Part 52

side. These people include *Abdullaah Ibn as-Sawdaa’, Kinaanah Ibn Bishr and others,

The caliph wanted to make sure himself that the conclusion his three delegates reached was true and to clear himself before his Lord and his subjects from any oppression that could have been inflicted on any of the people. Therefore, he issued an official announcement to be delivered to all provinces in which he called upon all those who were wronged or had a complaint to come to Makkah during pilgrimage time to present their complaints before the caliph so that he would retaliate on their behalf against the oppressor and restore to them their rights. In 34 AH, people came to Makkah for the pilgrimage, finished their rituals and then returned to their provinces. None of them stayed to file a complaint.

However, it was not a matter of individual complaints or personal incidents of oppression which could be settled, so as to free souls from grudges, let hearts rest. so that the Muslim public would be satisfied by the administration of the Ummah affairs. The situation was much more dangerous than that, because a group of those who were hostile to ~Uthmaan from Kufah, Basrah and Egypt reached Madeenah for a secretlycontrived conspiracy. They explained their plan saying: "We want to mention to the caliph certain ideas which we indoctrinate people to believe. We will then return to the people and claim that he admitted them, and did not give them up or repent. Next we will dress as pilgrims, besiege him and depose him. If he refuses, we will kill him." That was the exact scenario that took place.

The caliph managed to find out about the intentions of those rebels through two persons who were close to them and briefed the caliph on their thoughts. The Companions of the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, advised * Uthmaan to

kill them in order to rid the Ummah of their danger and nip the sedition in the bud on the ground of the saying of the Prophet: "Whoever calls for himself or for someone else while people are under the leadership of one Imam, he is cursed by Allah, so kill him." Nevertheless, ~Uthmaan, as was his habit, treated them with leniency and did not listen the advice of the Companions who thought they ought to be handled with more firmness. Instead, he said, “No, we will forgive them and inform them of our efforts. We will never punish them unless they commit a punishable crime or declare disbelief."

As regards the issues and questions they implanted in the hearts of people and thought the caliph would be unable to answer and so be forced to admit that he was wrong, ~ Uthmaan discussed them and persuaded them that his conduct was valid. They thus accepted the majority of his views and kept silent as to few of them. These issues are as follows:

They said, “He did not shorten the prayer, when traveling, though it used to be shortened during the lifetimes of the Prophet and his two Companions (Abu Bakr and ‘Umar)." *Uthmaan answered, "I arrived at a city where my family resides so I stayed and completed the prayer." They were content with his answer.

They argued, "He nominated a certain land for for the camels of Sadagah to graze on though the Prophet and his two Companions did not do so." He answered that (he did so) so that the camels of people should not mingle with them and thus compete with them in grazing. He also added that he had only two camels for the journey of Hajj though when he was first appointed as caliph he was the greatest owner of camels and sheep amongst the Arabs. They were satisfied with this answer.

They said that he collected the Quran in one Mushaf (i.e. book) and ordered that all other Mushafs be burnt. He answered, "Truly the Quran is one (book), revealed by the One (Allah), and in doing, so I was a follower and not a heretic." They were content with his answer.

They said that he permitted Al-Hakam Ibn Abi Al-* Aas — his uncle — to return to Makkah whom the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, exiled to Al-Taa'if, because he was one of the most hostile pagans to the Prophet in Makkah before migration. He remained in exile during the rule of AbuBakr. They saw no grounds for * Uthmaan to permit him to return (to Makkah). He answered: "I interceded with Allah's Messenger for his sake and he accepted my intercession. Yet, the Prophet, peace and blessing be upon him, had died before Al-Hakam's return, and Abu Bakr and ‘Umar refused to accept a report transmitted by only one person. So when I came to office, I allow him to come back." They were satisfied with the answer, too.

They said that he appointed young people particularly from his own family. He answered that the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, appointed Zayd Ibn Haarithah and after him appointed Zayd's son, Usamah, as commander of an army which included many of the great Companions. Some people argued with him about that at that time. They also accepted this answer,

They said that he conferred on * Abdullaah Ibn Abi Sarh —his foster-brother — one fifth of the fifth to be allocated to the public treasury. He answered that both Abu Bakr and ‘Umar, may Allah be pleased with them, behaved in the same way. But he got the money back from Ibn Abi Sarh when he knew that the soldiers disliked it. The people were pleased with this behavior.

