Muhammad al-Tarbari: Murder of Uthman

According to Muḥammad b. ‘Umar [al-Wāqidī)—Ibn Abī al-Zinād-Mūsā b. ‘Uqbah-Abū Ḥabībah: One day ‘Uthman was preaching to the people when ‘Amr b.al-‘Āș said, “0 Commander of the Faithful, you have incurred grave dangers, and we have incurred them with you. Repent, and we shall repent.” ‘Uthmān turned in the direction of Mecca and raised his arms in supplication. Abū Ḥabībah states: I have never seen more men and women weeping than on that day. Afterwards, as ‘Uthmān preached to the people, Jahjāhal-Ghifārī came up to himand cried, “‘Uthmān, we have brought this old she-camel, and on it there are a robe and a rope. Get down! We will dress you in the robe, throw the rope around your neck, carry you off on the camel, and then throw you into the mountain of smoke.” ‘Uthmān replied, “May God disfigure you and reveal the ugliness of your deeds.” Abū Ḥabībah states:  All this happened in front of the people. Then ‘Uthmān’s favorites and partisans among the Banū Umayyah came up to him and took him home. Abū Ḥabībah states: It was the last I saw of him.

According to Muḥammad (al- Wāqidī)—Usāmah b. Zayd al­Laythī—Yaḥyā b. ‘Abd al-Raḥmān b. Ḥaṭib—his father: I was watching ‘Uthmān as he preached leaning on the Prophet’s staff—the staff on which (the Prophet), Abū Bakr, and ‘Umar used to lean while they preached. Jahjāh said to him, “You hyena, get down off this pulpit!” Seizing the staff, Jahjāh broke it over his right knee. A wood splinter pierced (the knee), and the wound remained open for so long that it became infected with gangrene, and I saw it swarming with maggots. ‘Uthmān descended from the pulpit and was taken away.He ordered the staff to be repaired, and it was bound together with a strip of iron. From that day until he was besieged and killed, ‘Uthmān went out only one or two times.…

It was related to me by Ja‘far b. ‘Abdāllah al-Muḥammadī—‘Amr-Muḥammad b. Isḥāq b. Yasār al-Madanī—his paternal uncle ‘Abd al-Raḥmān b. Yasār:  When the people saw what ‘Uthmān was doing, the Companions of the Prophet in Medina wrote to the Companions who were scattered throughout the frontier provinces:  “You have gone forth but to struggle in the path of Almighty God, for the sake of Muḥammad’s religion. In your absence the religion of Muḥammad has been corrupted and forsaken. Come then and reestablish Muḥammad’s religion.” Thus, they came from every direction until they killed ‘(Uthmān). When the people turned around to go back after ‘Uthmān claimed he had repented, he wrote a letter to ‘Abdallāh b. Sa‘d b.Abī Sarḥ, his governor (‘amil) in Egypt, concerning those who had come from Egypt, for they were the most hostile to him of all the provincial garrisons: “To proceed: Look for so-and-so and so-and­ so, and behead them if they come to you. Look also for certain other men, and punish them in such-and-such a way.”  These persons included a few of the Companions of the Messenger of God as well as a body of the Successors. His envoy on this occasion was Abū al-A‘war b. Sufyān al-Sulamī. ‘Uthmān mounted him on one of his camels and ordered him to get to Egypt before the dissidents (al-qawm) arrived. Abū al-A‘war overtook the Egyptians along the road, and they asked him where he was going, “To Egypt,” he replied, and he was accompanied by a Syrian from Khawlān. When they .saw him on ‘Uthmān‘s camel, they said, “Are you carrying a letter?” “No,” he said. “Why were you sent,” they asked. “‘I don’t know,” he responded. ‘”You arenot carrying a letter,” they said, “and you do not know why you were sent. Your situation is suspicious.” Then they searched him and found a letter in an empty waterskin. Upon examining the letter, they discovered that some of them were to be executed and others were to be punished in their persons and property. When they saw this they returned to Medina. The people learned about their return and what had happened to them. They came back from all the provinces, and the Medinese rose up in rebellion.

It was related to me by Ja‘far–‘Amr and ‘Ali—Ḥusayn—his father—Muḥammad b. Sā’ib al-Kalbī: The Egyptians returned to ‘Uthmān after having departed from him because a slave {ghulām) of his,  riding one of his camels, overtook them carrying a letter to the governor (amīr) of Egypt [with orders] to kill some of them and crucify others. When they came back to ‘Uthmān they said, “This is your slave.” He said, “My slave went without my knowledge.” They said, “[It is] your camel.” He responded, “He took it from the house without my orders.” They said, “[This is] your seal.” “It was forged,” he said.

