Ali Ibn Abi Talib - Volume 1 of 2

'Ali ibn Abi Ttlib 285
Egypt, when you had travelled a long distance, then you came
In fact, 'Ali (&) was certain about that and said: "By
Allah, this was a plan that was drawn up in adi in ah.""^
This cursed letter was not the first letter fabricated by these
criminals. They also fabricated letters that were attributed to the
Mothers of the Believers, as well as 'Ali, Talhah and az-Zubayr.
'kishah (@&) was accused of having written to the people, telling
them to rebel against 'Uthmin (&), but she denied it and said: "No,
by the One in Whom the believers believe, and in Whom the
disbelievers disbelieve, I never wrote anything to them until I sat here
where I am."246
Al-A'mash commented: "They thought that it had been falsely
attributed to The delegates accused 'Ali (&) of having
written to them, telling them to come to Madinah, but he denied that
and swore: "By Allah, I did not write any letter to
Letters to people in other regions, telling them to come to
Madinah because the religion of Mulpmmad (g) had been cormpied
and abandoned and stating that jihad in Madinah was better than
staying in remote outposts, were also attributed to the
~om~anions.~~~ Ibn Katheer commented on this report by
saying: "This is a lie against the Companions, and the letters were
fabrications against them. Fabricated letters that were attributed to
'Ali, Talhah and az-Zubayr, which they denied, were sent to the
rebels - the killers of 'Uthmiin (&). This letter was also falsely
attributed to 'Uthm2n (&); be did not tell anyone to write it for him,
,.,
and be was not aware of it."Z50 The words of Ibn Katheer are
confumed by the report of at-Tabari, as quoted by Khaleefah, which
says that the senior Companions themselves -'Ali, 'i'ishah and az-
Zubayr - denied these letters, according to the most sound
reports.251