The Martyr Guest of Paradise (2/3)

One day, the people of Medina got up to hear something like а thunderclap, and see thousands of armed rebels. They gathered at the outskirts of Medina, and sent а delegate to meet the grand imam Ali. But, he had no sooner learnt their news and seen their gathering than he cried in them so much strongly and sincerely: "Return to your countries, might Allah not let you live until morning!"

But, the rebels remained in their positions, led by their chiefs from the three countries, while the caliph was in his home, wondering what they wanted. "Do they want me to drive away the governors of the different regions? What then would the consequence be, if any governor they dislike should be driven away? Do they want me to hand over Marwan Ibn AI-Hakam to them? How would I surrender him to them so that they might kill him?" yes, (they wanted) to kill him.

Moreover, what would the destiny of the state with its majesty, authority and dignity be in case it submitted to those rebels? But the situation developed so much rapidly that the caliph asked for the relief of the grand Ali "Might Allah  honour him", in order to negotiate with the rebels, and get them put down the arms and depart from the Medina of the Messenger of Allah "Allah's blessing and peace be upon him" and the capital of Islam.

The honour of the state concerned him to the furthest extent. In order to keep this honour, he put the condition that the rebels should depart at first. After their return to their countries, he would drive away Marwan, the chief of his employees, and any governor against whom there was а complaint. He gave а firm sincere pledge and promise to Ali to do so.

Immediately, the grand imam Ali set out to the tents of the rebels, in the company of Muhammad Ibn Maslamah and Sa'd Ibn Abi Waqqas. He was able to persuade them to return to their countries, exerting in achieving this task an extraordinary effort.

But, а few days later, the inhabitants of Medina were scared by the rebels who returned once again, and proceeded towards Medina, occupying its streets, and besieging the home of the caliph. What happened? What did afflict the rebels (and cause them to do so)?

The messenger of peace, i.e. Ali Ibn Abu Talib, got out to them, in order to ask them why they repealed the pledge and returned once again. The chiefs of the Egyptian rebels spread before him а letter and said: "We detained а man on the way, having this letter, signed by the sealing of the caliph, ordering the governor of Egypt to kill and crucify us."

The grand imam asked the rebels of Kufah and Basra: "And you, what is the reason which brought you?" they said: "We've come to support our Egyptian brothers." The imam said to them: "But, you took а way, and they took а different way. How then did you learn of this letter?" but, it was not time of discussion and argument.

It was the affliction, whose firelock was tightened to the end, and it was expecting for а finger's touch, after which there would be the greatest distress and the worst disaster. What was the reality of this letter which they alleged to have found?

It is very impossible for the caliph to have written, dictated, or even learnt of it. He took oath by Allah, and he was true, that he neither wrote it, nor did he order that it should be written, nor did he learn anything of it. Without swearing, this was not the morality of а man, who was hurt and abused а lot so that а single drop of blood of а Muslim would not be shed, even if this Muslim person was of those who spoilt their Islam with conspiring and disobedience.

Then, who did bear the sin of this letter? He was one of two: а group of the chiefs of the rebels, or Marwan himself.

As for the former, they had а precedence of forgery. When they intended to set out from Egypt, Kufah and Basra to Medina, some of their chief's made а plot to have as much Muslims as it could be to get out with them. They forged letters on behalf of A'ishah, the Mother of the Believers, Talhah апd Az-Zubair, calling upon the Muslims to proceed to Medina in order to fight Uthman. But, the reality of this false mistaking guile was uncovered after the assassination of the caliph. For this reason, it is not surprising that the forgers of those letters themselves invented this new lie perfectly.

If they were not the doers, it was then Marwan. Marwan, as we know from the history, had no enough religion or morals, which might prevent him from committing such а sinful act. The rebels demanded that he should be handed over to them immediately. But the merciful caliph saw his decisive predestination (would be the killing) if he handed him over. so, he rejected to surrender him.

However, the caliph did not do this out of pleasure with what Marwan had done, but out of the disposition of а man who could hardly bear surrendering anyone to be killed or executed. Was not he, who had rejected earlier the execution of Ubaidullah Ibn Umar, though it was а legitimate retaliation, and undertook before Allah the responsibility substituting blood-money for retaliation? His mercy to others, and fear of seeing bloodshed did not let him, even during those horrible hours, save himself from the rebels.

The rebels then took out the last paper they had, and cried daringly: Uthman should be ousted, otherwise, he should be killed. But the caliph firmly refused to resign. Why? Was it out of his keenness on the prestige of position? Indeed, let’s look for the dispositions of human beings, since Adam, father of mankind had been to this world onto this time: is possible for а man over eighty to be involved in such an ambition surrounded by destructive shaking horrible dangers?

Uthman then rejected to resign because he was а man of responsibilities, who belonged to а unique pattern of people; and this characteristic was hidden beneath the curtain of his humbleness and shyness, which we could hardly see as visible as daylight except in such crisis, distress and situation.

In this context, he remembered something with which the Messenger of Allah "Allah's blessing and peace be upon him" had recommended, when he said to him: "О Uthman! If Allah Almighty dressed you а shirt, which the hypocrites pressed upon you to take off, you should not take it off for а wrongdoer."

Indeed, Allah Almighty dressed him the shirt of caliphate, which those rebels wanted, by force of arms, to oblige him to take off. Would he submit to them? Would he surrender the destiny of Islam and state to а pact of tempted people?  No, of course.

In order to rest assured of the validity of his situation, he sent to а man, from among the great companions of the Messenger of Allah "Allah's blessing and peace be upon him" , in order to consult him, i.e. Abdullah Ibn Umar "Allah be pleased with both". Let's here pay attention to Nafi, the freed slave of Abdullah Ibn Umar, who narrated the dialogue between the caliph and Abdullah:

Caliph: Those people want to drive me away. If I respond to their demand, they would let me alive, and if I reject, they would kill me. What's your opinion?

Ibn Umar: Tell me, if you resigned, would you live in this world eternally?

Caliph: No.

Ibn Umar: Tell me, if you do not resign, would they do more than killing you? Do they have both Paradise and Hell in their possession?

Caliph: No.

Ibn Umar: Then, do not set this tradition in Islam, and do not take off а shirt which Allah Almighty has dressed you.

However, we likely are about to notice the pleasure visible on the countenance of the caliph, while listening to those words, with which such а glorious companion as Abdullah Ibn Umar supported him.

But, if the caliph was constantly determined on sacrificing his life for the sake of the honour and entity of the state, he did not delay to do his best to persuade the rebels to put down their arms, and abandon their haughtiness and falsehood. In this issue, he used to take refuge to the grand imam Ali "Might Allah honour him" so much, if not permanently.

In fact, the grand imam undertook during those afflictions as much burdens as beyond his capability. However, the surging wind raised by the rebels on the one hand, and Marwan on the other, challenged his brave quiet boat, and ruined his noble attempts. But, he was not disappointed, and kept trying to overpower the tempest, overcoming its uproar with his logical arguments. But, the affliction had become beyond the limits of reasoning, and gave room to nervous tension, which left no place for wisdom or persuasion. When the nervousness reaches its furthest end, people then would relieve themselves from its troublesome burdens, while facing the dangers which irritated it.

This is what happened. The rebels strengthened their besieging the home of the caliph, and prevented his visitors to come to him. They also prevented him from water of the well of Rawmah, which he had bought from his own wealth during the early days of the migration to Medina, and granted to the Muslims.

(Continued)