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.

It is narrated from Hazrat Sayyida Aisha (may Allah be pleased with her) that she said: Shall I not relate to you that hadith which I heard from the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him)? The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) sent someone to call Hazrat Uthman, and when he came, I heard the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) say: O Uthman! Indeed, Allah the Exalted will clothe you with a shirt; if people wish to remove that shirt from you, do not remove it. He said this three times. Nu'man bin Bashir says: I submitted, O Mother of the Believers, you have not narrated this hadith until now. She replied: I had forgotten it, as if I had not heard it.

It is narrated from Abdullah bin Umar, he said that Uthman (may Allah be pleased with him) said to me while he was besieged inside his house: "What do you say about what Mughira bin Al-Akhnas has told me?" Ibn Umar (may Allah be pleased with them both) said: "I asked, 'What has he told you?'" He said: "These people want to remove me from the caliphate. If I separate myself from this caliphate, they will leave me, and if I do not separate myself from it, they will kill me." Ibn Umar (may Allah be pleased with them both) said: "I said, 'Tell me, if you separate yourself, do you think you will live forever in this world?'" He replied, "No." I asked, "Are Paradise and Hell in their possession?" He replied, "No." I said, "Tell me, if you do not separate yourself from the caliphate, can they do more than kill you?" He replied, "No." I said, "Tell me, will you establish this practice in Islam that whenever people are displeased with their leader, they remove him (from the caliphate)? Do not remove the shirt that Allah has clothed you with."

It is narrated from Hazrat Abu Sahla that on the day of the siege of the house, Hazrat Uthman said that the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, had advised me and I will remain steadfast upon it. The narrator said that the people thought that this was that very day.

It is narrated from Hazrat Abu Laila Kindi that he said: I saw Hazrat Uthman, during the time of the siege, look towards the people and say: O people! Do not kill me and reconcile with me. By Allah, if you kill me, you will never be able to fight together, nor will you ever be able to wage jihad against the enemy, and discord will spread among you until you become like this—and he interlaced his fingers with each other. And he recited the verse: "And O my people! The opposition you are showing towards me should not lead you to the same end as befell the people of Nuh, or the people of Hud, or the people of Salih. And the people of Lut are not far from you." The narrator said that Hazrat Uthman sent a message to Hazrat Abdullah bin Salam and asked him. He replied: Wait, wait, surely I will reach your argument more closely. Then those people came to Hazrat Uthman and martyred him.

It is narrated from Hazrat Muhammad bin Sirin that Hazrat Uthman looked out from the palace towards the people and said, "Bring me such a man with whom I may recite the Book of Allah in comparison." They brought Sa'sa'ah bin Sawhan, who was a young man. Hazrat Uthman said, "Did you not find anyone else besides this young man to bring to me?" The narrator said that Sa'sa'ah bin Sawhan said something, and Hazrat Uthman said to him, "Recite." Sa'sa'ah bin Sawhan recited the verse { أُذِنَ لِلَّذِینَ یُقَاتَلُونَ بِأَنَّہُمْ ظُلِمُوا وَإِنَّ اللَّہَ عَلَی نَصْرِہِمْ لَقَدِیرٌ} (translation: Permission [to fight] is given to those against whom war is being waged, because they have been wronged, and indeed, Allah is fully capable of granting them victory). Hazrat Uthman said, "This is neither for you nor for your companions, but it is for me and my companions." Then Hazrat Uthman recited this verse { أُذِنَ لِلَّذِینَ یُقَاتَلُونَ بِأَنَّہُمْ ظُلِمُوا وَإِنَّ اللَّہَ عَلَی نَصْرِہِمْ لَقَدِیرٌ} up to { وَلِلَّہِ عَاقِبَۃُ الأُمُورِ }.

It is narrated from Hazrat Abu Salih that he said Hazrat Abdullah bin Salam said, when Hazrat Usman was besieged in his house, "Do not kill him, because only a little part of his life remains. By Allah, if you kill him, you will not be able to offer prayers together."

