THE CALIPH’S MEETING WITH THE GOVERNORS OF PROVINCES
According to At-Tabari and others, ‘ Uthmaan sent to the governors of the provinces: ‘Abdullaah Ibn ‘Amir, Mu’awiyyah Ibn Abi Sufyyaan, and ‘Abdullaah Ibn Sa’d Ibn Abi Sarh. On their arrival, ‘ Uthmaan asked Sa’eed Ibn Al-‘ As and ‘ Amr Ibn Al-‘ As to participate in the consultation. ‘Uthmaan, then, wondered: ‘“What are the reasons behind all these complaints? I am afraid lest these complaints should turn out to be founded, which, in turn, would disgrace me personally,” They said: “Haven’t you sent them your messengers? Haven’t we told you the affairs of the people? Haven’t they come back and no one has spoken to them? By Allah, they are neither truthful nor loyal? We do not know the source of these complaints? You can judge anyone according to them? They are merely false statements that no one can rely on.” He said: “What is your opinion?” Sa’eed Ibn Al-‘As said, “This was all secretly fabricated. Then, people, who do not know the reality, are to spread it amongst people.” ‘Uthmaan said: “What is the solution then?” He replied: “Bring the
persons who spread it and kill them.” ‘ Abdullaah Ibn Sa’d said: “Taking from people what they owe you after you give them their rights for this is better than leaving them.” Mu’aawiyyah said: “You have appointed me (as a governor) on some people from whom you can only expect what is good.” ‘ Uthmaan asked: “What do you say, ‘Amr?” ‘ Amr answered: “It seems to me that you have dealt with them leniently and so encouraged them to do so. You should follow in the footsteps of your two companions by behaving harshly when it is necessary and behaving leniently in proper times. Wicked people should be handled harshly, while leniency is the recompense of good people. You, however, deal with both parties alike, i.e. with leniency.”
Thus, everyone who was consulted saw that ‘ Uthmaan had to deal strictly with those people who instigated sedition. Owing to his tender nature, ‘ Uthmaan did not listen to their opinions. Instead, he commanded them to give those people their rights, to excuse them, and to forcefully combat them if Allah’s rights were violated.
Now the question is: Did those governors abide by ‘ Uthmaan*s commands? The answer is no. They neither prevented people from revolting against the Caliph, nor did they give people their rights by explaining to them the bad consequences of the revolt. Further, they did not protect Allah’s rights for, by leaving those people on the loose, they would disobey the Caliph and spread disorder in the provinces.
Each governor returned back to his province. Mu’aawiyyah, who realized the difficult situation ‘ Uthmaan was in, offered the latter to come join him in Syria. ‘ Uthmaan, however, refused to leave Madeenah, where the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, was buried. Mu’aawiyyah, alternatively, offered ‘ Uthmaan to send some Syrian soldiers to defend him against the expected danger. Yet, ‘ Uthmaan rejected the idea fearing that foreign soldiers may annoy the people of Madeenah.
Another question may be raised now, which is: Would it not have been better for ‘ Uthmaan to accept these two offers in order to escape danger and to block the avenues that might lead to evil? ‘ Uthmaan’s stance, in fact, was excusable on account of his good character and kind nature which led him to believe that people would not violate their pledge of allegiance to their Caliph. The situation therefore paved the way for the violation of the Caliph’s rights, which ushers in what we call the last stage of ‘ Uthmaan’s caliphate.
(Source: Biographies of the rightly guided Caliphs )
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