Dialogue with Uthman

When people went to Amīr al-mu’minīn in a deputation and complained to him through what they had to say against ‘Uthmān, and requested him to speak to him on their behalf and to admonish him for their sake, he went to see him and said: [1]

The people are behind me and they have made me an ambassador between you and themselves; but by Allāh, I do not know what to say to you. I know nothing (in this matter) which you do not know, nor can I lead you to any matter of which you are not aware. You certainly know what we know, we have not come to know anything before you which we could tell you; nor did we learn anything in secret which we should convey to you. You have seen as we have seen and you have heard as we have heard. You sat in the company of the Prophet of Allāh as we did. (Abū Bakr) Ibn Abī Quḥāfah and (‘Umar) Ibn al-Khaṭṭāb were no more responsible for acting righteously than you, since you are nearer than both of them to the Prophet of Allāh through kinship, and you also hold relationship to him by marriage which they do not hold.

Then (fear) Allāh, in your own self; for, by Allāh, you are not being shown anything as if you are blind or being apprised of anything as if you are ignorant. The ways are clear while the banners of faith are fixed. You should know that among the creatures of Allāh, the most distinguished person before Allāh is the just Imām who has been guided (by Allāh) and guides others. So, he stands by the recognized ways of the Prophet’s behaviour and destroys unrecognized innovations. The (Prophet’s) ways are clear and they have signs, while innovations are also clear and they too have signs.

Certainly, the worst man before Allāh is the oppressive Imām who has gone astray and through whom others go astray. He destroys the accepted sunnah and revives abandoned innovations. I heard the Messenger of Allāh saying: “On the Day of Judgement the oppressive Imām will be brought without anyone to support him or anyone to advance excuses on his behalf, and then he will be thrown into Hell where he will rotate as the hand-mill rotates, then (eventually) he will be confined to its hollow.”

I swear to you by Allāh that you should not be that Imām of the people who will be killed because it has been said that, “An Imām of this people will be killed after which killing and fighting will be made open for them till the Day of Judgement, and he will confuse their matters and spread troubles over them. As a result, they will not discern truth from wrong. They will oscillate like waves and would be utterly misled.” You should not behave as the carrying beast for Marwān so that he may drag you wherever he likes, despite (your) seniority of age and length of life.

Then ‘Uthmān said to Amīr al-mu’minīn: Speak to the people to give me time until I redress their grievances. Amīr al-mu’minīn then said : So far as Medina is concerned there is no question of time. As for remoter areas you can have the time needed for your order to reach there.