Ali Ibn Abi Talib - Volume 1 of 2

'Ali ibn Abi Ttlib 287
them).253 It was as if he was saying: If a person's actions and virtues
are like this, is it possible that he could have worldly ambitions and
give them precedence over the hereafter? Does it make sense that he
would betray the trust and tamper with the wealth of ihe Ummah and
the lives of its people, knowing what consequences that will have for
him before Allah (B), when he is one who was taught and educated
by the Prophet (@I, when the Prophet (@) is the one who testified to
his virtues and praised him, as did the senior Companions? Is this the
proper way to treat such a man?
But the rebel siege of Madinah intensified until the insurgents
were leading the people in prayer most of the time.z54 The
Companions realised that the situation was not as they thought, and
they feared that something might happen that would lead to bad
consequences. They had heard that the people wanted to kill 'Uthmgn
(&I, so they offered to defend him and expel the thugs from
Madinah, but he refused to allow blood to be shed on his account.255
The senior Companions (may Allah be pleased with them) sent their
sons to defend 'Uthmh (&) without asking him; among them were
al-Hasan ibn 'Ali and Abdullah ibn az-Znbayr (&). Some of the
reports state that al-Hasan was carried wounded from the
and others were also wounded, namely AbduUah ibn az-Zubayr,
Muhammad ihn Hitib and Marwin ibn al-Hakam. Al-Husayn ibn
'Ali and Ibn 'Umar (may Allah be pleased with them) were also with
them.257
'Ali (&) . defended 'Uthmh (4) the most of all the people,
.,
as Marwih ihn al-Hakam te~tified.~" He was one of the closest of
people to 'Uthmh (&), and he remained close to him throughout
that painful and harsh turmoil. Ibn 'As%ir narrated from Jibir ibn
Abdullah (&) that 'Ali (&) sent word to 'Uthmh (&), saying: "I
have five hundred armed fighters with me; give me permission so
that I can protect you against those people. You have not done