The Martyrdom of Sayyiduna Uthman Ghani (RA)-Part Four
The Martyrdom of Sayyiduna Uthman Ghani (RA)
Part Four
These wrongdoers did not listen to Sayyiduna Uthman Ghani (RA) at all and kept food and drink cut off from him. When Umm al-Mu’minin Hazrat Umm Habibah (RA) learned that they had stopped water for Sayyiduna Uthman (RA), she brought a waterskin filled with water to him. The rebels attacked her mule with swords, so the mule bolted. Hazrat Umm al-Mu’minin (RA) nearly fell, then she was taken back to her house. Umm al-Mu’minin Hazrat Safiyyah (RA) also did not fall short in helping and supporting Hazrat Uthman (RA). She tried to keep food and water reaching him.
Even in such severe conditions, Hazrat Uthman (RA) remained an embodiment of patience and forbearance. In one statement, addressing the people, he said:
“Bear witness before Allah and tell me: When the masjid had become too small for the Muslims and the Prophet ﷺ encouraged buying the land next to it, did I not purchase that place with my own pure wealth and dedicate it for the Muslims? And today the time has come that you are stopping me from even praying two rak‘ahs in that same masjid.”
وانتم تمنعوني ان اصلی فیہ رکعتین
_Al-Bidayah, vol. 7, p. 178_
“Bear Allah as witness and tell me: When the Prophet ﷺ came to Madinah and the Muslims were in great need of sweet water, and the Prophet ﷺ encouraged buying the Well of Rumah, did I not buy it at a heavy price for the Muslims? And today you have cut off its water from me.”
In another statement during those days, he said:
“Why are you after killing me? I have not killed anyone, nor have I ever committed zina, nor have I turned away from Islam.”
اني اشهد ان لا اله الا الله وان محمدا عبدہ ورسولہ
He even said to them: “O people, do not stain your hands with my blood. By Allah, if you do this, you will never again pray together, nor will you ever join together for jihad against enemies, and you will fall into disunity among yourselves.”
_Tabaqat vol. 3 p. 49,_
_Al-Musannaf of Ibn Abi Shaybah vol. 7 p. 441_
Then he recited this verse of the Qur’an:
“وَ یٰقَوۡمِ لَا یَجۡرِ مَنَّکُمۡ شِقَاقِیۡۤ اَنۡ یُّصِیۡبَکُمۡ مِّثۡلُ مَاۤ اَصَابَ قَوۡمَ نُوۡحٍ اَوۡ قَوۡمَ ہُوۡدٍ اَوۡ قَوۡمَ صٰلِحٍ ؕ وَ مَا قَوۡمُ لُوۡطٍ مِّنۡکُمۡ بِبَعِیۡدٍ
"O my people! Do not let your opposition to me lead you to a fate similar to that of the people of Noah, or Hûd, or Ṣâliḥ. And the people of Lot are not far from you."
_(Surah Hud: Ayah 89)_
_Al-Musannaf of Ibn Abi Shaybah vol. 7 p. 442,_
_Ibn Sa‘d vol. 3 p. 52_
He said: “Do you not know that when I was standing with the Messenger of Allah ﷺ on the mountain and the mountain began to shake, he said, ‘O Hira, be still. Upon you are a Prophet, a Siddiq, and a martyr’? Are you unaware that when the Prophet ﷺ sent me to the mushrikin of Makkah and the rumor spread that I had been killed, he took the pledge and placed his blessed hand as my hand for the pledge?”
_Al-Bidayah: p. 179_
Hazrat Uthman (RA) kept asking them: If he had committed any grave crime for which he should be killed or stripped of the khilafah, let them tell him. But they could not prove a single such crime to justify their stance. He kept reminding them of the services he rendered to Islam and the Muslims, for which the Prophet ﷺ praised him and gave him du‘as. But they did not listen, because they had not come to listen. Their only goal was to overturn the Islamic khilafah and plunge the Muslims into internal discord and chaos so they would become heedless of their enemies.
