Sa’d left, but ‘Ammar refused, so my messenger beat him without my order. By Allah, I neither ordered it nor was I pleased with it. Still, I am present! ‘Ammar may take his retaliation.” Abu Muhsin explains that “liyastabir” means to take retaliation. Then they said, “We are angry with you because you have made the different letters (recitations) into one letter.” Hazrat Uthman said, “Hudhaifah (may Allah be pleased with him) was with me. He said, ‘What will you do when it is said: so-and-so’s recitation, so-and-so’s recitation, and so-and-so’s recitation, just as the People of the Book differed in their books?’ So if this action (gathering the Arabs on one recitation) is correct, then it is from Allah, and if it is wrong, then it is from Hudhaifah (may Allah be pleased with him).” Then they said, “We are also angry with you because you have designated pastures.” Hazrat Uthman said, “The Quraysh came to me and said that every tribe of the Arabs has a pasture except us, so I designated a pasture for them. If you are pleased, keep it as it is, and if you dislike it, then change it, or he said, do not designate it.” Abu Muhsin was uncertain about this. Then they said, “We are angry with you because you have imposed your ignorant relatives over us.” Hazrat Uthman said, “Let the people of every city stand and tell me whom they like, I will appoint him as governor, and whom they dislike, I will remove him.” So the people of Basra said, “We are pleased with Abdullah bin ‘Amir, keep him.” Then the people of Kufa said, “Remove Sa’id (Walid says Abu Muhsin was uncertain about this) and appoint Abu Musa as our governor.” So Hazrat Uthman did so. The people of Syria said, “We are pleased with Mu’awiyah, keep him over us.” And the people of Egypt said, “Remove Ibn Abu Sarh and appoint ‘Amr bin ‘As as governor.” Hazrat Uthman did so. Whatever they demanded, they obtained and returned happily. While they were on the way, a rider passed by them. They became suspicious and investigated him, and from a leather container, they found a letter addressed to their governor. Its content was: “Kill so-and-so and so-and-so.” So they returned and went to Ali (may Allah be pleased with him), then Ali (may Allah be pleased with him) went with them to Hazrat Uthman. Then they said to Hazrat Uthman, “Here is your letter and here is your seal.” Hazrat Uthman said, “By Allah, I neither wrote the letter nor do I know anything about it, nor did I order it.” Hazrat Ali (may Allah be pleased with him) said, “Then in your opinion, who could have written it?” Abu Muhsin says, or he said, “Then whom do you accuse?” Hazrat Uthman said, “I think my scribe acted deceitfully, and O Ali (may Allah be pleased with him), I even suspect you.” Hazrat Ali (may Allah be pleased with him) said, “The people are obedient to you.” Hazrat Ali (may Allah be pleased with him) said, “Then why did you not turn them away from me?” The people did not trust you and persisted in their stubbornness until they besieged Hazrat Uthman. Then Hazrat Uthman turned to them and said, “Do you deem my blood lawful?” By Allah, the blood of a Muslim is not lawful except for three reasons: one, if he becomes an apostate; two, a married adulterer; and three, one who kills someone. By Allah, I do not think that since I embraced Islam, I have committed any of these.” The narrator says they persisted in their stubbornness. Then Hazrat Uthman demanded from the people that there be no bloodshed. The narrator says, “I saw Ibn Zubair go out with an army to overpower the rebels. If they had wanted to kill the rebels...”