Documents of the Right Word

A Jewish convert named Abdullah bin Saba’ misled many
people in Egypt. He provoked the people into insurrection by
instilling into them the idea that the office of caliphate belonged
to hadrat Alî by rights. If Amr Ibni Âs had been the governor of
Egypt in those days he would not have let this fitna arise. A few
people in Kûfa, taking offense with their governor for some
reason, began to backbite hadrat ’Uthmân. The Khalîfa banished
them to Damascus, and wrote to Mu’âwiya the governor of
Damascus to “Admonish these people!” Mu’âwiya praised the
Qoureishîs to these people and said, “Rasûl-i-ekrem employed
me in his service. Then his three Khalîfas appointed me as a
governor and were pleased with me.” He advised them very
earnestly. They would not listen to him. So he sent them to the
city of Hums. Abd-ur-rahmân bin Walîd, the governor of Hums,
treated them harshly and threatened them to make tawba. The
Khalîfa summoned Mu’âwiya, Amr Ibni Âs and the other three
governors to Medîna and asked them their opinions. Mu’âwiya
was of the opinion that the Khalîfa should “Give the governors
initiative.” However, Amr Ibni Âs ‘radiy-Allâhu ta’âlâ anhumâ’
said, “O Khalîfa! You and Benî Umayya (Umayyads) have placed
your trust in the people. You have been rather (too)
compassionate to them. Either oppress or withdraw or wield more
authority!”
Meanwhile, Ibni Saba’, who was in Egypt, was conducting
timely correspondence between himself and his men in other
provinces. They were fabricating lies, such as “Governor so and so
is oppressing the people”, multiplying these slanders by
thousands, and promulgating them far and near. The Khalîfa
heard about the (fabricated) complaints (most of them about the
governors). He convened the governors and asked them the
reasons for the complaints. Mu’âwiya said, “You appointed me
governor. And I appointed many people as officials. You will
receive goodness from them. Everybody knows and governs his
country better.” Sa’îd said, “The rumours are all slanderous. They
are being spread secretly. And people believe them. Those who
fabricate them ought to be found and killed.” Amr Ibni Âs said,
“You have behaved too softly. You have to be harsh when
necessary.” The Khalîfa went to Medîna together with the
governors. He sent for Alî and Talha and Zubeyr. (When they
met), Mu’âwiya began to talk, “You are the highest members of
the As-hâb. You have elected the Khalîfa. He is old now. Do not
rush forward.” Grieved over these statements, hadrat Alî said,
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