Who really killed ‘Uthman?

Page 6 of 43
Ansar.org states:
True and authentic stories show that Ayesha was in pain for the
murder of ‘Uthman and she also prayed against his killers.
Masrooq – a trustworthy Tabi’ei – said that Ayesha said, “You left
him (to die) just like the dirt-clear cloth, and you came closer to
kill him as a sheep is slaughtered.” Then Masrooq told her, “This
is the result of your work. You encouraged people to rebel
against him.” Ayesha answered, “By the One who believers
believe in and the disbelievers disbelieve in, I did not write them
a single word.” Al-A’amash said, “It is to be known that words
were written in her name (and she did not know about it).” [Al-
Bidayah wa Al-Nihayah, by Ibn Katheer, vol. 7, p. 204, with
authentic chain of narrators]. Ahmed narrates that Ayesha said
(regarding the murder of ‘Uthman), “I wish I was forgotten. And
about what happened to ‘Uthman, by Allah, I never wanted
anything bad to happen to him unless it happened to me too. So
if I wanted him to be killed, then I shall be killed too.” [Virtues of
the Companions, by Ahmed, vol. 1, p. 462, with authentic chain
of narrators]. Talaq bin Hushan asked Ayesha, “How was
‘Uthman, the Commander of the Faithful, killed?” Ayesha
answered, “He was killed as an innocent man. May Allah curse
his killers.” [Al-Tareekh Al-Kabeer by Al-Bukhari, vol. 4, p. 358]
We are not interested in Ayesha’s alleged claims of denials AFTER the event – what is important
is to see the position that she had taken whilst ‘Uthman was alive.
Hadhrath Ayesha’s new position towards ‘Uthman was NOT based on her pain towards the slain
/ innocent Khalifa, it was due to her hatred of Imam ‘Ali (as). Ayesha had NOT envisaged that
‘Uthman would be succeeded by ‘Ali (as) and hence had no hesitation in inciting people against
him.
al-Baladhuri, in Ansab al-Ashraf Part 1, Volume 4 page 74 narrates that:
When the situation became extremely grave, ‘Uthman ordered Marwan Ibn al-
Hakam and Abdurahman Ibn Attab Ibn Usayd to try to persuade Ayesha to stop
campaigning against him. They went to her while she was preparing to leave for
pilgrimage, and they told her: "We pray that you stay in Medina, and that Allah may
save this man (‘Uthman) through you." Ayesha said: "I have prepared my means of
transportation and vowed to perform the pilgrimage. By God, I shall not honor your
request... I wish he (‘Uthman) was in one of my sacks so that I could carry him. I
would then throw him into the sea."
It is clear that ‘Uthman deemed Ayesha as a key figure in the opposition to ‘Uthman which is
why we had wanted Marwan to approach her and stop her acts of incitement. If Ayesha was
innocent of the charges then why did she want to throw ‘Uthman into the sea?
Her long-term plan was to have her relative Talha succeed ‘Uthman after his death. Tabari
records that whilst ‘Uthman was besieged when Ibn Abbas met Ayesha as she was making her
way to perform Hajj. Ayesha wanted Ibn Abbas to turn against ‘Uthman and she appealed to
him stating:
“Ibn Abbas, I entreat you by God: abandon this man, sow doubt about him among
the people, for you have been given a sharp tongue. Their powers of discernment
have been clarified, the beacon light is raised high to guide them, and (the Caliph’s
associates) have milked the lands that once abounded in good things. I have seen
Talha b. Ubaydullah take possession of the keys to the public treasuries and
Copyright © 2002-2003 Answering-Ansar.org. • All Rights Reserved