They said: "The caliph loves his family and confers on them plentiful wealth." He answered: "I love them but I am not biased towards them thus doing injustice (to anybody) nor do I give them what is not rightfully theirs. I only give them from my own property and I do not deem it lawful for myself or any other person to take any of the properties of Muslims.” The caliph added: "I used to spend generously during the lifetimes of the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, Abu Bakr and ‘Umar, may Allah be pleased with them, while I was still stingy at that time, then how do you blame me when I grew old and conferred on my family what I owned?"

Finally, they said, "The caliph permitted the great Companions to go to different provinces such as Iraq, Syria and Egypt where they bought and possessed properties though his predecessor, ‘Umar, prevented them from leaving the capital lest people should be tempted to follow their example and thus be occupied with trade and the amassing of wealth." This stance is in conformity with the lenient and kind character of the caliph in dealing with people. ~Uthmaan answered them saying: "These lands have been shared by their brothers, the helpers and immigrants, when they were conquered. So whoever stays anywhere in those lands would be an example for its people to follow." They also kept silent without agreeing with him concerning this issue.

Those remarks and oppositions to * Uthmaan's policy and conduct in administering the affairs of the Ummah particularly with regard to appointing his relatives in public offices and conferring many gifts on them undoubtedly constituted the main reasons behind people's exasperation with ~Uthmaan's authority. That was made excellent use of by the rebels to incite people and arouse their feelings against him.

Although that discussion officially ended with these people's silence, the caliph realized that their attitudes would have some repercussions and that he should wisely handle the matter before the situation deteriorated. He thus sent to his governors in the different regions asking them to meet him during the pilgrimage time to discuss the issue.

The Caliph's Meeting with the Governors of Provinces:

According to At-Tabari and others, * Uthmaan sent to the governors of the provinces: ~Abdullaah Ibn * Amir, Mu’ awiyyah Ibn Abi Sufyyaan, and * Abdullaah Ibn Sa*d Ibn Abi Sarh. On their arrival, ~ Uthmaan asked Sa*eed Ibn Al-* As and ‘Amr Ibn AI--As_ to participate in the consultation. *Uthmaan, then, wondered: “What are the reason behind all these complaints? I am afraid lest these complaints should turn out to be founded, which, in turn, would disgrace me personally.” They said: “Haven't you sent them your messengers? Haven't we told you the affairs of the people? Haven't they come back and_ no one has spoken to them? By Allah, they are neither truthful nor loyal? We do not know the source of these complaints? You can judge anyone according to them? They are merely false statements that no one can rely on.” He said: “What is your opinion?” Sa* eed Ibn Al-* As said, “This was all secretly fabricated. Then, people, who do not know the reality, are to spread it amongst people.” ~Uthmaan said: “What is the solution then?” He replied: “Bring the persons who spread it and kill them.” *Abdullaah Ibn Sa*d said: “Take from people what they owe you after you give them their rights for this is better than leaving them.” Mu’ aawiyyah said: “You have appointed me (as a governor) on some people from whom you can only expect what is good.” *Uthmaan asked: “What do you say, *Amr?” * Amr answered: “It seems to me that you have dealt with them leniently and so encouraged them to do so. You should follow in the footsteps of your two

companions by behaving harshly when it is necessary and behaving leniently in proper times. Wicked people should be handled harshly, while leniency is the recompense of good people. You, however, deal with both parties alike, i.e. with leniency.”

Thus, everyone who was consulted saw that ~ Uthmaan had to deal strictly with those people who instigated sedition. Owing to his tender nature, ~Uthmaan did not listen to their opinions. Instead, he commanded them to give those people their rights, to excuse them, and to forcefully combat them if Allah's rights were violated.

Now the question is: Did those governors abide by *Uthmaan's commands? The answer is no. They neither prevented people from revolting against the Caliph, nor did they give people their rights by explaining to them the bad consequences of the revolt. Further, they did not protect Allah's rights for, by leaving those people on the loose, they would disobey the Caliph and spread disorder in the provinces.

Each governor returned back to his province. Mu aawiyyah, who realized the difficult situation * Uthmaan was in, offered the latter to come join him in Syria. ~ Uthmaan, however, refused to leave Madeenah, where the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, was buried. Mu’ aawiyyah, alternatively, offered ~Uthmaan to send some Syrian soldiers to defend him against the expected danger. Yet, ~Uthmaan rejected the idea fearing that foreign soldiers may annoy people of Madeenah.