Uthman ibn af fan caliph ali

murder of the third Rashidun caliph in Medina

Uthman, the third caliph from to , was assassinated at the end of a siege upon his house in Initially a protest, the siege escalated obeying the death of a protester.

Uthmanthe third caliph from towas assassinated at the end of a siege upon his home in Initially a protest, the siege escalated following the death of a protester. The protesters-turned-rebels had demanded a new caliph, but Uthman refused and on 17 June 35 AH protestors set the house on heat, made their way inside, and killed him. The assassination of Uthman had a polarizing influence in the Muslim world at the time.

The protesters-turned-rebels had demanded a new caliph, but Uthman refused and on 17 June (35 AH) protestors arrange the house on fire, made their way inside, and killed him.

The assassination of Uthman had a polarizing effect in the Muslim world at the time.

Questions were raised not only regarding his character and policies but also the partnership between Muslims and the express, religious beliefs regarding rebellion and governance, and the qualifications of rulership in Islam.^[3]

Background

Following the deaths of Muhammad and the first caliph Abu Bakr (r.&#;–) in and respectively, Umar (r.&#;–) became the new caliph.

Continuing the wars of conquest initiated by Abu Bakr, he brought about the almost complete collapse of Sasanian Persia. The Byzantine Empire were restricted to Anatolia and the central North Africa. The armies of the conquest were settled in the conquered areas.

In Iraq, the garrison towns of Basra and Kufa were established for the purpose. Fustat was founded in Egypt. Due to significant Arab population in Syria, Arab Muslim conquerors of the region settled in the already existing towns.

The conquests brought Muslims bounteous revenue and lands.

Particularly in Iraq, the former crown-lands and the lands of the Persian aristocracy were now in Muslim hands. These became communal property administered by the state, although the soldiers protested as they considered these lands their property.

The revenue was distributed among the conquering armies. Umar also left the provincial administration to the respective governors, who ruled with considerable autonomy, and provincial surplus was spent on the settlers of the conquered territories instead of creature sent to the capital.

In some matters, such as military pay (ata) and administrative offices, Umar gave preference to those with precedence (sabiqa) in Islam and kept the late comers to the movement at bay, which to some extent resulted in social stratification and dissatisfaction among the holders of influence and prestige in the antique order.

After the assassination of Umar in by Abu Lu'lu'a Firuz, a consultative assembly (shura) of the prominent companions of Muhammad, which included Abd al-Rahman ibn Awf, al-Zubayr ibn al-Awwam, Ali, Sa'd ibn Abi Waqqas, Talha ibn Ubayd Allah and Uthman, was made to choose a new caliph among Uthman and Ali.

The assembly chose Ali unanimously but his refusal to follow previous caliphs ultimately resulted in Uthman being the brand-new caliph. Although Uthman had been an early companion of Muhammad from the time of Mecca and had been devoted to the cause of Islam, he belonged to the Umayyad clan of the Quraysh tribe—a grouping of Meccan clans to which Muhammad and most of his prominent Meccan companions belonged.

Umayyads had been staunch opponents of Muhammad during his ministry, and had converted to Islam only after the conquest of Mecca in near the end of Muhammad's career. Muhammad, and later Abu Bakr and Umar, tried to win the Umayyads over to and incorporate them in the new order by awarding them gifts and important posts.

Opposition to Uthman's policies

Uthman began centralizing the power by reliance on his Umayyad relatives, to the exclusion of other Quraysh, who had enjoyed significant authority during the reign of his two predecessors, and the Ansar, Medinese helpers of Muhammad, who had already lost some importance after his death.

Uthman appointed his kinsmen to all of the provincial governorships, and made a number of land and monetary grants to his relatives including Marwan ibn al-Hakam and Sa'id ibn al-As. Around the year , starting roughly with the latter half of his reign, general opinion turned against Uthman.

He was accused of nepotism and of appointing people who are too young to significant posts. Uthman's interference in the provincial affairs, that consisted of his declaration of the crown lands of Iraq as the state assets, and his require that provincial surplus be forwarded to the caliph in Medina, brought about widespread opposition to his rule, especially from Iraq and Egypt, where majority of the conquest armies had settled.

