The Outset of Dissension in Islam — Page 113
113 THREE MAJOR SUPPORTERS OF THE REBELS IN MADINAH There were only three residents of Madinah who supported the rebels; one was Muhammad bin Ab i Bakr, who was the son of Hadrat Ab u Bakr ra. Historians are of the view that since people showed him respect due to his father, he began to think that he held a position of rank as well. Except for this, neither did he hold any worldly precedence, nor did he benefit from the company of the Holy Prophet sa , and nor did he gain special religious education afterwards. He was born in the days of h ajjatul-wad a ‘ 93 and was still a suckling baby at the time when the Holy Prophet sa passed away. He was only four when Hadrat Ab u Bakr ra passed away and was unable to benefit from the upbringing of this exemplary man either. 94 The second person was Muhammad bin Ab i H udhaifah. He was not from among the companions either. His father had been martyred in the battle of Yamamah and Hadrat ‘ Uthm a n ra had taken his upbringing upon himself. He had nurtured him from childhood. When Hadrat ‘Uthm a n ra became Khalifah , he asked him for a post but Hadrat ‘Uthm a n ra refused. He then asked for permission to go out and take up some form work. Hadrat ‘Uthm a n ra granted him permission, so he went to Egypt. Upon reaching there, he joined the supporters of ‘ Abdull a h bin Sab a and began inciting people against Hadrat ‘Uthm a n ra. When the rebels of Egypt attacked Madinah he came along with them. 93. The last hajj performed by the Holy Prophet sa prior to his demise, and literally means, ‘the farewell hajj. ’ 94. Tahz i but-Tahz i b, By Ibni H ajar ‘ Asqal a n i , vol. 9, p. 80, Muhammad bin Ab i Bakri s-S idd i q