Uthman was a kind person and as gentle as a dove. He also was good to his relatives. Those who did not know him believed that he showed nepotism to his relatives by appointing them to government positions. This misperception created jealousy among low-minded and malicious people. Uthman met with his governors in order to address the jealousies. They decided to send those who were dissatisfied with Uthman to Mecca for Hajj and meet with them in Medina after Hajj. It was hoped that by
doing so all of the issues could be resolved and the misunderstandings removed. Uthman explained that he was helping his son-in-law and his other relatives from his own wealth, but there were some people who did not find his explanations convincing. Blazes of mischief and unrest had not yet burned out.
Several mischief-makers were stirring up trouble, as they did not see Abu Bakr and Umar acting in this manner when they were Caliphs. They sent Ali ibn Abi Talib as an envoy to Uthman to discuss these matters. Ali paid a visit to Caliph Uthman and conveyed to him what his opponents were saying. Uthman and Ali had heated discussions over the matters in dispute and a solution to the opponents’ complaints was not found. Uthman rushed to the Prophet’s Mosque to make a speech. In his speech, Uthman explained that those who were gossiping about him were doing wrong and that they were opposing him for things which they did not oppose during the Caliphate of Umar. He replied to those who accused him of nepotism by appointing hisrelatives as governors that Umar had worked with them
in the same capacity.
The head mischief-maker was Abdullah ibn Sab’a. He declared that he had become a Muslim, but he was travelling everywhere to stir up unrest. He believed that he would achieve his goal by causing strife among the people. Wherever he found a group of dissatisfied people, he encouraged them to make mischief. He confused the Muslims with baseless assertions, such as that like Jesus,
Prophet Muhammad will also resurrect after his death. Not able to stir up trouble in Damascus, Abdullah ibn Sab’a moved to Egypt.
He spread rumors in Egypt by saying that “the Prophet bequeathed Ali as the Caliph after him. Ali is his trustee,’’ in order to suggest that Uthman’s Caliphate was unjust. Uthman’s opponents were ready to exploit these false claims. Trivial matters became issues of monumental importance.
***
Towards the morning of the day in which he was martyred, Uthman saw God’s Messenger in a dream. The two previous Caliphs, Abu Bakr and Umar, were next to him. Uthman was mentally and spiritually ready to be martyred. He had made ablution and was fasting that day. The
Messenger of God told him:
“O Uthman! Would you not like to break your fast with us today?”
Would it be possible for a Companion of Uthman’s caliber to say ‘no’ to such a proposal of the most beloved? “I do not want to tempt anyone,” said Uthman. If he had wished, Uthman could have made sure that none of the rebels survived the siege. There were people waiting to attack the rebels on the slightest sign of Uthman. One may wonder why Uthman did not order them to attack. Uthman presumably hoped that the rebels would eventually cease their siege, as he did not believe that a Muslim
would act in such hostility to a Companion of the Prophet. However, mischief-making and cursed souls had taken the stage.
When martyred, Uthman was reciting the Holy Qur’an.
***
A man named Abu Kilaba narrated an event he witnessed in Damascus:
“I travelled to Damascus with some of my friends. We heard the voice of a man whose hands and feet were chopped off by his wrists; his face was severely disfigured and he was blind.”
“What happened to you?” I asked the man.
He replied:
“I was one of those who entered the house of Uthman in that yawmud dar (the day in which Uthman’s house was sieged by the rebels). Uthman’s wife began screaming as I approached him and I violently slapped her face. When Uthman saw my slap, he said ‘Shame on you! May God chop your hands and feet off and make you blind. And your end be Hell.’ I cannot tell you how deeply shocked I was in that moment. And as you can see now, all Uthman wished has happened to me. My hands and feet are chopped off. And I don’t know what I shall do if I end up in Hell. That’s why I have been screaming and crying.”
“I too said to the man ‘Shame on you’ and left him,” Abu Kilaba concluded.