The old settlers also saw their status threatened by the land grants in conquered territories to prominent Quraysh like al-Zubayr and Talha and the Caliph allowing late arriving tribal chiefs, such as al-Ash'ath ibn Qays, to acquire lands there in exchange for their lands in Arabia.

At the head of the old settlers of Kufa, who subsequently became known as qurra (Qur'an reciters), Malik ibn al-Harith began opposing Uthman's policies.

Events came to a head when Uthman's governor of Kufa, his relative Sa'id ibn al-As, was expelled from the city by the qurra. They declared the companion Abu Musa al-Ash'ari, who had earlier been deposed from the governorship of Basra by Uthman and at that hour resided in Kufa, their governor.

Uthman deposed from the governorship of Egypt Amr ibn al-As, the conqueror of the province who was popular among the Egyptian troops, in – and appointed Abd Allah ibn Sa'd in his stead.

As Sa'id ibn al-As was to do in Kufa, Ibn Sa'd started taking control of the financial system of the province, forwarding surplus to the capital. The settlers were dissatisfied with this arrangement. Around tension spilled into contradiction and some resentful elements under the leadership of Uthman's adopted son Muhammad ibn Abi Hudhayfa and Abu Bakr's son Muhammad, who was the adopted son of Ali, refused to pray behind the governor (the custom was that the government typical would lead the prayers).

The second caliph, Umar ibn al-Khattab rawas stabbed by a Persian slave. Mindful of the tumults that had occurred after the death of the Prophet sawon his deathbed Umar ra appointed a committee of six men, to choose a new commander. At his death bed, Umar ibn al-Khattab d. To manage the group and ensure no single person would stop the process, Umar said they should all agree unanimously on the next caliph or if they disputed beyond 3 days and 2 nights, those disputing would be killed.

In January , Ibn Sa'd was ejected from Egypt by the discontented community, who took over the administration of the province in their own hands.

The provincial discontent was coupled with the dissatisfaction of the Ansar and the Quraysh of Medina, including a number of senior companions of Muhammad, who had lost their influence and prestige to Umayyads under Uthman.

Qurayshi clans appreciate Zuhra, Hashim, and Makhzum had withdrawn their support of Uthman, whereas companions Amr ibn al-As, Talha and Muhammad's widow A'isha had been severely criticizing the Caliph accusing him of nepotism and bid'a (innovation in religion).

Amr is said to contain incited Quraysh against Uthman and urged senior companions to confront him. Letters were sent to Kufa and Egypt by the wives of Muhammad led by A'isha (they were deeply esteemed as "mothers of the believers")^[a] which urged the provincials to rise up against Uthman.

Ibn Abi Bakr and Ibn Abi Hudhayfa are reported to own deserted a Muslim campaign against the Byzantines, claiming that jihad against the internal enemy (i.e.

Mu'awiya: History, Life, Conflict with Ali, Family & Death: Uthman ibn Affan (Arabic: عُثْمَان بْن عَفَّان, romanized: ʿUthmān ibn ʿAffān; c. or – 17 June ) was the third caliph, ruling from until his assassination in Uthman, a second cousin, son-in-law, and notable companion of the Islamic Prophet Muhammad, played a major role in prior Islamic history.

Uthman) was more important than against the external one, after receiving such a letter. Talha is also reported to have sent such letters to Kufans and Basrans.

Concerning the events which led to siege of Uthman, Wilferd Madelung writes: 'Uthman ibn 'Affan expressed kindness toward his kin, Banu Abd-Shams, who seemed to dominate him, and his supposed arrogant mistreatment toward several of the earliest companions such as Abu Dharr al-Ghifari, Abd-Allah ibn Mas'ud and Ammar ibn Yasir provoked outrage among some groups of people.

Overt resistance arose in – throughout most of the Empire. The dissatisfaction with his governance and the governments appointed by him was not restricted to the provinces outside Arabia. When Uthman's kin, especially Marwan, gained control over him, the companions, including most of 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 manipulate of his assertive kin.

Riot

Dissatisfaction finally led to rebellion in Egypt, Kufa and Basra.

