On the Companions who Murdered Caliph Uthman

A Wahhabi mentioned:
Muawiya felt that the killers of Amirul Mumineen Uthmaan RA (the fathers of Shiasm) should not be allowed to continue their evil against Islaam. He did not fight for personal power. Ali did not hand over these assassins to Muawiya due to some sound and concrete proof that he possessed. Thus the people of Shaam joined forces with Muawiya against Ali."
It is not surprising that this Wahhabi has overlooked what the Messenger of Allah (S.A.W.) said About the fate of those who will fight Imam Ali (AS) which are recorded in what they call Sahih books, and stick to what is fabricated by the Leader of the Hypocrites (Amir al-Munafiqeen) Muawiyah (LA) himself. After all, I should not expect from their Wahhabi mentors to do better than that for bread and butter.
The claim that Muawiyah raised against the legitimate Caliph of his time
and killed thousands of Muslims to take revenge from the murderers of
Uthman is a flat-out lie! Had Muawiyah this in mind, he should first kill
the commander of his army and many of his assistants for the Sunni history testifies that those who killed Uthman were the companions who were on the side of Muawiyah (as well as other opponents of Imam Ali).
The fact is that any deceitful power-hungry leader needs to provide an excuse for his horrible acts, and this was not unique to Muawiyah. As we can see in the following Sunni references, those who agitated against Uthman were ones who came first to revenge for his blood with one aim in their mind, that was destroying the rule of Imam Ali (AS).
Sunni historians confirm that the agitation against the Caliph started by
some influential individuals among the companions. The weakness of Uthman in handing the affairs of the State caused many companions to oppose him.
This naturally resulted in a power struggle among the influential
companions in Medina. Sunni historians such as al-Tabari, Ibn Athir, and al-Baladhuri and many others provide traditions which confirm that these
companions were the first who asked the other companions, resided in other cities, to join them in revolt against Uthman. Ibn Jarir al-Tabari
reported:
When the people saw what Uthman was doing, the companions of the
Prophet in Medina wrote to other 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 Muhammad's
religion. In your absence the religion of Muhammad has been corrupted and forsaken. So come back to reestablish Muhammad's religion." Thus,they came from every direction until they killed the Caliph (Uthman).
Sunni reference: History of al-Tabari, English version, v15, p184
In fact al-Tabari quoted the above paragraph form Muhammad Ibn Is'haq Ibn Yasar al-Madani who is the most celebrated Sunni Historian and the author of "Sirah Rasool-Allah".
History testifies that those influential people who were the key element in
agitation against Uthman include Talha, Zubair, Aisha (the mother of
believers), Abdurrahman Ibn Ouf, and Amr Ibn al-Aas (the army commander of Muawiyah).
a) Talha
Talha Ibn Ubaydillah was one of the biggest agitator against Uthman and was the one who plotted his murder. He then used that incident for revenge against Ali by starting the first civil war in the history of Islam (i.e.,the battle of Camel). I just give few paragraphs from both of al-Tabari and Ibn Athir to prove my point. Here is the first one which is narrated by Ibn Abbas (in some manuscripts it is Ibn Ayyash):
I entered Uthman's presence (During the agitation against Uthman) and talked with him for an hour. He said: "Come Ibn Abbas/Ayyash," and he took me by the hand and had me listen to what the people were saying at his door. We heard some say, "what are you waiting for," while
others were saying, "wait, perhaps he will repent." While the two of
us were standing there (behind the door and listening), Talha Ibn
Ubaydillah passed by and said: "Where is Ibn Udays?" He was told, "He is over there." Ibn Udays came to (Talha) and whispered something with him, and then went back to his associates and said: "Do not let anyone go in (to the house of Uthman) to see this man or leave his house."
Uthman said to me: "These are the orders of Talha." He continued, "O
God! Protect me from Talha for he has provoked all these people
against me. By God, I hope nothing will come of it, and that his own
blood will be shed. Talha has abused me unlawfully. I heard the
Messenger of God said: 'The blood of a Muslim is lawful in three
cases: apostasy, adultery, and the one who kills except in legitimate
retaliation for another.' So why should I be killed?"
Ibn Abbas/Ayyash continued: I wanted to leave (the house), but they
blocked my path until Muhammad Ibn Abi Bakr who was passing by
requested them to let me go, and they did so.
Sunni reference: History of al-Tabari, English version, v15, pp 199-200
The following report also supports that the murder of Uthman was led by
Talha, and the killers came out to inform their leader that they took care
of Uthman:
Abzay said: I witnessed the day they went in against Uthman. They
entered the house through an opening in the residence of Amr Ibn Hazm.
There was a skirmishing and they got in. By God, I have not forgotten
that Sudan Ibn Humran came out and I heard him say: "Where is Talha Ibn Ubaydillah? We have killed Ibn Affan!"
