The Outset of Dissension in Islam — Page 118
118 H A D RAT MIRZA BASHIR-UD-DIN MAHMUD AHMAD This admonition of Hadrat ‘ Al i ra had no influence on them whatsoever. They plainly said, “Whatever the case may be, we shall not allow food or water to reach him. ” This was the reply the rebels gave to the person who they deemed to be the wa si of the Holy Prophet sa and his true successor. After this reply, does the need for any other testimony remain in order to prove that this party, who declared Hadrat ‘Al i ra to be the wa si , had not left their homes in support of the truth or out of their love for the ahl-e- bait ; rather, only to fulfil their base desires? TREATMENT OF THE REBELS TOWARDS H A D RAT UMMI H AB I BAH RA From among the ummah a tul-mu’min i n , Hadrat Ummi H ab i bah ra was the first to come to the aid of Hadrat ‘Uthm a n ra. Mounted on a mule, she brought a water-skin along with her. However, her real objective was to safeguard all the wills of the orphans and widows that belonged to Ban u Umayyah, which were in the possession of Hadrat ‘Uthm a n ra. When she saw that the rebels had stopped the water supply of Hadrat ‘Uthm a n ra , she became fearful that they might destroy these wills as well, and thus desired to somehow safeguard these documents. After all, there were other means by which she could have delivered the water. When Hadrat Ummi H ab i bah reached the door of Hadrat ‘Uthm a n ra , just as the rebels were about to stop her, the people exclaimed, “This is Ummul-Mu’min i n, Ummi H ab i bah ra. ” However, the rebels still persisted and started beating her mule. Ummul-Mu’min i n , Ummi H ab i bah ra explained: “I fear lest the wills of the orphans and widows of the Ban u