When the Egyptians arrived, ‘Abd al-Raḥmān b. ‘Udays al-Tujībī said:

• They [fem.) came from Bilbays and Upper Egypt,
• long-necked, their eyes squinting like bows,
• Their flanks covered in chain mail.
• They [fem.) demand God’s due from al-Walīd, from
• ‘Uthmān and from Sa‘īd.
• O Lord, send us back with what we seek!

When ‘Uthmān saw what had happened to him and how many of the people had been sent against him, he wrote Mu‘āwiyah b. Abī Sufyā n in Syria: “In the name of God, the Merciful, the Compassionate. To proceed: The Medinese have become unbelievers; they have abandoned obedience and renounced their oath of allegiance. Therefore send to me the Syrian soldiers who are at your disposal, on every camel you have, whether docile or stubborn.” When Mu‘āwiyah got the letter, he delayed action on it, for he did not wish to differ openly with the Companions of the Messenger of God, since he knew that they concurred [on this matter]. When ‘Uthmān became aware of the delay, he wrote to seek aid from Yazīd b. Asad b. Kurz and the Syrians; he stressed his rightful claims upon them, and mentioned Almighty God’s commandment to obey the caliphs, to give them sincere counsel, and to promise them the support of an army or personal entourage (biṭānah) against the people (as a whole). He reminded them of what he had endured with them and his good treatment of them. [He said:] “If you can aid me, then hurry, hurry. For the dissidents (qawm) are making haste against me. “When his letter was read out to them, Yazīd b. Asad b.Kurz, of the clan of Qasr in the tribe of Bajīlah, stood up. He praised and extolled God, and then spoke about ‘Uthmān, stressing his rightful claims [upon them] and urging them to go to his aid. He commanded them to set out, and a great number heeded him and went with him until, having learned at Wādī al-Qurā of ‘Uthmān’s murder, they returned.…

It was related to me by Ja‘far b. ‘Abdallah al Muḥammadi—‘Amr. b. Hammād and ‘Alī  b. Ḥusayn—Ḥusayn b ‘Īsa—his father:  When the three days following the Feast of Sacrifice had passed (the rebels) surrounded ‘Uthmān’s house, but he insisted on retaining his office, and sent to assemble his retainers and close associates (ḥashamuhu wa-khāșșatuhu). One of the Prophet’s Companions, a venerable old man named Niyār b. ‘Iyāḍ, arose and called out, “‘Uthmān!” (‘Uthmān) looked down at him from the roof of his house. (Niyār) reminded him of God and implored him in God’s name to dissociate himself from (his evil associates). And while he was speaking, one of ‘Uthmān‘s associates shot and killed him with an arrow. (‘Uthmān’s opponents) claimed that the man who shot him was Kathīr b. al-Şalt al-Kindī, and at this they said to ‘Uthmān, “Turn the murderer of Niyār b. ‘Iyāḍ over to us that we may kill him in retaliation.” He replied, “I will not kill a man who has defended me while you intend to murder me.” When they perceived this they rushed at (‘Uthmān’s) door and set it ablaze. Marwān b.  al-Ḥakam emerged from ‘Uthmān’s residence leading a band of men against them. Sa‘īb. al-‘Āș and al­Mughīrah b. al-Akhnas b. Shariq al-Thaqafī, the ally of the Banū Zuhrah, both did the same, and the fighting raged fiercely.

They were driven to fight by the news that reinforcements from Bașrah had made camp in Şirār, a night’s journey from Medina, while the Syrians were approaching as well.  Thus, they fought bitterly at the door of the house, and al­Mughīrah b. al-Akhnas al-Thaqafī attacked the rebels ( qawm), reciting:

• A lovely serving girl,
• Adorned with necklace and anklets,
• Knows my skill with the sword blade.

He was assailed in turn by ‘Abdallāh b. Budayl b. Warqā’ al-Khuza‘i, who was saying:

• If you wield the sword as you say,
• stand fast against a noble opponent who attacks
• Bearing a Mashrafī sword with polished edge.

‘Abdallāh struck and killed (al-Mughīrah), and Rifā‘ah b. Rāfi‘, of the clan of Zurayq among the Anșār, charged Marwān b. al- Ḥakam and struck him down. He drew back from him, thinking he had killed him. ‘Abdallāh b. al-Zubayr suffered numerous wounds. ‘Uthmān’ s supporters (al-qawm) were routed and retreated toward the palace (qașr). At the door they held fast and fought a fierce battle there.