As we mentioned, a large number of Sahabah (RA) had gone for Hajj. Had they known that the people coming from Egypt, Kufah, Basrah, and other places in the name of Hajj, and gradually gathering in one place, were only a deception, a large group of Sahabah (RA) would never have gone to Makkah. Likewise, if the people of Madinah had realized that these people, under the pretext of oppression by Uthman’s (RA) officials, actually wanted to end Uthman (RA) and his khilafah, they would have blocked their path at the very first stage. They thought the matter would not go that far. They did not realize these people would not hesitate to take the most oppressive step against Hazrat Uthman (RA).
وكان اصحاب النبى الله الذين خذلوه كرهوا الفتنة وظنوا ان الامر لا يبلغ قتله فندموا على صنعوا في امره ولعمرى ولو قاموا او قام بعضهم فحثا وجههم التراب لانصرفوا خاسرين
_Tabaqat vol. 3 p. 53_
_Tarikh Dimashq vol. 16 p. 210_
When Hazrat Ali (RA) saw the situation growing severe, he ordered his two sons, Hasan and Husayn (RA), to stand at the door of Hazrat Uthman (RA) and said, “Protect Hazrat Uthman (RA) and do not let any rebel reach him.” Hazrat Talha and Hazrat Zubayr (RA) also stationed their young sons to guard him. These young men stood at Hazrat Uthman’s (RA) door so the rebels could not succeed in entering.
His belief was that not helping and protecting Hazrat Uthman (RA) at that moment was a sin. He himself said:
والله قد دفعت عنه قد خشيت ان اكون آثما
_“By Allah, I defended him fully, to the point that I feared I might become sinful.”_
_Nahj al-Balaghah vol. 2 p. 261_
Those who were around Hazrat Uthman (RA), or who could reach him by any means, saw the gravity of the situation and said to him: “If you permit, we will fight with them and give them a harsh answer for this act.” Hazrat Uthman (RA) did not permit them and strictly forbade all of them from raising a hand. Hazrat Ali (RA) sent word: “I have about five hundred armored men with me. If you allow, I will send them for your defense, for you have committed no crime that makes your blood lawful.” He thanked Hazrat Ali (RA) and said, “May Allah reward you with good. I do not like that blood be shed because of me.”
فانك لم تحدث شيئا يستحل به دمک فقال جزیت خيرا ما احب ان يهراق دم في سببي.
_Tarikh Dimashq: vol. 16 p. 220_
Now look at the lies that Shia scholars speak day and night, and they feel no shame rejoicing at Hazrat Uthman’s (RA) martyrdom.
Observe the inner hatred of a Rafidi mulla from the Awadh region of India, Hussain Bakhsh. He writes:
“The killing of Uthman (RA) was absolutely not a crime. Rather, it was in full accord with the lofty goals of Islamic society, and Ali (RA) himself was not willing to defend Uthman (RA).” _Imamat wa Mulukiyyat, p. 123_
If this is not a lie, what is? Did Hazrat Ali (RA) not offer to defend Hazrat Uthman (RA)? Did he not send his sons to protect him? Was Sayyiduna Hasan (RA) not wounded while defending Hazrat Uthman (RA)? Despite all this, if Mulla Hussain Bakhsh and people like him keep piling lie upon lie, then one has no choice but to believe these people are truly the spiritual children of Ibn Saba.
The noble Sahabi Hazrat Zayd bin Thabit (RA) came to Hazrat Uthman (RA) and said: “Many people want to come to you and are saying that if you wish, we are ready to help you for the sake of Allah. We will become the army of Allah and remind them of the days they have forgotten, and make them taste the result of their mischief. Give us permission.” He replied: “No, I do not permit you to fight.”
ان شئت كنا انصار الله مرتين قال فقال عثمان اما القتال فلا.
_“If you wish, we will be the helpers of Allah again.” He said: “As for fighting, no.”_
_Tabaqat Ibn Sa‘d vol. 3 p. 51_
Whoever asked his permission to fight and said, “Allow us to confront them,” he stopped them and said: “There is no need for my defense. Keep your hands and weapons restrained.” Amir bin Rabi‘ah (RA) says:
ان اعظمكم عنى غناء رجل کف یده و سلاحه
_“The greatest helper of mine is the one who holds back his hand and his sword for my defense.”_
_Sunan Sa‘id bin Mansur vol. 2 p. 336_
His slaves were ready to step forward in his support and sacrifice their lives for him. They were only waiting for his order. When Hazrat Uthman (RA) saw them, he declared: “Whoever among you restrains his hand is free.”
