Musannaf Ibn Abi Shaybah

40488 - He said: And in the narration of Abu Sa'id: A man entered upon him and said: "Between me and you is the Book of Allah." So he went out and left him. Then a man called "the Black Death" entered upon him, strangled him and strangled him, then went out. He said: "By Allah, I have never seen anything softer than (his throat), by Allah, I strangled him until I saw his soul fluttering in his body like the soul of a jinn." Then another man entered upon him and said: "Between me and you is the Book of Allah," and the mushaf was in front of him. So he reached for him with the sword, and (he defended himself) with his hand, so he cut it off—I do not know whether he severed it completely or cut it without severing it. ⦗429⦘ He said: "By Allah, it is the first hand (that wrote) the separation."

40489 - (And it was narrated) (1) in a narration other than that of Abu Sa'id: so (al-Tujaybi) (2) entered upon him, (and pierced him) (3) with an arrowhead, (and the blood spurted) (4) on this verse: ﴿So Allah will suffice you against them, and He is the Hearing (5), the Knowing﴾ [البقرة: ١٣٧] And in the mushaf (it did not leave a mark) (6) (7).

40490 - 17. And the daughter of (al-Qarafisah) took, in the hadith of Abu Sa'id, her (jewelry) and placed it in her (lap), and that was before he was killed. When he was wounded or killed, she recoiled—or spread her legs—over him. Some of them said: May Allah fight her, how great is her (buttocks). So I knew that the enemies of Allah only desired (the worldly life).

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."

40493 - Aswad ibn Amir narrated to us, he said: Hammad ibn Salamah narrated to us from Ali ibn Zayd from Bishr ibn (Shighaf) (1) who said: Abdullah ibn Salam asked me about the Khawarij, so I said: (They are) (2) the people who pray the most (and fast the most) (3), except that when they cross (the bridge) (4), they shed ⦗435⦘ blood and seize wealth. He said: Do not (ask) (5) about them (except this) (6). (As for me) (7), I have said to them: Do not kill Uthman, leave him, for by Allah, if you leave him for eleven days, he will die (a natural death on his bed) (8), but they did not do so. And no prophet was killed except that seventy thousand (of the people) (9) were killed for him, and no caliph was killed except that thirty-five thousand (10) were killed for 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."

It is narrated from A’mash that we came to Ibn Abu Hudhail, so he said that they said that they martyred Hazrat Uthman. He then came to me again, and we said, “Did you not have any doubt anywhere?”

Sur bin Ibrahim narrates from his father that I heard him say: These are my two feet; if the Word of Allah permitted that they be put in chains, then put shackles on both my feet.

It is narrated from Muhammad that Hazrat Hudhaifa (may Allah be pleased with him) said at the time of the killing of Hazrat Uthman: "O Allah, if the people of Arabia have martyred Hazrat Uthman in a good way, that is, for goodness, guidance, and Your pleasure, then I am free from it and have no part in it. And if the people of Arabia have made a mistake by martyring him, then You already know about my disassociation from it." Then he said, "Take a lesson from what I am telling you. By Allah, if the people of Arabia have done good in his killing, soon they will see its benefit, and if they have made a mistake in it, they will also see its bloody loss."

It is narrated from Humaid bin Hilal that Abu Dharr said to Hazrat Uthman: "If you command me, I will hang myself with the ring of the camel-litter and remain tied to it until I die (meaning, I am ready to obey you in every way)."

It is narrated from Ibn Hanfiyyah who says that Hazrat Ali (may Allah be pleased with him) used to say that if Hazrat Uthman had ordered me to go to that group (the rebels), I would have listened to and obeyed his order.

Hazrat Abu Dharr said that if Hazrat Usman ordered me to walk on my head, I would certainly do so.

