The Outset of Dissension in Islam — Page 11
11 meaning he was one of those ten men about whom the Holy Prophet sa had given the glad tiding that they would enter paradise. 11 For about six years after he took up the office of Khilafat, no disorder of any kind arose. In fact, people were generally very pleased with him. After this, conflict suddenly arose which steadily grew so large that it could not be stopped by the efforts of any individual. Ultimately, this proved to be extremely injurious for Islam. Thirteen hundred years have passed, but its effects upon the Muslim ummah have not died away to this day. WHAT GAVE RISE TO THE CONFLICT ? Now the question is how did this conflict come about? Some have alleged the cause to be Hadrat ‘ Uthm a n ra while others, Hadrat ‘ Al i ra. Some say that Hadrat ‘Uthm a n ra introduced certain innovations in the faith, which caused an uproar among the Muslims. Others assert that Hadrat ‘Al i ra secretly conspired to acquire Khilafat and had Hadrat ‘Uthm a n ra killed by creating hostility against him so that he could become the Khalifah himself. However, both of these notions are false; neither did Hadrat ‘Uthm a n ra introduce innovations in the faith, nor did Hadrat ‘Al i ra have him killed or took part in a conspiracy to murder him in order to become the Khalifah himself. In fact, there were other causes for this revolt. Hadrat ‘Uthm a n ra and Hadrat ‘Al i ra are completely free from the blemish of such allegations. Both were very holy men. Hadrat ‘Uthm a n ra was 11. Sunanut-Tirmidh i , Kit a bul-Man a qib, Man a qibi ‘ Abdir-Ra h m a nibni ‘ Aufin, H ad i th No. 3747