من كف يده فهو حر
Hazrat Hasan (RA) said to him: “O Amir al-Mu’minin, I am Hasan bin Ali (RA). You are the rightful Imam. Order me and I will drive this calamity away from you.”
تو امام برحق مرا فرمان ده تابلائے این از قوم تو دفع کنم
_Kashf al-Mahjub p. 52_
He replied: “Nephew, sit down and wait for Allah’s decree. I have no interest left in this world,” or he said, “I have no interest in fighting.”
اجلس يا ابن اخي حتى ياتى الله بامره فانہ لا حاجة لى في الدنيا او قال في القتال
Hazrat Hasan (RA) had his sword around his neck, ready to defend him. Hazrat Uthman (RA) feared that Hazrat Hasan (RA) might be harmed. He ordered Hazrat Hasan (RA) to go home — both to honor Hazrat Ali (RA) and to ensure Hazrat Hasan (RA) was not hurt.
Hazrat Uthman (RA) knew the Prophet ﷺ had great love for Madinah. It was his place of hijrah and he is resting there. If he gave his companions permission to fight, the result would be bloodshed among Muslims and the violation of Madinah’s sanctity. He could not bear that the sanctity of Madinah be violated in any way.
When Hazrat Abu Hurayrah (RA) came out with his sword hanging to support Hazrat Uthman (RA), Hazrat Uthman (RA) stopped him and said: “Throw down your sword. I do not want to see anyone’s blood shed by your hands. Do you want to kill all of us? By Allah, if you kill one man, it is as if you killed all mankind.” So he turned back and did not fight.
فانك والله ان قتلت رجلا واحدا فكانما قتل الناس جميعا قال فرجعت ولم اقاتل
_Tabaqat Ibn Sa‘d vol. 3 p. 51_
_Sunan Sa‘id bin Mansur vol. 2 p. 334_
_Sunan Ibn Majah p. 11_
Because the Prophet ﷺ had instructed him to be patient, and he had promised him about it, he remained firm on his promise. He stopped everyone who wanted to fight the rebels on his behalf.
During those days, Hazrat Mughirah bin Shu‘bah (RA) came to him and said: “You are the Imam of the people, and the condition you are facing is not hidden from you. At this time, choose one of three things:
1) Come out and fight them. We are with you. You are on truth and people will stand in your support.
2) We will open a back door for you. Leave through it and go to Makkah. No one will dare to stain his hands with your blood there.
3) Go to Syria. Mu‘awiyah (RA) is there. There they will not be able to harm you in any way.”
He replied:
اما ان اخرج فاقاتل فلن اكون اول من خلف رسول الله الله في امته بسفك الدماء واما ان اخرج الی مکۃ فانهم لن يستحلونى بها فانی سمعت رسول الله ﷺ يقول يلحد رجل من قریش بمکۃ یکون علیہ نصف عذاب العالم فلن اكون اياه وانا ان الحق بالشام فانهم ابل الشام و فيهم معاوية فلم افارق دار هجرتی ومجاورة رسول الله ﷺ
_Musnad Ahmad vol. 1 p. 108_
_Tarikh Dimashq vol. 16 p. 217_
“It is not possible that I, as the Prophet’s ﷺ caliph, plunge the Muslim Ummah into bloodshed. And I cannot go to Makkah because I heard from the Prophet ﷺ that the Qurayshi who causes bloodshed in the Haram of Makkah and becomes the cause of oppression will bear the sin of half the people of the world. As for going to Syria, that cannot be because I cannot leave the land of hijrah and the neighborhood and company of the Prophet ﷺ.”
To be continued…
Presented by:
_Idarah Dar al-Tahqeeq wa Difa‘-e-Sahabah (RZ)