Sunni reference: History of al-Tabari, English version, v15, p200
Uthman was besieged in Medina while Imam Ali (AS) was in Khaibar. The Imam (AS) came to Medina and found people gathering at the residence of Talha.
Then Imam Ali (AS) went to met Uthman. Ibn Athir wrote:
Uthman said to Ali: "You owe me my Islamic right and the right of
brotherhood and relationship. If I have non of these rights and if I
were in pre-Islamic era, it would be still shame for a descendants of
Abd Munaf (of whom both Ali and Uthman are descendants) to let a man of Tyme (Talha) rob us of our authority." Ali said to Uthman: "You
shall be informed of what I do." Then Ali went to Talha's house. There
were a lot of people there. Ali spoke to Talha saying: "Talha, what is
this condition in which you have fallen?" Talha replied: "O' Abul
Hasan! it is to late!"
Sunni reference: al-Kamil, by Ibn Athir, v3, p84
Tabari also reports the following conversation between Imam Ali and Talha during the siege over Uthman:
Ali said to Talha: "I ask you by Allah to send people away from
(attacking) Uthman." Talha replied: "No, by God, not until the Umayad voluntarily submit to what is right." (Uthman was the head of Umayad).
Reference: History of al-Tabari, English version, v15, p235
Talha even deprived Uthman of water:
Abdurrahman Ibn al-Aswad said: "I constantly saw Ali avoiding (Uthman) and not acting as he formerly had. However, I know that he spoke with Talha when Uthman was under siege, to the effect that water skins should be taken to him. Ali was extremely upset (from Talha) about that until finally water skins were allowed to reach Uthman."
Sunni reference: History of al-Tabari, English version, v15, pp 180-181
Now let us take a look at a report from the battle of Camel which has been mentioned in numerous Sunni books of History and Hadith. The following report proves that even the Umayad leaders such as Marwan who (along side with Talha) was fighting against Imam Ali, knew that Talha and Zubair were the killers of Uthman. Sunni scholars recorded that Yahya Ibn Sa'id narrated:
Marwan Ibn al-Hakam who was in the ranks of Talha, saw Talha is
retreating (when his army was being defeated in the battlefield).
Since he and all Umayad recognized him and al-Zubair as the murderers of Uthman, he shot an arrow at him and severely wounded him. He then said to Aban, the son of Uthman, that: "I have spared you from one of your father's murderers." Talha was taken to a ruined house in Basra where he died.
Sunni references:
- Tabaqat, by Ibn Sa'ad, v3, part 1, p159
- al-Isabah, by Ibn Hajar al-Asqalani, v3, pp 532-533
- History of Ibn al-Athir, v3, p244
- Usdul Ghabah, v3, pp 87-88
- al-Isti'ab, Ibn Abd al-Barr, v2, p766
- History of Ibn al-Kathir, v7, p248
- A similar report is given in al-Mustadrak, by al-Hakim, v3, pp 169,371
b) al-Zubair
al-Zuhri, another important Sunni narrator who is famous for his dislike
of Ahlul-Bayt, reported the following dialogue of Imam Ali with Zubair and Talha before the start of battle of Camel:
"Ali said: 'Zubair, do you fight me for the blood of Uthman after you
killed him? May God give the most hostile to Uthman among us the
consequence which that very person dislikes.' He said to Talha:
'Talha, you have brought the wife of the Messenger of God (Aisha) to
use her for war and hid your wife at your house (in Medina)! Did you
not give me your allegiance?' Talha said: 'I gave you the allegiance
while the sword was on my neck.'
(At this point, Ali tried to invite them to peace, leaving them no
excuse.) Ali addressed his own army saying: 'Who among you will
display this Quran and what is in it to the opposing army with the
understanding that if he loses one of his hand he will hold the Quran
with his other hand...?' A youth from Kufa said: 'I will take the
mission.' Ali went through his army offering them the mission. Only
that youth accepted it. Then Ali said to him: 'Exhibit this Quran and
say to them: It is between you and us from its beginning to its end.
Remember God, and spare your blood and our blood.'
As the youth called upon them to resort to the Quran and surrender to
its judgment, the Basrites army attacked and killed him. At this time,
Ali said to his army: 'Now the fight has become legal.' The battle
then started.
