Siege of Uthman

:"This is a sub-article of Uthman Ibn Affan.

The Third Sunni Caliph, Uthman, was killed at the end of a Siege. When the rebels besieged the house of Uthman, the siege was not severe at the early stage. The rebels merely hovered around the house of Uthman, and did not place any restrictions on the movements of Uthman. Uthman went to the Prophet's Mosque as usual, and led the prayers. The rebels offered prayers under the leadership of Uthman.

Background

Uthman Ibn Affan, third caliph, generosity toward his kins, Banu Abd-Shams, who seemed to dominate him and his arrogant mistreatment toward several of the earliest Companions such as Abu Dharr al-Ghifari, Abd-Allah ibn Mas'ud and Ammar ibn Yasir provoked outraged among some group of people. Dissatisfaction and resistance had openly risen since 650-651 (30Ah) throughout most of the empire. [Madelung (1997), pp. 87 and 88] The dissatisfaction with his regime and the governments appointed by him didn't restricted to the provinces outside Arabia. [Madelung (1997), p. 90] When Uthman's kin, especially Marwan, gained control over him, the noble Companions including most of the the members of elector council, turned against him or at least withdrew their support putting pressure on the caliph to mend his ways and reduce the influence of his assertive kins. [Madelung (1997), pp. 92-107]

Rebellion

Finally dissatisfaction led to rebellion in Egypt, Kufa and Basra. In the beginning of rebellion people demanded that the exiled be returned to their homes, the deprived be provided sustenance, the men of strength and integrity be appointed as governors, and so on. [* Madelung (1997), p. 129] They requested Ali to speak to Uthman on their behalf and to admonish him for their sake.cite encyclopedia | title = Ali ibn Abitalib | encyclopedia = Encyclopedia Iranica | accessdate = 2007-10-25|url=http://www.iranica.com/newsite/articles/v1f8/v1f8a043.html] Ali told Uthman "The people are behind me and they have made me an ambassador between you and themselves." He forewarned Uthman that he should change his manner immediately or he would be killed. Ali told him "I swear to you by Allah that you should not be that Imam of the people who will be killed because it has been said that, 'An imam of this people will be killed after which killing and fighting will be made open for them till the Day of Judgment, and he will confuse their matters and spread troubles over them. As a result, they will not discern truth from wrong.'" [وَ إِنِّي أَنْشُدُكَ اَللَّهَ أَنْ تَكُونَ إِمَامَ هَذِهِ اَلْأُمَّةِ اَلْمَقْتُولَ فَإِنَّهُ كَانَ يُقَالُ يُقْتَلُ فِي هَذِهِ اَلْأُمَّةِ إِمَامٌ يَفْتَحُ عَلَيْهَا اَلْقَتْلَ وَ اَلْقِتَالَ إِلَى يَوْمِ اَلْقِيَامَةِ وَ يَلْبِسُ أُمُورَهَا عَلَيْهَا وَ يَبُثُّ اَلْفِتَنَ فِيهَا فَلاَ يُبْصِرُونَ اَلْحَقَّ مِنَ اَلْبَاطِلِ [http://www.nahjulbalagha.org/SermonDetail.php?Sermon=163 Sermon 163] ] [See: al-Tabari (1990), v.XV pp.141 and 142 ] When Egyptian rebels gathered near Medina, Uthamn asked Ali to speak with them. The delegates of Muhajirun led by Ali beside the delegates of Ansar led by Muhammad Ibn Maslamah met them and persuade them to return, by promising them in the name of the caliph, redress for all their grievances and agreeing to act as guarantors. Due to their mediation and Uthman's commitment, rebellion settled down but it had risen again. But later Marwan persuaded Uthman to change his way again. Ali warned Uthman that Marwan wants to ruin him. Gradually the relation between Uthman and Ali became worse. [Madelung (1997), pp. 111-112]

Beginning of the siege

When Egyptian rebels returned to Madina, outraged by the official letter ordering the punishment of their leaders, Ali as the guarantor of Uthman's promises asked him to speak with people directly. Uthman denied any knowledge about the letter and Ali and [Muhammad Ibn Maslamah attested. But at this time the choices offered by the rebels amounted to resignation or abdication of Uthman and selection of another caliph. As turmoil broke out Ali left them. Ali seems to have broken with Uthman in despair over his own ability to break the disastrous influence of Marwan on the caliph. Ali intervened only when in informed the rebels were preventing the delivery of water to the besieged caliph. [* Madelung (1997), pp. 112, 113 and 130] He tried to mitigate the severity of the siege by his insistence that Uthman should be allowed water. Ali went to the extent of even sending his own sons to protect Uthman's house when he was in danger of being attacked. [Madelung (1997), pp. 107 and 134] cite encyclopedia | title = Ali | encyclopedia = Encyclopedia Britannica Online | accessdate = 2007-10-12]
Rebels protested against it and committed excess therein. [See:
*Nahj al-Balaghah [http://www.nahjulbalagha.org/sermons.php Sermon 30] ]

