The Chaliphate - Muir - The Search For Mecca

224 'OTHIMAN [chap. XXXI.
A.H. 34-35. answered "
: Even to save my life I will not quit the land
'OthnrrT
wherein the Prophet sojourned, nor the City wherein his
declines help sacred body restcth." " Then let me send an army to stand
Mu"^iwiya,
by thec." " Nay, that I will not," responded 'Othman firmly;
''
I never will put force on those who dwell around the
Prophet's home, or quarter bands of armed men upon them."
" In that case," replied Mu'awiya, " I see naught but destruction
awaiting thee." " Then the Lord be my defence,"
exclaimed the aged Caliph, " and that sufficeth for me " ^
" Fare thee well ! " said Mu'awiya, as he departed to see his
face no more.
who retires, Leaving the City by the road for Syria, Mu'awiya passed
and Zubeir. ^ group of Koreish, amongst whom were 'All and Az-Zubeir.
He stayed for a moment to drop a warning word into their
ears. They were drifting back, he said, into the anarchy of
" the days of the Ignorance " before Islam. The Lord was
a strong Avenger of the weak and injured ones. " To you
"
—and these were his last words— "to you I commit this
helpless aged man. Help him, and it will be the better for
you. Fare ye well." So saying he passed on his way. The
company remained some time in silence. At last 'All spoke :
" It will be best done as he hath said." "By the Lord!"
added Az-Zubeir, "there never lay a burden heavier on thy
breast, nor yet on ours, than this burden of 'Othman's
just now."
^ Quoting from Sura xxxix. 39.