The Outset of Dissension in Islam — Page 26
26 H A D RAT MIRZA BASHIR-UD-DIN MAHMUD AHMAD generally pleased with him. 21 In fact, it is ascertained from history that in this era he was even dearer to the people than Hadrat ‘Umar ra. Not only was he dear to the people, in fact, they were in awe of him. A poet of that era testifies to this fact in his poetic verses, in the following words: 22 “O rebellious people! Do not loot and devour the people’s wealth in the reign of ‘Uthm a n ra ; for Ibni ‘Aff a n is he whom you have experienced. In accordance with Quranic injunctions, he executes those who pillage; he has always been a guardian of the injunctions of this Holy Quran; he is the one who teaches the people to act upon these injunctions. ” 23 However, after six years, we see a campaign in the seventh year; and this was not directed against Hadrat ‘ Uthm a n ra ; rather, it was directed against the companions or against various governors. As such, T abar i narrates that Hadrat ‘Uthm a n ra took full consideration of the rights of people. However, those people who did not enjoy the distinction of being the foremost pioneers in Islam did not receive the same level of honour as the early and pioneer Muslims did in gatherings; nor did they receive an 21. T a r i khu t-T abar i , vol. 5, pp. 101-102, Dhikru M a K a na F i h a Minal- A h d a thil-Mashh u rah, Published by D a rul-Fikr, Beirut, 2002 edition َ ًاَھْل ُ الدَّعَارَة ِ فِی ْ مُلْک ِ ابْن ِ عَفَّان أکُلُوْا اَبَدا ً جِیْرَانَکُم ْسَرَفا ا َ لَا ت ِ ْفَطِم ُاللَّصُوْص ِبِحُکْم ِالْفُرْقَان اِن َّابْن َعَفَّان َالَّذِی ْ جَرَّبْتُم ْوَبَنَان ٍمِنْھُم ِّعُنْق ْکُل فِی مَا زَال َ یَعْمَل ُ بِالْکِتٰب ِ مُھَیْمِنًا 23. T a r i khu t-T abar i , vol. 5, pp. 104-105, Dhikrus-Sababi F ī ‘ Azli. . . . . , Published by D a rul-Fikr, Beirut, 2002 edition 22.