The Outset of Dissension in Islam — Page 128
128 H A D RAT MIRZA BASHIR-UD-DIN MAHMUD AHMAD had firmly resolved that they would give their lives but not let Hadrat ‘Uthm a n ra come in harm’s way. Besides the children of Hadrat ‘Al i ra , Hadrat T al h ah ra and Hadrat Zubair ra , even a party of the companions themselves was a part of this group. These men guarded the house of Hadrat ‘Uthm a n ra , day and night, and would not allow any enemy to reach Hadrat ‘Uthm a n ra. Although this small party could not stand up to such a large army, but since the rebels were after an excuse to kill Hadrat ‘Uthm a n ra , they would not put up much of a resistance either. The events of that time shed such light upon the level of devotion Hadrat ‘ Uthm a n ra possessed for the welfare of Islam that one is left astonished. An army of three thousand strong stood at his door and no strategy to save himself was devised. He even stopped those who endeavoured to save him saying, “Leave! Do not put your lives in danger. These people only hold enmity for me; they have no objection against you. ” His eye could foresee the time when Islam would be in grave danger at the hands of these rebels; not only apparent unity, but even the spiritual administration would reach the verge of falling apart. Hadrat ‘Uthm a n ra knew that at that time each and every Companion ra would be required for the protection and establishment of Islam. For this reason, he did not want the companions to lose their lives in a futile attempt to save his life and continued advising all of them not to withstand the rebels. He desired that insofar as possible, the community which had benefited from the company of the Messenger of Allah, should be safeguarded, in order to dispel disorders which were to arise in the future. Despite his instructions, however, the companions who would happen to find an opportunity to reach the house of Hadrat ‘Uthm a n ra