Who really killed ‘Uthman?

Page 14 of 43
“I asked said to Said ibn al Mussayab ‘Can you tell me how the killing of Uthman
was? What people were up to and what he was up to? And why did the companions
of Muhammad, may Allah bless him and grant him peace fail to help him? Ibn al
Massayab said, Uthman was killed unjustly, whoever killed him was wrong and
whoever failed to help him is free of blame’. I said ‘How was that?’. He said, ‘When
Uthman was appointed, a group of the Companions disliked his appointment,
because Uthman used to love his people. He ruled people for twelve years. He used
to appoint people from Bani Umayyah who had not kept company with the Prophet,
may Allah bless him and grant him peace. His Amirs used to produce matters which
the Companions of Muhammad; may Allah bless him and grant hi m peace, would
repudiate. ‘Uthman used to ask people to have good will for them and he would not
remove them”
2.10 Why did ‘Uthman not defend himself?
Ansar.org states:
Salamah bin Abdulrahman said that Abu Qutadah Al-Ansari along
with another man from Al-Ansar entered upon ‘Uthman while he
was surrounded. Abu Qutadah asked for the permission to go to
Hajj, and ‘Uthman gave them the permission. The two men
asked, “What should we do if these people attacked you?”
‘Uthman answered, “Be with the majority.” The two men asked
again, “What if the majority was with these people?” ‘Uthman
answered, “Stay with the majority, wherever it is.” Then the two
men left ‘Uthman’s room, and when they were about to leave the
house, they saw Al-Hasan bin ‘Ali entering. So they followed Al-
Hasan wanting to know what Al-Hasan wanted. When Al-Hasan
entered upon ‘Uthman, he said, “O’ Commander of the Faithful! I
am under your command, so order me as you wish.” ‘Uthman
answered, “My dear brother’s son! Go back, and stay in your
home until Allah carries out His order. I do not need the shedding
of blood.” [Musnad Ahmed, Virtues of the Companions, #753]
Ibn Abi Sheibah narrated in his Musnad that Abdullah bin Al-
Zubayr said, “I said to ‘Uthman at those days, ‘Come out and
fight them! Allah had given victory to people with less than your
men, and I swear by Allah that it is lawful to fight them.’ But
‘Uthman refused.” [Musnaf Abi Sheibah, vol.8, Book of Affliction].
In another version of the same story, Abdullah bin Al-Zubayr
said, “Allah have made it lawful for you to fight them!” and
‘Uthman answered, “No, by Allah I will never fight them.”
[Tabaqat Ibn Sa’ad, vol.3, p.70]. Also in Tabaqat Ibn Sa’ad, “And
the son of Omar wore his shield twice at that day and held his
sword. However, ‘Uthman ordered him to leave the house for
fear of being killed.” [Ibid]Al-Khayyat narrated that Abu Hurayrah
said to ‘Uthman, “Today, to be killed with you is a nice thing.”
But ‘Uthman answered him, “I order you to leave the house!”
[Tareekh Khaleefah Al-Khayyat, p.147, with authentic narrators].
Ibn Abi Sheibah narrated that Ibn Sireen said, “Zaid bin Thabit
entered upon ‘Uthman and said, ‘Here are the Ansars at the
door.’ And the Ansars said, ‘If you wish for us to be Ansar
[helpers] to Allah twice.’ ‘Uthman said, ‘No fighting.’” [Al-Musnaf,
vol.8, Book of Afflictions, p.682, with authentic narrators]
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