When Egyptian rebels gathered near Medina, Uthman asked Ali to speak with them. The delegates of emigrants led by Ali and the delegates of Ansar led by Muhammad ibn Maslama met them and persuaded them to come back. The delegates promised the rebels, in the name of the caliph, redress for all their grievances and agreed to behave as guarantors.

Due to this mediation and Uthman's commitment, the rebels backed down. As the rebel party was then retiring for Egypt, they were overtaken by a courier from Medina. They discovered that the courier was carrying a letter which allegedly bore Caliph Uthman's official seal.

The letter instructed the Egyptian governor to kill the rebel party once it arrived back home. Historians now reflect on the letter to have been issued not by Uthman, but his secretary, Marwan ibn al-Hakam. However, upon discovering the contents of the letter, the rebel party immediately returned to Medina and began the siege.

Beginning of the siege

When Egyptian rebels returned to Medina, outraged by the official letter ordering the capital punishment of their leaders, Ali, as the guarantor of Uthman's promises, asked Uthman to express with the rebels directly.

Uthman denied any knowledge of the letter. But by this moment the choices offered by the rebels amounted to only the resignation or abdication of Uthman and selection of another caliph. As turmoil broke out, Ali left. He seems to own broken with Uthman.

Ali intervened only after being informed that the rebels were preventing the delivery of water to the besieged caliph. He tried to mitigate the severity of the siege by his insistence that Uthman should be allowed to have water. He also sent his two sons to defend Uthman's house when he was in danger of being attacked.

Assassination

The situation worsened on Thursday, 16 June.

In terms of Ihsan :. Uthman, a second cousin, son-in-law, and notable companion of the Islamic Prophet Muhammadplayed a major role in early Islamic history. During his reign as caliph, he was known for ordering the official compilation of the standardized version of the Quran that is still entity used today. Before his predecessor, Caliph Umar r.

As Uthman stood in his balcony, Niyar ibn Iyad al-Aslami, a companion of Muhammad, lectured him from outside and demanded his abdication. In response, one of Marwan's servants threw a stone killing Niyar. Outraged by Uthman's refusal to hand over the attacker, the rebels started preparations to attack.^[b] The next day, Friday 17 June, they attacked his house setting the doors on fire.

Uthman ordered his defenders to lay down their arms and not fight as he did not want bloodshed. Nevertheless, some of them, including Marwan and Sa'id ibn al-As, refused and counter-attacked the rebels repelling them from one of the doors.

A few of the defenders were killed in the skirmishes whereas Marwan and Sa'id were wounded. Abd Allah ibn al-Zubayr and Hasan ibn Ali are also reported to possess been wounded, although other reports indicate that the two had laid down their arms on Uthman's earlier orders.

While Uthman and his wife Na'ila bint al-Furafisa were alone in their room around the time of midday prayers, reading the Qur'an, some of the rebels climbed the surrounding homes and leaped into Uthman's.

According to the family tradition of Amr ibn Hazm, after that, Muhammad ibn Abi Bakr seized Uthman's beard and shook it. Uthman implored him to let it go, emphasizing that his father, Abu Bakr, would never have done anything like that.

Muhammad retorted that Abu Bakr would have surely condemned Uthman if he had seen the deeds Uthman had committed. Then, as Uthman sought God's protection from Muhammad, Muhammad pierced Uthman’s head with a blade. An alternative version transmitted from an eyewitness Rayta reports that Muhammad pulled back after grabbing Uthman's beard and tried to stop the other rebels.

Madelung considers this version to be unreliable.

Kinana ibn Bishr al-Tujibi then joined in by piercing under Uthman’s ear from behind with arrows and sword blows. According to a variant account, Kinana hit him with a metal rod and he fell on the ground.

Uthman, the third caliph from to , was assassinated at the termination of a siege upon his house in Initially a demonstration, the siege escalated following the death of a protester.

Sudan ibn Humran then killed him. In both accounts, Amr ibn al-Hamiq then sat on his chest and pierced his body a number of times. The house was then looted. Uthman's body was buried at overnight in the Jewish cemetery named Hashsh Kawkab as the rebels (or Ansar according to Wellhausen) did not allow him be buried in the Muslim cemetery.

Notes

References

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