Uthman's address in the Prophet's Mosque

On the first Friday after the siege, Uthman addressed the congregation in the mosque. After offering praises to God and Muhammad, Uthman invited the attention of the people to the commandment in the Quran requiring the people to obey God, His Apostle, and those in authority among them. He observed that the Muslims had been enjoined to settle all matters by mutual consultation. He said that he had kept the doors of consultation wide open. All the allegations that had been levelled against him had been duly explained by him, and shown to be false. He had expressed his readiness to solve the legitimate grievances of the people, if any. He observed that under the circumstances it was uncharitable on the part of some persons to create disturbances in Mecca. He said that he was not afraid of death, but he did not want the Muslims to be guilty of bloodshed. To him the solidarity of the Muslim community was very dear, and in order to prevent dissension among the Muslims he had instructed his supporters to refrain from violence. He wanted the people to be afraid of God, and not to indulge in activities subversive of Islam. He pointed out that the foreign powers smarting under their defeat inflicted by the Muslim arms had sponsored some conspiracies to subvert Islam. He warned the people not to play in the hands of the enemies of Islam. He appealed to the rebels to retire from Madina. He wanted the people of Madina to support the cause of truth and justice, and withhold their support from the rebels bent on mischief.

Rowdyism in the mosque

Some two or three persons from among the congregation stood up to assure Uthman of their support. They were manhandled by the rebels, and were forced to sit down. The rebels including Amr ibn al-Aas , Ammar bin Yasir, and Muhammad ibn Abi Bakr raised their voices against Uthman. One Jabala bin 'Amr Saahadi addressing Uthman said,

:"Beware you foolish old man, that unless you abdicate we will strangle you to death".

When Uthman was addressing the congregation from the pulpit, one Jamjah Ghaffari seized the staff from the hands of Uthman, and broke it on his knees. Addressing Uthman, Jamjah Ghaffari insolently said that he had brought a dirty apparel and an old camel for Uthman to wear and ride, for he was no longer worthy of wearing the robes of the caliphate. Uthman merely dismissed him with the remarks, "May God curse you, and all that you have brought."

Some of the supporters of Uthman took up cudgels on behalf of Uthman. Hot words were exchanged between the parties. Tempers flared up on both the sides, and that led to the pelting of stones at one another. The state of complete rowdyism came to prevail in the mosque. One of the stones hit Uthman, and he fell unconscious. The gathering dissolved in a state of great disorder, and Uthman was carried to his house in a state of unconsciousness.

Intensification of the siege

The proceedings in the mosque showed to the rebels that Uthman did not enjoy the full support of the people of Madina. Apart from the Umayyads and a few other persons, most of the people of Madina preferred to be neutral and watch developments. When the rebels felt that the people of Madina were not likely to offer active support to Uthman, they changed their strategy, and tightened the siege of the house of Uthman. Uthman was denied the freedom to move about. He was not allowed to go to the mosque. Prayers in the mosque were now led by Amir Ghafiqi the leader of the rebels. Madina thus came to be in the full control of the rebels

As days passed on, and no one came forward to oppose the rebels, they felt bold, and intensified their pressure against Uthman. They forbade the entry of any food or provisions into the house of Uthman. Then they placed an embargo even on the entry of water into the house of Uthman. Uthman had purchased a well with his money and dedicated it to the use of the Muslims, and now he was denied water from the well which belonged to him. Umm Habiba, a widow of Muhammad, and a sister of Muawiyah came to see Uthman and brought some water and provisions for Uthman. She was not allowed to enter the house of Uthman. Ayesha made a similar attempt, and she was also prevailed upon by the rebels to go back.

Deepening of the crisis

With the departure of the pilgrims from Madina to Makkah, the hands of the rebels were further strengthened, and as a consequence the crisis deepened further. The rebels apprehended that after the Hajj, the Muslims gathered at Makkah from all parts of the Muslim world might march to Madina to the relief of the Caliph. They therefore decided to take action against Uthman before the pilgrimage was over.