It is narrated from Ubaid bin Amr Kharafi that I was also among those who came to Madinah. So this caravan stayed at Dhi Marwah. The people of the caravan sent us to the Companions of Muhammad (peace be upon him and his family) and his pure wives g so that we might ask them whether we should come to Madinah or return, and we were also instructed to ask Hazrat Ali (may Allah be pleased with him) last of all. So we spoke to them and asked about coming or returning. They advised us to come. Then we reached Hazrat Ali (may Allah be pleased with him) and asked him, so he asked, "Did you ask anyone else before me?" We said, "Yes." Hazrat Ali (may Allah be pleased with him) asked, "What did they command?" We said, "They commanded us to come." Hazrat Ali (may Allah be pleased with him) said, "But I do not give you this command. This is a matter whose outcome will soon become apparent."

It is narrated from one of the companions of Ajr’s companions, who narrates from two elders of Banu Tha’labah—one a man and the other a woman—both say: We passed by the place of Rabadhah, where we saw a disheveled man with a white beard and white hair. It was said that he is a companion of the Messenger of Allah. (A delegation came and, seeing the improved condition of Hazrat Abu Dharr, said:) Who has treated this man in this way? Will you set up a banner for us so that people may come to your aid? If you wish, they said: O people! Do not present your distress to me, nor disgrace the rulers, for whoever disgraces the ruler, Allah will disgrace him. By Allah, if Hazrat Uthman wishes to crucify me on the highest mountain or on a piece of wood, I will obey his command and be patient, hoping for reward from Allah, and I will consider it good for myself. If he commands me to walk from one horizon to another, or from east to west, I will surely obey and be patient.

Abu Wa'il says that when Uthman was martyred, Abu Musa said: "Indeed, this tribulation is like a disease that tears open the belly; we do not know where it came from, just like a stomach illness. It has come to you from your place of safety. It will make a patient person like a newborn child of yesterday. You will sever ties of kinship and strike each other with spears."

It is narrated from Zaid bin Ali, may Allah be pleased with him, that Zaid bin Thabit was among those who wept over Hazrat Uthman on the days of his siege.

Hasan narrates that the Ansar came to the service of Hazrat Uthman and said, "O Commander of the Faithful, we have helped Allah twice (stood firm in the way of Allah twice) and also helped His Messenger (peace be upon him). We will help you as well." So he said, "There is no need for that, you may return." Hasan used to say, "By Allah, if the Ansar had intended to stop them (the rebels) even through their weak ones, they would have easily stopped them."

40506 - (1) Al-Hasan said: By Allah, if they had wanted to prevent him with their cloaks, they would have prevented him (2).

It is narrated from Abu Salih that when Hazrat Uthman was besieged, Hazrat Abdullah bin Salam said: "Do not kill Hazrat Uthman, for very little of his life remains. By Allah, if you kill him, you will never again be able to perform prayer together in unity."

Munzir Thawri narrates that we were sitting with Muhammad ibn al-Hanafiyyah when someone spoke ill of Hazrat Uthman. Muhammad ibn al-Hanafiyyah said, "Wait." So we said, "Your respected father (Hazrat Ali, may Allah be pleased with him) used to speak ill of him." He replied, "He never spoke ill of Hazrat Uthman. If he had spoken ill, he would have done so on the day when I came to him while the collectors of charity had come to him. Hazrat Ali, may Allah be pleased with him, said, 'The best book is the Book of Allah; take it and give it to Hazrat Uthman.' So I took it and presented it to Hazrat Uthman, but he said, 'I have no need of it.' So I returned to Hazrat Ali, may Allah be pleased with him, and informed him of Hazrat Uthman's statement. Hazrat Ali, may Allah be pleased with him, said, 'Put it back in its place.' If Hazrat Ali, may Allah be pleased with him, had criticized or reproached him, he would have done so on that day."

Zuhri said at the place of Rasafah: By Allah, Hazrat Ali (may Allah be pleased with him) showed goodwill towards Hazrat Uthman (may Allah be pleased with him) and adopted obedience. If they (the rebels) had not known about the letter, they would not have returned to Madinah.