It is narrated from Hazrat Usman that he said: In my view, the wealthiest among you is the one who has restrained his weapon and his hand.

It is narrated from Hazrat Abdullah bin Zubair that he said: I submitted to Hazrat Uthman on the day (of the siege) of the house, "You should go out and fight them. Surely, there are people with you whom Allah Almighty has helped with even less than this. By Allah, fighting them is lawful." He replied that Hazrat Uthman refused and said, "The person upon whom listening to me and obeying me is obligatory should obey Abdullah bin Zubair." And Hazrat Uthman appointed him as the leader of the house that day, and Hazrat Uthman was fasting that day.

It is narrated from Abdullah bin Masood that he said: By Allah, if they martyr Uthman, they will not find a good successor after him.

It is narrated from Muhammad bin Sirin that he said: Zaid bin Thabit came to Uthman and said, "The Ansar are at the door." The Ansar said, "If you wish, we are once again ready to become helpers of Allah's (religion)." Uthman said, "As for fighting, that will not happen."

It is narrated from Hazrat Saeed bin Zaid that he said: I saw myself and Umar's sister that Umar was about to bind both of us because of Islam, and if a mountain were to be shattered into pieces due to what you did to Hazrat Uthman, then he would be deserving of it.

Hazrat Hanzala bin Qanan Abu Muhammad, who was from Banu Amir bin Dhuhl, narrates: It is reported that Hazrat Uthman looked towards us from the ventilator while he was besieged and said, "Are the two sons of Mahdooj among you?" They were not there; they were sleeping. They were awakened and both came. Hazrat Uthman said to both of them, "I ask you by Allah, do you not know that Hazrat Umar had said that Rabee'ah are wicked, or he said they are deceitful, and I cannot give the people who come from a month's journey the same grant as theirs? Their place of migration is by the rope of their tent (i.e., they are migrants from nearby). Then, one morning, I increased their grant by five hundred each until I made them equal with the others." Both of them said, "Why not (it happened so)." Hazrat Uthman said, "I ask you by Allah, do you not know that you both came to me and said that Kinda and Rabee'ah were dominated by Ash'ath bin Qais? I freed them from him and appointed you both as officials over them." They said, "Why not, it is so." Hazrat Uthman said, "O Allah! If they are ungrateful for my kindness and change the blessing, then O Allah, do not make them pleased with any leader, nor any leader pleased with them."

It is narrated from Jundub Khair that he said: We were present in the service of Hazrat Hudhaifa (may Allah be pleased with him) when the Egyptians had gone towards Hazrat Uthman. We submitted, "These people have gone to that person (Hazrat Uthman); what is your opinion about this?" He replied, "By Allah, they will kill him." We again asked, "What will be the matter of Hazrat Uthman in the Hereafter?" He replied, "He will go to Paradise, by Allah." Then we asked, "And his killers?" He replied, "By Allah, they will go to Hell."

It is narrated from Abdullah bin Abi Huzail that when the news of the martyrdom of Hazrat Uthman came, Hazrat Hudhaifa (may Allah be pleased with him) said: "Today, people have come to the edge of Islam. So many stages are there that they have crossed because of this killing." Ibn Abi Huzail said: "By Allah, these people have deviated from the path of moderation to such an extent that there is such a complexity between them and it that neither will they be able to find its guidance nor will they be able to know it."

It is narrated from Khalid Absi that Hazrat Hudhaifa (may Allah be pleased with him), while mentioning Hazrat Uthman, said: O my Allah, neither did I kill nor did I order it, nor am I pleased with it.

