In the wake of his inability to come to the mosque, the Caliph
appointed Abu 'Ayyoob Al-Ansaarito do the job. However, after a few
days, Al-Ghaafiqi bin Harb, the chief of the rioters, started leading
the prayers. Like Muhammad bin Abu Bakr, the governor ofEgypt,
Muhammad bin Huthayfah was also working against the Caliph. When
'Abdur-Rahmaan bin 'Udays marched towards Al-Madeenah fromEgypt,
Muhammad bin Abu Bakr had also accompanied them to Al-Madeenah, but
Muhammad binHuthayfah had stayed back inEgypt.
When the rioters made a commotion, 'Alisent both hissons Al-Hasan and
Al-Husaynto stand at the door of 'Uthmaan bin 'Affaanwith locked arms
to stop the entry of the rioters into his house. Talhah and
Az-Zubayralso sent their sonsand they stopped their movements. The
rioters knew well that any harm done to them meant bearing the brunt
of Banu Haashim's fury as a whole. However, the rioters were also in a
hurry, because the arrival of official forces from the provinces could
foil their plan. Thus, they broke into an adjoining house and entered
the Caliph's house byscaling its walls
Martyrdom of Uthmaan bin Affaan
When the rioters showed the letter written on his behalf, 'Uthmaan bin
'Affaandeclared it a forgery. 'Abdur-Rahmaan bin 'Udays, the
ringleader of the rioters rejected it saying: "If you are a liar, you
are not fit to remain as a Caliph. In case you are true in your
claim,then such a weak Caliph should not be left to rule if he is not
ableto keep control over his administration and lets anybody write
anything on his behalf." At last, 'Abdur-Rahmaan bin 'Udays asked
'Uthmaan bin 'Affaan to quit the Caliphate. However, he said: "I can't
put off the garment that Allaah has caused me to put on." That is, he
refused to give upthe post of the Caliph.
When the intensity of the siege increased and even the supply of water
was stopped, 'Uthmaan bin 'Affaan went to the roof of his house and
reminded them of his sacrifices for Islam and the position he held
after embracing Islam. A section of the rioters seemed to forgive him
but Maalikbin Al-Ashtar intervened to keep them firm in their plan.
Moreover,when the rioters were convinced of the arrival of rescue
forces from the provinces, they determined to do away with the Caliph.
During these days, 'Aa'ishahdecided to go on Hajj. She sent for
Muhammad bin Abu Bakr to accompany her on the journey to Makkah. But
he refused to do so, because he was involved with therioters.
Hanthalahthe scribe of the Revelations, said to him:"You refuse to
accompany the Mother of the Believers and instead follow the fools
ofArabia." Muhammad bin Abu Bakr gave no reply. Talhah and
Az-Zubayrhad closed their doors and would neither go anywhere nor meet
anybody. Ibn 'Abbaasfaced the rioters at the door of 'Uthmaan bin
'Affaan and stopped them from drawing near. However, the Caliph
insistedthat he would lead the Hajj caravan, although he said that
waging Jihaad against the rioterswas to him better than performing the
Hajj. Al-Hasan bin 'Ali, 'Abdullaah bin Az-Zubayr, Muhammad bin Talhah
and Sa'eed bin Al-'Aasstopped the rioters from opening the door and
fought to push them back.
However, 'Uthmaan bin 'Affaanprevented them from doing so on oath and
called them in. When the rioters set fire to the doors, they fought
and drove them out once again. 'Uthmaan bin 'Affaan was then reciting
the Quran. When he reached the verse )which means(:"Those to whom
people )i.e. hypocrites( said: 'Indeed, the people have gathered
against you, so fear them.' But it )merely( increased them in faith,
and they said: ' Sufficient for us is Allaah, and )He is( the best
Disposer of affairs.'"]Quran 3:173[
Hesaid addressing those present: "The Messenger of Allaah,has taken a
pledge from me and I firmly keep it, so hold yourselves back from
fighting the rioters." He also asked Al-Hasan bin 'Alito go back to
his father, but he declined the advice and kept at the door.
Al-Mugheerah bin Al-Akhnascould not bear the situation, attacked the
rioters along with some of his companions and wasmartyred. In the same
way, Abu Hurayrahlaunched an assaulton the rioters reciting the
verse)which means(:"And O my people, how is it that I invite you to
salvation while you invite me to the Fire?"]Quran 40:41[
When 'Uthmaancame to know of it, he insistently called him back.
Meanwhile, 'Abdullaah bin Salaamcame and did all he could to pacify
the rioters, but in vain. Among those present with 'Uthmaan bin
'Affaan, some were upstairs watching the movements of the rioters
while others were at the gate stopping their entry. 'Uthmaan bin
'Affaan and his wife Naa'ilah, the daughter of Al-Furafisahwereinside.
