THE FIRST CASE BEFORE ‘UTHMAAN
According to 10 historians, ‘ Abdur-Rahmaan Ibn Abu Bakr said: ‘ Abdur-Rahmaan Ibn ‘ Auf saw the dagger with which ‘ Umar was killed with Al-Hurmudhaan and Jufaynah. He also said when ‘Umar was stabbed: “I passed by Abu Lu’lu’ah, ‘Umar’s murderer, while he was secretly talking to Al- Hurmudhaan and Jufaynah, one of the Christians of Al-Hayrah. When 1 caught them off guard, they were startled and dropped a two-edged dagger with its handle in the middle. So see whether it is the one.”
A man from Banu Tameem went out to arrest the murderer. He did manage to get hold of him and kill him. He then brought back the sword which was described by ‘ Abdur- Rahmaan Ibn Abu Bakr. When ‘ Ubaydullah Ibn ‘ Umar heard that, he waited until ‘ Umar died, then grabbed a sword, headed for Al-Hurmudhaan and killed him. He next searched for Jufaynah and killed him too. However, Ibn ‘ Umar then killed the daughter of Abu Lu’lu’ah. At this point, Sa’d Ibn Abi Waqqaas was able to snatch the sword from him. He overpowered him and locked him up in his house, with the permission of Suhayb who was then the acting caliph.
No sooner had people pledged allegiance to ‘ Uthmaan as the new caliph than ‘Ubaydclalah Ibn ‘Umar was brought before him in the mosque in order to pass a judgment in his case. ‘Uthmaan sought the opinion of the elderly among the Makkan Emigrants and the Medinan Supporters saying: “I need your advice as regards this person who caused a rupture in Islam with his crime.” ‘ Ali said: “He should be killed.” Some Makkan Emigrants pointed: “‘Umar was killed yesterday and his son will be killed today!”
Hence, ‘ Uthmaan was confronted with difficulty, not to mention delicate situations in his early days in office. But he was able to handle the situation immediately. The caliph said: “I am the guardian of those killed, so I will take blood money instead, and it will be deducted from my money.” No doubt that the caliph displayed obvious wisdom in dealing with a very thorny and complicated issue.
The reason why that was such a precarious situation was because ‘ Umar Ibn Al-Khattaah, a prominent figure in the Islamic world, was killed the day before, and the perpetrator was put to death right away. Killing Abu Lu’lu’ah was indeed the just penalty, according to the law of equality in punishment (Al-Qisaas), since it was one soul that executed the crime.
” Ubaydelalah Ibn ‘ Umar, having heard the story of ‘ Abdur-Rahmaan Ibn Abu Bakr, had a different opinion. Me believed that all three of them: Abu Lu’lu’ah, Al-Hurmudhaan and Jufaynah collaborated and teamed up to assassinate his beloved father. But Abu Lu’lu’ah was the one chosen to put the plan in effect. Still, the crime was masterminded by the three men. As a result, v Ubaydelalah grew furious as he contemplated the idea that his father, ‘ Umar Ibn Al-Khattab, was no ordinary man. He was the caliph of the Muslim state. Killing him would not be a mere crime to be committed by an ordinary criminal. There must be several motives and collaborators behind it. That was especially true since the three criminals were nursed bitter hatred and harbored vindictive feelings against Islam and Muslims. That went double for their caliph who conquered their countries and subjected them and their nations to the rule of Muslims. It was only natural therefore for them to commit such a hideous crime.
For three days while his father suffered the pain of the injury, his son was fuming with rage against the devilish perpetrators. Right upon his father’s death, ‘ Ubaydelalah did not think twice to avenge his father’s death. However, he crossed the line by he killing a girl who had no hand in killing the caliph. No Abu Lu’lu’ah’s daughter was undoubtedly the victim of ‘ Ubaidullah’s rash action.
When this case was brought before ‘Uthmaan, he certainly displayed admirable wisdom and subtleness in handling a thorny situation that could have easily given way to sedition and trouble among a nation that was still grieving a heavy loss. Instead. ‘Uthmaan managed to solve the problem and restore peace and harmony among Muslims.
(Source: Biographies of the rightly guided Caliphs )
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John Doe
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John Doe
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