It is narrated from Abdul Aziz bin Rafi’ that when Hazrat Ali (may Allah be pleased with him) set out for the Battle of Siffin, he appointed Abu Mas’ud as deputy over the people in his absence. So, on Friday, Abu Mas’ud delivered a sermon and noticed the small number of people. Then he said, “O people! Go forth; whoever goes forth will find safety. By Allah, we are observing your inclination in this burdensome matter. Go forth; whoever goes forth will find safety. By Allah, we do not consider it well-being that the two armies clash and one avoids his companion; rather, we consider well-being to be that Allah reforms the Ummah of Muhammad and establishes love and affection among them. Shall I not tell you about Hazrat Uthman and why people became displeased with him? Shall I not tell you? People did not leave Hazrat Uthman and his mistake to Allah, that He might punish or forgive him, nor did they attain what they sought, because they envied him for what Allah had granted him. When Hazrat Ali (may Allah be pleased with him) arrived, he said to him, ‘You have said something that has reached me. O chick, your mind has gone astray.’ Hazrat Abu Mas’ud replied, ‘My mother gave me a better name than this. Has my mind gone astray, when Allah and His Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him) have made Paradise obligatory for me? Do you know? It is because of what remains of my mind that we used to say that every other thing is evil.’ Saying this, he left. When Abu Mas’ud appeared before the people at Sailheen or Qadisiyyah, water was dripping from his locks; people saw that he had prepared for Ihram, and when he placed his foot in the stirrup and held the saddle, people stood around him and began to say, ‘Please advise us.’ So Abu Mas’ud said, ‘Adhere to piety and adhere to the congregation, for surely Allah will not unite the Ummah of Muhammad upon misguidance.’ They again requested advice, so he again said, ‘Adhere to piety and adhere to the congregation! Surely, only the righteous find peace,’ or he said, ‘Peace is found with the wicked.’

It is narrated from Ibn Abbas (may Allah be pleased with them both) that Hazrat Ali (may Allah be pleased with him) said: I did not kill (Hazrat Uthman), nor did I order the killing. He said this three times, then said: But I was overpowered.

It is narrated from Ibn Abbas (may Allah be pleased with them both) that Hazrat Ali (may Allah be pleased with him) said: I did not kill, that is, Hazrat Uthman, and I dislike his killers.

It is narrated from Abu Zararah and Abu Abdullah that we heard Hazrat Ali (may Allah be pleased with him) saying: By Allah, neither did I participate in the killing, nor did I kill, nor did I order the killing, nor was I pleased with this killing, that is, the killing of Hazrat Uthman.

The slave woman of Zaid bin Arqam (may Allah be pleased with him) says that Ali (may Allah be pleased with him) came to visit Zaid bin Arqam (may Allah be pleased with him) while people were sitting around him. Ali (may Allah be pleased with him) said to the people, "Be silent. By Allah, whatever you ask about today, I will inform you of it." Zaid bin Arqam (may Allah be pleased with him) said, "I ask you by Allah! Tell me, are you the one who killed Uthman?" So Ali (may Allah be pleased with him) lowered his gaze for a while, then said, "By Allah, Who split the seed and sent the wind, I did not kill him, nor did I order it, nor does any blame for it fall upon me."

It is narrated from Munzir bin Ya'la (may Allah be pleased with him) that on the day the rebels intended to kill Hazrat Uthman, Marwan sent a message to Hazrat Ali (may Allah be pleased with him) asking, "Will you not go to this person (Hazrat Uthman) and protect him? For he is not willing to accept anyone's decision except yours." Hazrat Ali (may Allah be pleased with him) replied, "We will certainly go to him." Then Ibn Hanafiyyah held his shoulder and intended to take responsibility for this task himself. He said, "O my father, where are you going? By Allah, those people will only increase in their fear of you." Then Hazrat Ali (may Allah be pleased with him) sent his turban towards the rebels and told them to refrain from harming Hazrat Uthman.

It is narrated from Abu Ja'far Ansari who says: I was also among the Egyptians who attacked Hazrat Uthman. When they killed Hazrat Uthman, I ran away from there in a state of panic until I entered the mosque, where a man was sitting in one corner of the mosque with a black turban on his head. He said, "Woe to you! What happened behind you?" I said, "By Allah, that person (Hazrat Uthman) is finished." The man sitting said, "Woe to you in the end times." I looked and saw that it was Hazrat Ali (may Allah be pleased with him).

