The Outset of Dissension in Islam — Page 139
139 knew that killing Hadrat ‘Uthm a n ra was not lawful under any circumstances. ‘ABDULL A H RA BIN SAL A M ADMONISHES THE REBELS Hadrat ‘ Abdull a h ra bin Sal a m arrived when the rebels were plotting to assassinate Hadrat ‘Uthm a n ra. Hadrat ‘Abdull a h ra bin Sal a m was greatly revered within his tribe even when he was a disbeliever and the Jews believed him to be their chief and a peerless scholar. He stood at the door and began to admonish the rebels, and he forbade them from killing Hadrat ‘Uthm a n ra saying: “O People! Do not draw the sword of God up your heads. By God! If you draw the sword you will never find an opportunity to put it back into its sheath; conflict and discord among the Muslims shall never end. Pay heed! Today, the government [punishes criminals] by the whip (generally lashing is the penalty for a criminal offence in the Islamic penal code), but if you kill this man, then the State will not be able to maintain order without the sword (i. e. people will be killed for petty crimes) 120. Keep in mind that the angels are the guardians of Madinah at this time; if you kill him, the angels will desert Madinah. ” The benefit that the rebels derived from this admonition was 120. In other words, rebels such as these will create such havoc and terror in the State that it will be impossible for the government to maintain order and protect the innocent unless harsher punishments are meted out to such criminals. [Publishers]