It is narrated from Alqamah who says: I said to Mushtahir, "You used to dislike the Day of Dar (the day of the siege of the house of the Prophet), so how did you change your opinion?" He replied, "By Allah, I disliked the Day of Dar, and I brought Umm Habibah bint Abu Sufyan so that I could take her to the house of Uthman and take Uthman out in a litter. But she prevented me from entering and said, 'What do we have to do with Ashtar?' But I saw Talha, Zubair, and some people who pledged allegiance to Ali (may Allah be pleased with him) without any compulsion, and then they broke that pledge. Alqamah says: I said, 'Ibn Zubair was about to say, "Kill me and Malik."' So he replied, 'No, by Allah, I did not remove the sword from Ibn Zubair while I was looking at the soul inside (i.e., I kept seeing the signs of life), because I was angry with them for not giving due respect to the Mother of the Believers, until I took the Mother of the Believers back.' So when I faced them in battle, I did not rely on the strength of my arms alone, but I stood in both stirrups and struck his head with the sword with force, and I saw him being killed. But the one who said, 'Kill me and Malik,' when I met Abdur Rahman bin Atab, I struck him with the sword until both he and I fell from our horses. Then he began to shout, 'Kill me and Malik,' and people were passing by, but they did not know who he meant by Malik, because he did not say Ashtar. If he had said Ashtar, he would have been killed."

It is narrated from Qatadah that Ali (may Allah be pleased with him) took Ashter by the hand and set out until they came to Talhah. Then he said: These people, meaning the people of Egypt, listen to you and obey you, so prevent them from killing Uthman. He replied: The blood which Allah has intended to be shed, I cannot prevent it. So Ali (may Allah be pleased with him) took Ashter by the hand and returned, saying: How great is this assumption of Ibn Hazramiyyah, that my cousin would be killed while he is overpowering me in my own land, as I am witnessing.

It is narrated from Ibn Sirin who says: I do not know that Hazrat Ali (may Allah be pleased with him) was accused of the murder of Hazrat Uthman until after he was given the pledge of allegiance; then people accused him of the murder.

It is narrated from Umairah bin Sa’d that when Talha, Zubair, and their companions came, a man stood up from the middle of the gathering and said, “I am so-and-so, from the tribe of Banu Jusham.” Then he said, “These people (Talha, Zubair, and their companions) have come to you. If they have come out of fear, then they have come from a place where even a bird is safe (meaning Makkah). And if they have come because of the killing of Hazrat Uthman, then he was killed in their presence. My opinion about them is that their animals should be pricked so that they leave from here.”

It is narrated from Abu Uthman that Hazrat Uthman was martyred in the middle of the days of Tashreeq.

It is narrated from Ibn Sirin, he says: When Hazrat Uthman was called a martyr, Adi bin Hatim said that there was no difference of opinion in this matter. Then, on the day of the Battle of Siffin, when his eye was lost, it was said that there was no difference of opinion in the killing of Hazrat Uthman. Hazrat Adi bin Hatim said: Why not, in that too many eyes were lost.

It is narrated from Abu Zubyan Azdi who says that Hazrat Umar said: O Abu Zubyan, how much wealth do you have? I said, twenty-five hundred dirhams. Hazrat Umar said: Hold on to this abundance of wealth, for soon the youths of Quraysh will come and they will withhold these gifts.

Hazrat Abu Hurairah says: By Allah, if you knew what I know, you would laugh little and weep much, and if you knew all that I know, you would laugh less and weep more. By Allah, a murder will occur in this tribe of Quraysh, then a man will come to a heap of filth, he will find a shoe there, and people will say: This is the shoe of a Qurayshi.

It is narrated from ‘Amir bin Shahr who says: I heard one thing from the Noble Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) and also heard one thing from Najashi. The Noble Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said: Look at the people of Quraysh, listen to their words, and leave their actions. He says: I was with Najashi when his son came carrying a book and he recited a verse from the Gospel and then explained it. I laughed. Najashi said: Do you laugh because of the Book of Allah? Listen! By Allah, indeed it is written in this Book which Allah revealed to ‘Isa that Allah’s curse will be upon this earth when its rulers are children (young boys).