It is narrated from Hakim bin Jabir who says that when Hazrat Uthman was besieged, Hazrat Ali (may Allah be pleased with him) came to Hazrat Talha, who was sitting in his house reclining on cushions. Hazrat Ali said, "I adjure you, did you not prevent the people (rebels) from [harming] the Commander of the Faithful because he would be killed?" Hazrat Talha replied, "By Allah, I will not prevent them until the Banu Umayyah give the people their rights from themselves."

It is narrated from Abu Majliz who says: People criticize Hazrat Uthman for burning the manuscripts, yet they also have faith in the Qur'an that he compiled (wrote).

It is narrated from Muhammad that Hazrat Ali (may Allah be pleased with him) delivered a sermon in Basra: "By Allah, I did not kill Uthman, nor did I assist in his killing." When he descended from the pulpit, one of his companions said, "Then what did you do? Now your companions are separating from you." So when Hazrat Ali (may Allah be pleased with him) returned to the pulpit, he said, "Who is the one asking about the killing of Uthman? Surely, Allah killed Uthman, and I will be with him (meaning I too will be killed)." Muhammad says: "This statement has two meanings."

It is narrated from Maymun that when Uthman was killed, Hazrat Hudhayfah (may Allah be pleased with him) made a circle with his hand and said, "Such a gap has been created in Islam that even a mountain will not be able to fill it."

It is narrated from Abdur Rahman bin Abzi who says: When the matter of Hazrat Uthman occurred, people began to whisper among themselves. I went to Ubayy bin Ka'b and said, "O Abu Mundhir, what is the way to salvation now?" He replied, "The Book of Allah." Then he said, "Act upon what is clear to you and benefit from it, and have faith in what is doubtful to you and entrust it to those who know it."

It is narrated from Juzi bin Bukair Absi that Hazrat Hudhaifa (may Allah be pleased with him) came to Hazrat Uthman to bid him farewell or to greet him. When he turned his back and left from there, Hazrat Uthman said, "Bring him back." When Hazrat Hudhaifa (may Allah be pleased with him) returned, Hazrat Uthman said, "What is the matter that has reached me from your side?" Hazrat Hudhaifa (may Allah be pleased with him) said, "By Allah, since I pledged allegiance, I have never held any grudge against you, and since I wished you well, I have never harbored any malice in my heart." Hazrat Uthman said, "You are more truthful and virtuous than them. You may go." So when he turned his face to leave again, Hazrat Uthman said, "What is the matter that has reached me from your side?" Then he said, "Yes, by Allah, you will surely be driven out like a bull and slaughtered like a camel." The narrator says that Hazrat Uthman began to tremble, then he called for Muawiyah. So Hazrat Muawiyah was brought so that something could be done about it. Hazrat Uthman said, "Do you know what Hudhaifa (may Allah be pleased with him) said?" He said, "You will be driven out like a bull and slaughtered like a camel." Hazrat Muawiyah said, "You should bury this matter."

It is narrated from Salam bin Miskeen, who says that it was narrated to me by the person who saw Abdullah bin Salam weeping on the day of the murder of Hazrat Uthman. He was saying, "Today the Arabs have perished."

It is narrated from Abu Sa'id that people had gathered near the tent of Hazrat Aisha (may Allah be pleased with her) when Hazrat Uthman passed by them. The narrator says that I think this incident took place in Mecca. Abu Sa'id says that everyone present there except me criticized Hazrat Uthman. Among those people was also a man from Kufa. Hazrat Uthman, taking courage, said to that man, "O Kufan, do you abuse me? Then come to Madinah!" It was as if Hazrat Uthman threatened him. So that man came to Madinah, and it was said to him, "Stick with Talha." So Hazrat Talha went with him until they reached Hazrat Uthman. Hazrat Uthman said, "I will deprive you of stipends." Hazrat Talha said, "Indeed, Allah will provide sustenance."