The rioters scaled the walls, entered the house of 'Uthmaan bin
'Affaan, and made an assault on him. First of all Muhammad bin Abu
Bakr came near 'Uthmaan bin 'Affaanand said catching hold of his
beard:"O long-bearded one, may Allaah put you to disgrace."
'Uthmaanreplied: "I am not a long-bearded man, but 'Uthmaan, the Chief
of the Believers." Thereupon Muhammad bin Abu Bakr angrily said: "You
covet the Caliphate even in your old age." 'Uthmaansaid: "Had your
father been alive, he would have valued my old age." At this Muhammad
bin Abu Bakr got ashamed and left. Followed by his retreat a group of
criminals came down scaling the wall. The group included
'Abdur-Rahmaan bin 'Udays, 'Amrbin Hamiq, 'Umayr binJannabi,Sudanbin
Humraan, Al-Ghaafiqi and Kinaanah bin Bishr, who first struck
'Uthmaanwith a sword. His wife Naa'ilah came forward and stretched her
hand to stop the stroke, with the result that her fingers were cut off
and thrown away. However, he struck 'Uthmaana second time, which led
to his martyrdom. It so happened when'Uthmaanwas reciting the Quran,
his blood dropped on the verse )which means(:"…. and Allaah will be
sufficient for you against them. And He is the Hearing, the
Knowing."]Quran 2:137[
'Amr bin Hamiq gave him nine wounds with his spear. 'Umayr bin Jannabi
moved forward and kicked him violently more than once, so that his
ribs were broken. At every kick he would say: "It was you who had
imprisoned my father and the poor man died in captivity." Naa'ilah
called out to those upstairs who were unaware of what was happening in
the house. The rioters had completedtheir evil act before those
upstairs arrived. The criminals fled and the slaves of 'Uthmaan killed
a few of them.
Nobody was needed now to guard the door. The rioters then made a
forced entry into the house and plundered all the articles that they
found. The news of this tragedy spread like lightning. This
soul-shattering incident came to pass on Friday, Thul-Hijjah 18, 35
AH. The dead body of 'Uthmaan laid unshrouded and unburied for three
days. At last Haakim bin Hizaam and Jubayr bin Mut'imwent to 'Aliand
he gave permission for him to be buried. The body was buried between
Maghrib and Isha' prayers. Az-Zubayr, Hasan, Abu Jahm bin Huthayfah,
and Marwaanaccompanied the bier. The rioterstried to obstruct the
burial service but held back on the intervention of 'Ali. Jubayr bin
Mut'im led the funeral prayers. Hewas then buried without bath and
coffin.
'Uthmaan bin 'Affaandied at the age of 82 after passing 12 years as a
Caliph. He was buried in Jannat-ul-Baqi' leaving behind eleven sons
and six daughters.
Rioter's Rule in Al-Madeenah
From the day the rioters put a ban on the exit of 'Uthmaan bin
'Affaanfrom his house and his attendance at the mosque, Al-Madeenah
had virtually come under their rule. After 'Uthmaan'smartyrdom,
Al-Ghaafiqi bin Harb, the chief of the rioters, held the powers of the
Caliphate for abouta week and set about issuing all orders, including
the appointment of someone to lead the prayers.
However, the wiser section of them wanted to put a respectable man as
Caliph. They argued that in the absence of a reputable man as Caliph,
their successful efforts would be takenas a mere uprising and rioting.
Thus they decided not to leave Al-Madeenah without electing a Caliph.
'Abdullaah binSabarushed to Al-Madeenah in disguise and joined his
party. He also favored the election of a Caliph. Thus theymet 'Ali,
Talhah and Az-Zubayrseparately and requested each of them to accept
the responsibility of the Caliphate. However, each of them refused the
offer point-blank and they had to return empty-handed and frustrated.
At last, 'Abdullaah binSabainstilled in their mind a workable plan
according to which it was announced throughout Al-Madeenah: "It is the
people of Al-Madeenah who have always played the pivotal role of
electinga Caliph, and the Muslim Ummah accepted it wholeheartedly. Now
we give them just two days to elect a Caliph, if they fail to elect
aCaliph, we will kill 'Ali, Talhah andAz-Zubayr."
This announcement sent terror into the hearts of the people of
Al-Madeenah who came out of their houses and hurried to 'Ali and the
other two. While Talhah and Az-Zubayrflatly refused to shoulder the
burden of the Caliphate, 'Ali agreed to it after initially refusing.
Following his consent, the people came in large numbers to take
Bay'ah)oath of allegiance( at his hand.
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