It is narrated from Abu Mas'ud that the Noble Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him and his family) said to the Quraysh: "This matter of caliphate is among you and you are its guardians as long as you do not do anything because of which Allah Almighty takes it away from you. When you do such a thing, Allah Almighty will set over you the most wicked people of creation, and they will strip you as a branch is stripped."

It is narrated from Abu Musa that the Noble Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) was standing at the door of a house in which there were some people from the Quraysh. The Noble Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said that this matter of caliphate will remain among the Quraysh as long as the Quraysh show mercy to those who seek mercy by virtue of kinship, do justice to those who come seeking justice, and act with fairness in distribution. Whoever among them does not do so, upon him will be the curse of Allah, the angels, and all people. Neither his voluntary nor obligatory acts will be accepted from him.

Abu Barzah Aslami narrates that the companions of the Noble Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) were with him on a journey. Then they heard the sound of a cow and they turned their attention towards that sound. So a man got up and went in search of the sound. This was before the prohibition of alcohol. When he reached them and returned, he informed that it was so-and-so and so-and-so; both were singing and responding to each other, and saying that the bones of the Ansari will keep shining and a severe battle will prevent him from being buried so that his grave could be made. Then the Noble Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) raised his hands and prayed, "O Allah! Put both of them in a trial, O Allah! Throw them into the Fire."

It is narrated from Azhar bin Abdullah that Ubadah bin Samit came from Syria to perform Hajj, then arrived in Medina and went to Hazrat Uthman and said, "O Uthman! Shall I not inform you of something that I heard from the Holy Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him)?" Hazrat Uthman replied, "Why not?" Hazrat Ubadah bin Samit said, "I heard the Holy Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) say: Soon there will come rulers over you who will command you to do things that you recognize, and they will appoint governors whom you do not know (i.e., whom you do not understand). Thus, obedience to such rulers is not obligatory upon you."

It is narrated from the daughter of Ma'qil bin Yasar that her respected father became very seriously ill, so this news reached Ibn Ziyad. Thus, Ibn Ziyad came to visit him and sat near him and saw the signs of death on his face. Then he said, "O Ma'qil! Will you not narrate a hadith? Indeed, Allah Almighty has given us much benefit from those ahadith which we have heard from you." So Hazrat Ma'qil bin Yasar said, "I heard the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) say: 'There is no ruler who has authority over my ummah, whether large or small, and does not act justly with them, except that Allah Almighty will throw him face down into the Fire.'" He was stunned for a moment. Then Ibn Ziyad said, "Did you hear this from the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) or from those who came after him?" Ma'qil replied, "No, rather I heard it from the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him)." Then he said, "I also heard the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) say: 'Whoever is given authority over the people and does not treat them well will not even smell the fragrance of Paradise, while the fragrance of Paradise can be perceived from a distance of one hundred years.'" Ibn Ziyad said, "Have you not narrated this hadith before?" Hazrat Ma'qil replied, "If I were not in the illness of death, I would not have narrated this hadith to you even now."

It is narrated from Qais that a man was going towards the Euphrates with Hudhaifa (may Allah be pleased with him). Hudhaifa (may Allah be pleased with him) said: "What will be your condition when you go out and you will not be able to taste even a drop from this river?" Qais says that we asked: "Is this your assumption?" Hazrat Uthman said: "It is not my assumption, rather I am certain of it."

It is narrated from Abu Al-Ala that people said to Mutarrif: "This is Abdur Rahman bin Al-Ash'ath who has come; he has embarked upon two matters: if he prevails, the religion of Allah will not be established, and if he is defeated, you will remain humiliated until the Day of Resurrection."

It is narrated from Abu Darda: If a person was made thoughtful by Islam, then he recognized Islam, and then he let go of the embrace of Islam, it is as if he never knew anything about Islam.

A'mash narrates from his teacher that Hazrat Umar said: Whoever seeks the truth should come out into the open field, that is, he should express his matter openly.