It is narrated from Suhaib, who was the freed slave of Abbas, that Abbas sent me to Hazrat Uthman to call him. He says, I went to him while he was serving breakfast to the people. I called him, so he came and said, "O Abu al-Fadl, may your face be successful." Hazrat Abbas also said, "O Commander of the Faithful, may your face also attain success." Then he said, "As soon as I heard your message, I came; I have only fed the people." Abbas said, "I advise you regarding Ali (may Allah be pleased with him); indeed, he is your cousin, your maternal uncle's son, your brother in faith, a companion of the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) with you, and your brother-in-law. I have heard that you intend to stand against Ali (may Allah be pleased with him) and his companions. O Commander of the Faithful! Pardon me for this." Hazrat Uthman said, "I accept your statement and your intercession. Indeed, if Ali (may Allah be pleased with him) wishes, there would be none but him, but he refused except to give advice." Then Abbas called Hazrat Ali (may Allah be pleased with him) and said, "I advise you regarding your cousin, who is your maternal aunt's son, your brother in faith, a companion of the Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him) with you, and you have pledged allegiance to him." Hazrat Ali (may Allah be pleased with him) said, "If he ordered me to leave the house, I would surely leave. As for the matter of guidance, that the Book of Allah should not be established, I cannot do that." Muhammad bin Ja'far says, "I have heard this many times and have presented it to them many times."

It is narrated from Qais: When Muawiyah and Amr came to Kufa, Harith bin Azma came to Amr. Amr was about to leave on horseback when Harith said to him, "I had come for a task; if you were seated, I would have asked you a question." Hazrat Amr replied, "Ask whatever question you have, for the answer I can give you while seated, I can give you now as well." Harith said, "Tell me something about Ali (may Allah be pleased with him) and Uthman." He replied, "Anger and selfishness had gathered together in one place, so anger overcame selfishness." Then he went on his way.

Aqra’ bin Habis narrates that Hazrat Umar called a priest. Hazrat Umar was questioning him and I was shading both of them. Hazrat Umar asked him, “Do you find mention of us in your books?” He replied, “Yes, there is mention of your qualities and deeds.” Hazrat Umar asked, “What is that?” He said, “I find you as the horn of iron.” Hazrat Umar was a bit disturbed by this and then asked, “What is ‘Qarn Hadeed’ (horn of iron)?” The priest replied, “A strict trustee.” At this, Umar was pleased. Then he asked, “Whom do you find after me?” He replied, “A truthful caliph who will give preference to his relatives.” Hazrat Umar said, “May Allah have mercy on Ibn Affan.” Then Hazrat Umar asked, “What do you find after him?” He said, “A crack in the iron.” There was something in Hazrat Umar’s hand which he was turning over; Hazrat Umar threw it and said two or three times, “Ya Dafra” (O disgraced one). The priest said, “Do not say this, O Commander of the Faithful! Because he will be a Muslim caliph and a good man, but he will become caliph at a time when the sword will be unsheathed and blood will be flowing.” Then Hazrat Umar turned to me and said, “Let us go for prayer.”

It is narrated from Abdullah bin Salam that he said: Do not draw your swords; if you draw your swords, they will never be sheathed until the Day of Judgment. Then he said: Give me a respite of eighteen days, that is, until the day of the martyrdom of Hazrat Uthman (because he himself will pass away).

Hazrat Ka'b says that I was looking at the killer of Uthman; in his hand were two burning coals of fire. Then he killed Hazrat Uthman.

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...

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...”

It is narrated from Amr bin Dinar who says: When there was mention about Hazrat Uthman, as people usually mention, Abdur Rahman came along with some of his companions and went to Hazrat Abdullah bin Umar. Then the people said, "O Abdur Rahman, do you not see how many things this man (Hazrat Uthman) has introduced?" Abdur Rahman replied, "Wow, what are you commanding me to do? Do you want to become like the Romans and Persians, that when they are displeased with their king, they kill him? Allah Almighty has entrusted this leadership to him, and He knows best. I cannot say anything against him."

It is narrated from Abu Qilabah that Hasan bin Ali (may Allah be pleased with him) presented himself before Uthman (may Allah be pleased with him) and said, "Shall I draw my sword? (I am ready to fight the rebels)." Uthman (may Allah be pleased with him) replied, "Then I would be free from your blood before Allah. Keep your sword where it is (in its sheath) and go to your home."