Nasb-and-the-Nawasib

The Second Discussion
The Causes of its Inception
It is an undisputed fact that any event has a repercussion, or a set of repercussions,
which at times are direct and at times although not direct but play a very
instrumental role in some way or the other in to the existence or strength of
other movements.
At first it is possible to categorise the causes of the inception of Naṣb into two
categories:
The first category: Plausible causes, which are the following:
The First Cause: The martyrdom of ʿUthmān I
The assassination of the Khalīfah ʿUthmān I was the first spark which
brought about social imbalance regarding ʿAlī I. This was due to the common
assumption that he played some sort of role in what had happened, either by
conspiring against the Khalīfah or due to being pleased with what had befell
him. 1 Whereas it is a well-established fact that the life of ʿUthmān I was not
just inviolable, but together with that he was the Khalīfah of the Muslims and
their leader. Hence the silence of ʿAlī I in this regard was indeed a matter of
question.
This assumption was, of course, not going to leave the hearts of those in which
it had become entrenched without effect and it resulted in them detracting
from ʿAlī I and becoming disillusioned with him. Hence based upon this false
assumption they rebelled against him, fought him several times, and harassed
him tremendously. 2
1 Minhāj al-Sunnah al-Nabawiyyah 7/452.
2 Asnā al-Maṭālib fī Ṣilah al-Aqārib p. 404 (with a slight change).
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