The Outset of Dissension in Islam — Page 142
142 H A D RAT MIRZA BASHIR-UD-DIN MAHMUD AHMAD Madinah that night and this was their last opportunity, the rebels had decided that they would not return without completing their mission. One of them advanced and struck the head of Hadrat ‘Uthm a n ra with an iron rod. Then he kicked the Quran which was placed opposite Hadrat ‘Uthm a n ra. The Holy Quran went tumbling towards Hadrat ‘Uthm a n ra and drops of blood fell upon it from his head. What to talk of dishonouring the Holy Quran - the virtue and honesty of these people became fully exposed by this event. The verse upon which the blood of Hadrat ‘Uthm a n ra fell was a magnificent prophecy that was fulfilled in its own time with such grandeur that a person who possessed even the hardest of hearts closed his eyes, out of fear, after beholding a glimpse of its blood stained words. The verse was: “Allah will surely avenge thee against them, for He is All-Hearing, All-Knowing. ” 121 After this a person by the name of Saud a n advanced and desired to attack him with a sword. When he made his first strike, Hadrat ‘ Uthm a n ra shielded himself with his hand and his hand was wounded. Upon this, he said, “By God the Exalted, this was the first hand to write the Holy Quran. ” After this, Saud a n made a second attack in an attempt to assassinate Hadrat ‘Uthm a n ra but his wife N a ’ilah moved forward and stepped in between. This evil person, however, did not even hesitate to strike a lady; he attacked and her fingers were severed. 121. Al-Baqarah (2:138)