Sunni reference: History of al-Tabari, Arabic version, Events of year 36 AH
v4, p905
As we see in the above tradition, Imam Ali clearly stated that Zubair was
among those who killed Uthman. Had the revolters elected Talha or Zubair instead of Imam Ali (AS) as Caliph, they would have given the killers of Uthman the biggest prize. Certainly the leaders did not seek revenge for the blood of Uthman, for they themselves were behind the plot. They only pretended to do that as a means of destroying the Imam's caliphate.
c) Aisha
Talha and Zubair were not the only collaborators against Uthman. Sunni
history tells us that Talha's cousin, Aisha, was collaborating and
campaigning against Uthman as well. The following paragraph also from the History of al-Tabari shows the cooperation of Aisha with Talha in
overthrowing Uthman:
While Ibn Abbas was setting out for Mecca, he found Aisha in al-Sulsul (seven miles south of Medina). Aisha said: "O' Ibn Abbas, I appeal to you by God, to abandon this man (Uthman) and sow doubt about him among the people, for you have been given a sharp tongue. (By the current siege over Uthman) people have shown their understanding, and light is raised to guide them. I have seen Talha has taken the possession of the keys to the public treasuries and storehouses. If he becomes Caliph (after Uthman), he will follow the path of his parental cousin Abu-Bakr." Ibn Abbas said: "O' Mother (of believers), if something happens to that man (i.e., Uthman), people would seek asylum only with our companion (namely, Ali)." Aisha replied: "Be quiet! I have no desire to defy or quarrel with you."
Sunni reference: History of al-Tabari, English version, v15, pp 238-239
Many Sunni historian reported that Once Aisha went to Uthman and asked for her share of inheritance of Prophet (after so many years passed from the death of Prophet). Uthman refrained to give Aisha any money by reminding her that she was one those who testified and encouraged Abu-Bakr to refrain to pay the share of inheritance of Fatimah (AS). So if Fatimah does not have any share of inheritance, then why should she? Aisha became extremely angry at Uthman, and came out saying:
"Kill this old fool (Na'thal), for he is unbeliever."
Sunni references:
- History of Ibn Athir, v3, p206
- Lisan al-Arab, v14, p141
- al-Iqd al-Farid, v4, p290
- Sharh Ibn Abi al-Hadid, v16, pp 220-223
Another Sunni historian, al-Baladhuri, in his history (Ansab al-Ashraf)
said that when the situation became extremely grave, Uthman ordered Marwan
Ibn al-Hakam and Abdurrahman Ibn Attab Ibn Usayd to try to persuade Aisha
to stop campaigning against him. They went to her while she was preparing
to leave for pilgrimage, and they told her:
"We pray that you stay in Medina, and that Allah may save this man
(Uthman) through you." Aisha said: "I have prepared my means of
transportation and vowed to perform the pilgrimage. By God, I shall
not honor your request... I wish he (Uthman) was in one of my sacks so
that I could carry him. I would then through him into the sea."
Sunni reference: Ansab al-Ashraf, by al-Baladhuri, part 1, v4, p75
d) Amr Ibn al-Aas
Amr Ibn al-Aas (the number 2 person in the government of Muawiyah) was one of the most dangerous agitators against Uthman and he had all the reasons to conspire against him. He was the governor of Egypt during the reign of the second Caliph. However, the third Caliph dismissed him and replaced him with his foster brother, Abdullah Ibn Sa'd Ibn Abu Sharh. As a result of this, Amr became extremely hostile towards Uthman. He returned to Medina and started a malicious campaign against Uthman, accusing him of many wrong doings. Uthman blamed Amr and spoke to him harshly. This made Amr even more bitter. He used to meet Zubair and Talha and conspire against Uthman. He used to meet pilgrims and inform them of the numerous deviations of Uthman.
According to Tabari, when Uthman was besieged, Amr settled in the palace of
al-Ajlan and used to ask from people about the situation of Uthman:
...Amr had not left his seat before a second rider passed by. Amr
called him out: "How is Uthman doing?" The man replied: "He has been killed." Amr then said: "I m Abu Abdillah. When I scratch an ulcer, I cut it off. (i.e., when I desire an object, I attain it). I have
been provoking (people) against him, even the shepherd on the top of
mountains with his flock." Then Salamah Ibn Rawh said to him: "You, the Quraishites, have broken a strong tie between yourselves and
the Arabs. Why did you do that?" Amr replied: "We wanted to draw the truth out of the pit of falsehood, and to have people be on an equal
footing as regards the truth."
Sunni reference: History of al-Tabari, English version, v15, pp 171-172
The divider of Muslims ignored what is well known in the history of Islam which was reported by important Sunni reporters. The revolt against Uthman was as a result of the efforts of influential companions in Medina, such as Aisha, Talha, Zubair, Aburrahman Ibn Ouf, and Amr Ibn al-Aas. The murder of Uthman provided a nice scapegoat for those who were fighting over more power, while serving under the government of Uthman. They were mainly his relatives, the Umayad, such as Muawiyah and Marwan, who thoroughly took advantage of Uthman's life as well as his death.
Imam Ali said in the battle of Camel:
"Truth and falsehood can not be identified by the virtue of people.
First understand the truth, you will then realize who is adhering to
it." (Nahjul Balaghah, by Imam Ali)
Ref: Imam Reza Network