In the battle at the door, Ziyād b.Nu‘aym al-Fihrī was killed, along with several other companions of ‘Uthmān. The people continued to fight until ‘Amr b. Ḥazm al- Anșārī opened the door of his residence, which lay adjacent to ‘Uthmān b. ‘Affān’s. He shouted to the people, and they advanced through his house against (the defenders of ‘Uthmān), fighting them in the courtyard of [‘Uthmān’s] house until they fled and the door was abandoned to (the rebels). (The defenders) fled into the streets of Medina, while ‘Uthmān remained behind with a few associates and members of his household. ‘Uthmān was killed, and they were killed along with him.…

It was transmitted to me in writing by al-Sarī—Shu‘ayb—Sayf—Muḥammad and Ṭalḥah and Abū Ḥārithah and Abū ‘Uthmān: (The rebels) set the door ablaze as ‘Uthmān performed the prayer. He had begun with the verse, “Ṭā Hā. We have not sent down the Qur’ān upon thee for thee to be unprosperous.” He recited quickly and was not distressed by the noise. He proceeded without making an error or stuttering until he completed (his recitation) before they could get to him. Then he returned sat down in front of the sacred text (mușḥaf), and recited, “Those to whom the people said, ‘The people have gathered against you, therefore fear them.’ But it increased them in faith, and they said, ‘God is sufficient for us; an excellent Guardian is He.’”…

‘Abdallāh b. Salām came forth and stood at the door of the house, forbidding them to kill (‘Uthmān). “0 my people,” he said, “Do not unsheathe God’s sword against yourselves. By God, if you draw it you will not put it back in its scabbard. Woe to you! Your government today is based on the whip, and if you kill him it will rest only on the sword. Woe to you! Your city is surrounded by God’s angels. By God, if you kill him they will surely forsake it.” ‘What is this to you, son of a Jewess?” they said, and he withdrew.

The last one to go in to (‘Uthmān) and then come back to the rebels was Muḥammad b. Abī Bakr. ‘Uthmān said to him, ‘‘Woe to you. Are you angry at God? Have I done you any injury, save to uphold His rightful claims on you?” At this he recoiled and went away.

When Muḥammad b. Abī Bakr came out and they learned that he had failed, Qutayrah al-Sakūnī, Sūdān b. Ḥumrān al Sakūnī, and al-Ghāfiqī rose up and attacked [‘Uthmān] Al- Ghāfiqī struck him with an iron tool he was carrying and kicked the Qur’ān with his foot. The sacred text flew over, dropping into (‘Uthmān’s) hands, and his blood flowed upon it. Sūdān b. Ḥumrān came up to strike him, and Nā’ilah ht. al-Farāfișah bent over him and warded off the sword with her hand. He aimed at her and struck off her fingers. As she turned to flee, he fondled her hips and said, “How large her buttocks are!’” Then he struck ‘Uthmān and killed him. Some of ‘Uthmān’s slaves entered alongside the rebels (qawm) to defend him. ‘Uthmān had manumitted certain of them, and when they saw that Sūdān had struck him, one of them fell on him and cut off his head. Qutayrah jumped on the slave and killed him. (The rebels) pillaged the house and drove out those who lived there, then they locked the three dead men inside.

When they went out into the courtyard of the house, another of ‘Uthmān’s slaves jumped on Qutayrah and killed him. The rebels coursed through the house taking everything they found, even what was on the women. One man, named Kulthūm b. Tujīb, snatched Nā’ilah’s head wrap. Nā’ilah turned away, and he said, “Woe to your mother! How full your buttocks are!” A slave of ‘Uthmān saw him and killed him, then was killed himself. The rebels shouted to one another: “Every man should keep an eye on his comrades.”  Within the house they cried out, “Seize the Public Treasury! No one must get there ahead of you!” The guards of the Public Treasury—in which there were but two sacks—heard their voices and said, “Run! These people are only after worldly goods.” They fled, while (the rebels) came - to the Treasury and pillaged it.

The people (al-nās) were of different minds about the matter. The residents [of Medina] lamented, “We belong to God and to Him we shall return,” while the outsiders rejoiced. The rebels (al-qawm) now regretted [their acts). Al Zubayr had already left Medina and made camp on the road to Mecca so that he would not witness (‘Uthmān’s) murder. The news of ‘Uthmān’s murder having reached him while he was there, he said, “Verily we belong to God and to Him we shall return. May God have mercy on ‘Uthmān and avenge him.” “The rebels regret their deeds,” he was told. (Al-Zubayr) replied, “They planned this and brought it about. ‘And a barrier is set up between them and what they desire.’”

The news reached Ṭalḥah, and he said, “May God have mercy on ‘Uthmān, and may He avenge both him and Islam.” He was told, “The rebels regret their deeds.” “May they perish!” he replied, and recited the verse, “They will not be able to make any testament, nor will they return to their people.”

‘Alī came and was told of ‘Uthmān’s murder. “May God have mercy on ‘Uthmān,” he said, “and replace [the evil we have suffered] with good.” When he was told, “The rebels regret their deeds,” he recited the verse: “Like Satan, when he said to man, ‘Disbelieve.’”…

 

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Source: Reprinted by permission from The History of al-Tabari Vol. 15: The Crisis of the Early Caliphate: The Reign of 'Uthman A.D. 644-656/A.H. 24-35 translated by R. Stephen Humphreys, the State University of New York Press (c) 1987, State University of New York. All rights reserved.