The Outset of Dissension in Islam — Page 81
81 Us a mah bin Zaid as the General of an army than are now being raised against me. Is this not true?” The companions responded, “It is true. These people raise objections before the people but hide the real events. ” In this manner Hadrat ‘Uthm a n ra stated all the objections one by one and refuted them one after another. The companions emphatically persisted that they should be executed, but Hadrat ‘Uthm a n ra did not agree and released them. T abar i states: ْ اَبَی الْمُسْلِمُوْن َ اِلَّا قَتْلَھُم ْ و َ اَبٰی اِلَّا تَرْکَھُم “The rest of the Muslims were adamant on having them executed but Hadrat ‘Uthm a n ra could not be convinced in any way to punish them. ” 72 H A D RAT ‘ UTHM A N RA SHOWS MERCY TOWARDS THE MISCHIEF-MAKERS This incident shows the various types of falsehood and deception which would be employed by the mischief-makers. In that era, when the press and means of transport were not as developed as today, it was very easy for these people to mislead the uneducated. In reality, however, these people had no legitimate reason to rise up. Neither did the truth support them nor did they speak the truth. All their endeavours were founded upon lies and falsehood. It was only the mercy of Hadrat ‘ Uthm a n ra that was saving them, otherwise, the Muslims would have torn them to pieces. The companions could not have ever 72. T a r i khu t-T abar i , vol. 5, pp. 151-152, Dhikru Mas i ri Mann S a ra Il a Dh i Khashabin Min Ahli Mi s ra. . . . . , Published by D a rul-Fikr, Beirut, 2002 edition [Publishers]