It is related that during the course of the siege, Mugheera bin Shu'ba went to Uthman, and placed three courses of action before him, firstly to go forth and fight against the rebels; secondly to mount a camel and go to Mecca; and thirdly to betake himself to Syria. Uthman rejected all the three proposals He rejected the first proposal saying that he did not want to be the first Caliph during whose time blood is shed. He turned down the second proposal to escape to Makkah on the ground that he had heard from Muhammad that a man of the Quraish would be buried in Makkah on whom would be half the chastisement of the world, and he did not want to be that person. He rejected the third proposal on the ground that he could not forsake Mecca.

Abdullah bin Salam, a companion visited the house of Uthman and he is reported to have addressed the besiegers as follows:

:"Slay him not, for by Allah not a man among you shall slay him, but he shall meet the Lord mutilated without a hand, and verily the sword of God has continued sheathed, but surely by Allah if you slay him the Lord will indeed draw it, and will never sheath it from you. Never was a Prophet slain, but there were slain on account of him,70,000 persons, and never was a Caliph slain. but 35,000 Persons were killed on his account."

A companion Nayyar bin Ayyad Aslami who joined the rebels exhorted them to enter the house and assassinate Uthman. When the rebels under the leadership of Nayyar bin Ayyad advanced to rush into the house, Kathir bin Salat Kundi a supporter of Uthman shot an arrow which killed Nayyar. That infuriated the rebels. They demanded that Kathir bin Salat Kundi the man who had killed Nayyar should be handed over to them. Uthman said that he could not thus betray a person who had shot an arrow in his defense. That precipitated the matters. Uthman had the gates of the house shut. The gate was guarded by Hasan, Hussain, Abdullah bin Zubair, Marwan and a few other persons. Open fighting now began between the rebels and the supporters of Uthman. There were some casualties among the rebels. Among the supporters Hasan, Marwan and some other persons were wounded.

Assassination of Uthman

The rebels increased their pressure, and reaching the door of the house of Uthman set it on fire. Some rebels led by Muhammad bin Abu Bakr climbed the houses of the neighbors and then jumped into the house of Uthman. It was the July 17,656 C.E. Uthman was keeping the fast that day. The previous night he had seen Muhammad in a dream. Muhammad had said, "Uthman, break your fast with us this evening. We will welcome you". That made Uthman feel that it was his last day of life. He prepared himself for death. He sat reading the Quran, and his wife Naila sat by his side. Some rebels entered the room of Uthman, but they could not dare murder the Caliph. Then Muhammad bin Abu Bakr entered the room and held the beard of Uthman. Uthman said that he was like a nephew to him, and he would be false to the memory of his father Abu Bakr if he contemplated any violence against him. That made Muhammad bin Abu Bakr waver in his resolve, and he walked out of the room. Seeing this some of the rebels entered the room, and struck blows at the head of Uthman. Naila threw herself on the body of Uthman to protect him. She was pushed aside, and further blows were struck on Uthman until he was dead. He died while keeping the fast.

Some slaves of Uthman fell on the person whose blows had killed Uthman and killed him. There was some fighting between the rebels and the supporters of Uthman. There were casualties on both the sides. Rowdyism prevailed for some time, and the rebels looted the house. When the women raised loud lamentations over the dead body of Uthman, the rebels left the house.

Ali's role

There is controversy among historians about the relationship between Ali and Uthman Ibn Affan, the third Caliph. Although Ali pledged allegiance to him, Ali disagreed with some of his policies. He clashed with Uthman in particular in question of the religious law. Therefore some historians consider Ali as one the leading members of Uthman's opposition, if not the main one of them. Because he could clearly be expected to be the prime beneficiary of the overthrow of Uthman. But German historian Wilferd Madelung is of the opinion that there is no evidence to suggest that Ali had close relation with the rebels who supported his caliphate or directed their actions. [See:
* Holt (1977), pp. 67 - 68
* Madelung (1997), pp. 107 and 111] On the other hand Ali himself said in numerous cases that he had done whatever he had been able to defend him but he didn't agree with Uthman's policies. [See:
*Nahj al-Balaghah [http://www.nahjulbalagha.org/sermons.php Sermon 3 and 238]
*Nahj al-Balaghah [http://www.nahjulbalagha.org/letters.php Letter 1, 6, 28 and 54 ] ] Some other sources says Ali had acted as a restraining influence on Uthman without directly opposing him. However Madelung narrates Marwan told Zayn al-Abidin, the grandson of Ali, that

No one [among the Islamic nobility] was more temperate toward our master than your master. [ Madelung (1997), p.334]

Footnotes

References

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*cite book | last = Al-Tabari| first = Muhammad ibn Jarir | authorlink = Muhammad ibn Jarir al-Tabari| title = History of the Prophets and Kings , translation and commentary issued by R. Stephen Humphreys| publisher = SUNY Press | year = 1990 | id = ISBN 0791401545 (volume XV.)
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