Who really killed ‘Uthman?

Page 28 of 43
‘Uthman when ‘Uthman was surrounded. ‘Uthman gave him the
permission. Then Abu Hurayrah stood up, praised Allah, and said,
“I heard the Messenger of Allah peace be upon him saying, ‘After
I am gone, you will suffer afflictions and differences.’ One of the
men asked the Prophet peace be upon him, ‘What we ought to
do then O’ Messenger of Allah?’ The Prophet peace be upon him
answered, ‘Stay close to the faithful man and his companions.’
And the Prophet peace be upon him meant ‘Uthman.” [Virtues of
the Companions, By Ahmed bin Hanbal, vol. 1, p. 451, with an
authentic chain of narrators]
First and foremost if this hadith is indeed true how is it that a prominent wife of the Prophet (s)
had never heard of it? She did not claim that ‘Uthman would be killed unjustly, on the contrary
she said that he should be killed because he had become a kaafir! The Sahaba likewise played a
pivotal role in opposing ‘Uthman and killing him – if this hadith was indeed true then how is it
that the Sahaba still insisted on opposing, oppressing and killing ‘Uthman? We have proven in
our previous chapters and of course having cited the extracts of Taha Hussain’s work that many
of the Sahaba were opposed to ‘Uthman. If the Sahaba were aware of this hadith does is it
seem believable that they would have continued in their opposition and sided with the rebels?
Worthy of note is the fact that Baladhuri in Ansab al Ashraf Volume 5 page 76 notes that, when
the Sahaba Mujammi bin Jarriya al Awsi passed by Talha (during the siege), Talha asked how
‘Uthman was, Mujammi replied “I think that you will kill him”. Talha replied:
“If he should be killed, he is neither an angel brought close (to Allah) nor a Prophet
(sent by him)”.
It is clear here from Talha’s statement that he had no regrets should ‘Uthman die, for he did
not have an esteemed rank in the eyes of Allah (swt). Could Talha make such a comment if he
was aware that Rasulullah (s) said he would die a martyr that would attain paradise?
Worthy of note are the words in this alleged hadith ‘Stay close to the faithful man and his
companions.’ One of these companions as admitted by Abu Sulaiman was Marwan. How could
Rasulullah(s) have told his followers to stay close to Marwan when Rasulullah (s) had
condemned, cursed and abandoned him? It is illogical to even entertain the thought that
Rasulullah (s) would ask the Sahaba to support at the time of opposition that individual who he
had condemned and banished from Madina for life.
4.1 ‘Uthman’s body was unattended for three days. Companions’
not burying him proves that they did not deem him to be a
martyr
This fact can be found in the following texts of Ahl’ul Sunnah:
1. Al Bidayah wa al Nihaya Volume 7 Page 190.
2. Al Istiab Page 80, Dhikr ‘Uthman.
3. Hayaat ul Haywaan Volume 1 Page 78, Chapter Al Awaz.
4. Tareekh-wa-Awdeh Manqul-az-Tashdeed Al Mutaan Page 220.
5. Sharh Muqassid Volume 2 Page 295, 2.
We read in Al Bidayah wa al Nihaya Volume 7 Page 190:
‘Uthman’s body remained unattended for three days after his murder, the Sahaba
did not bury him.
Copyright © 2002-2003 Answering-Ansar.org. • All Rights Reserved