The Chaliphate - Muir - The Search For Mecca

2o8 'OTHMAN [chap. XXIX.
A. 11. 30-34. careful now to turn them to account. Nevertheless, Al-Welld
was popular ; and as he commanded successive campaigns in
the East with gallantry and vigour, he managed for a
time to divert the restless spirits from discontent at home.
But in the end, the unruly populace was too strong for
him. A murder took place, and sentence of death was
executed at the City gate against the culprits. Their
relatives resented the act of justice, and watched for
ground of accusation against the Governor, whose habits
gave them ready opportunity. Charges of intemperance
were repeatedly dismissed by 'Othman for want of legal
who is proof. At last his enemies succeeded in detaching from
Sr'ieV'
^'^ ^^"'^ ^^^ signet ring of office while he slept from the
effects of a debauch, and carried it off in triumph to Medina.
But still worse, it was established that Al-VVelTd had
conducted the morning Prayers in such a state that, having
come to the proper end of the service, he went on, without
stopping, to commence another. The scandal was great ; and
the majesty of Islam must be vindicated. Al-Welld was
recalled to Medina, scourged according to law, and deposed.
Abu Musa At Al-Basra, too, things were going from bad to worse,
deposed at
Abu Musa had now been many years Governor, when the
29A^H. restless citizens became impatient of his rule. He had been
650 A.D.
preaching to the pampered soldiery the virtue of enduring
hardness, and going forth on foot to war. When the
next expedition was ready, they watched to see whether he
would himself set the example. As his ample baggage issued
forth, winding from the castle on a long string of
mules, they
set upon him, crying, " Give us of these beasts to ride upon,
and walk thou on foot, a pattern of the hardness thou preachest
unto us." Then they repaired to Medina, and complained
that he had drained the land of its wealth, pampered Koreish,
and tyrannised over the Arab tribes. Instead of checking
their petulance with promptitude, 'Othman gave it new life
by deposing Abu Musa, and appointing a certain obscure
citizen whom they desired, to be their Governor. Found
unequal to the post, this man was deposed, and a youthful
cousin of the Caliph, Ibn 'Amir, promoted in his room.
When tidings of his nomination reached Al-Basra, Abu
Musa said :
" Now ye shall have a tax-gatherer to your
hearts' content, rich in cousins, aunts, and uncles, who will