The Outset of Dissension in Islam — Page 44
44 H A D RAT MIRZA BASHIR-UD-DIN MAHMUD AHMAD counsel of the companions, Hadrat ‘ Uthm a n ra sentenced him. Since witnesses and circumstantial evidence was present against him, it was necessary for him to be punished according to the law of the shariah. Sa‘ i d bin Al-‘ As ra was made the governor of Kufah and sent in his place. When he went to Kufah and saw the state that prevailed there, he was shocked. The delinquents of society and those who were unfamiliar with religion had primarily taken control and the well-mannered had been subjugated and suppressed. He informed Hadrat ‘Uthm a n ra of the matter, who advised him to restore the respect and honour of those who had offered great sacrifices and came forth to fight the opponents in earlier times. If, however, they demonstrated a lack of interest in religion, then of course, he could replace them with those who were more pious. 40 When this mischief had broken out in Kufah, Basrah was not at rest. Through H ak i m bin Jabalah, an agent of Ibnus- Saud a ’, and his accomplices, false allegations were being spread against the deputies of Hadrat ‘Uthm a n ra there as well. In Egypt, which was the real headquarters, even greater havoc had been wreaked. Not only had ‘ Abdull a h bin Sab a instigated political insurgency in this region; rather, he was also ruining the religion of people. However, he did this in a manner that people who were ignorant of faith would consider him very sincere. As such, he would preach saying: “It is strange that various Muslims hold the belief that the Mas ih [Messiah], on whom be peace, would return 40. T a r i khu t-T abar i , vol. 5, p. 109, Dhikrus-Sababi F ī ‘ Azli. . . . . , Published by D a rul-Fikr, Beirut, 2002 edition [Publishers]