The Outset of Dissension in Islam — Page 24
24 H A D RAT MIRZA BASHIR-UD-DIN MAHMUD AHMAD this religious weakness began to show its colours. The enemies of Islam capitalised on this opportunity and mobilised in order to create mischief. Hence, this disorder was not the result of any action of Hadrat ‘ Uthm a n ra. As a matter of fact, had these conditions developed in the time of any Khalifah , disorder would have emerged. The only fault of Hadrat ‘Uthm a n ra was that he was elected to the office of Khilafat at a time when his involvement in creating disorder was no greater than that of Hadrat Ab u Bakr ra or Hadrat ‘ Umar ra ; and who can say that this conflict was the result of a weakness on the part of these two holy men? It does not cease to amaze me as to how certain people assert that these disorders were the result of a weakness of Hadrat ‘Uthm a n ra. Hadrat ‘ Umar ra , who could not have even imagined that Hadrat ‘Uthm a n ra would become Khalifah , had already identified the root cause of this conflict in the era of his own Khilafat. He then warned the Quraish in this regard with strong words. As such, it is written that Hadrat ‘Umar ra would not allow the senior companions to go forth for war and if they sought his permission he would say, “Is the jihad which you performed alongside the Holy Prophet sa not sufficient?” 18 Once, when the companions finally complained, he said: “I have grazed Islam just as a camel is grazed. First, a 18. Hadrat ‘ Umar ra had two reasons in view. Firstly, this meant that a community of teachers always remained in Madinah. Secondly, the companions received special shares from baitul-m a l [national treasury] due to their being the foremost in belief and offering services in the era of the Holy Prophet sa. Thus, Hadrat ‘ Umar thought that if these people had also taken part in expeditions, they would have received even more shares and this would be difficult for others to bear.