Cursing the Murderers of the 3rd Caliph

بِسۡمِ ٱللهِ ٱلرَّحۡمَـٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ

Imam Ahmad ibn Muhammad ibn Hanbal (r.a.) recorded, in his Fadha’il asw-Swahabah, that Sayyidina ‘Ali ibn Abu Thalib (k.w.) said, “I hope that I, ‘Utsman, Thalhah and Zubayr are from people regarding whom Allah Says: 

سُوۡرَةُ الحِجر

وَنَزَعۡنَا مَا فِى صُدُورِهِم مِّنۡ غِلٍّ إِخۡوَٲنًا عَلَىٰ سُرُرٍ۬ مُّتَقَـٰبِلِينَ (٤٧) 

And We shall Remove from their hearts any lurking sense of injury: (they will be) brothers (joyfully) facing each other on thrones (of dignity). (Surah al-Hijr:47) 

This is also recorded by Imam Abu Bakr Ahmad ibn Husayn al-Bayhaqi (r.a.), in his al-I’tiqad ‘ala Madzhab as-Salaf Ahl as-Sunnah wa al-Jama’ah.  This was said in response to Sayyidina ‘Utsman’s (r.a.) murder. 

Sayyidina ‘Abdullah ibn Mas’ud (r.a.) said Sayyidina ‘Ali (k.w.) described him, after his passing as, “‘Utsman was the closest of us to his kin and he was among those who believe, then are fearfully aware and do good.  Allah Loves those who do good.”  This is found in al-‘Awaswim min al-Qawaswim. 

Sayyidina ‘Abdullah ibn ‘Abbas (r.a.) himself said, “If all the people had gathered to kill ‘Utsman, they would have been stoned the way the people of Luth were stoned.”  And this is found again in Fadha’il asw-Swahabah. 

Even the Shi’ah books state that not only did Sayyidina ‘Ali (k.w.) expend much effort in dispersing the siege of Sayyidina ‘Utsman’s (r.a.) house, he also sent Sayyidina Hasan (r.a.) and Sayyidina Husayn (r.a.) to guard the gates, and sent water and provisions. 

We know, from Hafizh ‘Imad ad-Din Abu al-Fida’ Isma’il ibn ‘Umar ibn Katsir’s (r.a.) al-Bidayah wa an-Nihayah, that the siege continued from the end of Dzu al-Qa’idah until Friday, the 18^th of Dzu al-Hijjah.  The day before, Sayyidina ‘Utsman (r.a.) spoke to the Muhajirun and the Answar who were with him in the house.  They were about seven hundred and included Sayyidina ‘Abdullah ibn ‘Umar (r.a.), Sayyidina ‘Abdullah ibn az-Zubayr (r.a.), Sayyidina Hasan (r.a.) and Sayyidina Husayn (r.a.), and Sayyidina Abu Hurayrah ‘Abd ar-Rahman ibn Sakhr ad-Dawsi az-Zahrani al-Azdi (r.a.) and a group of his clients.  Even Marwan ibn al-Hakam was there.  If he had let them, they would have defended him.  However, he said, “I beg whoever owes me obedience to restrain his hands and to go home.” He said to his slaves, “Whoever sheathes his sword is free.” 

When Sayyidina ‘Utsman (r.a.) was martyred, Sayyidina ‘Ali (k.w.) went to him, and fell on him weeping.  He was so still with grief, some said that it seemed as he has joined Sayyidina ‘Utsman (r.a.) in death.  This account is also written in Shi’ah works such as Muruj adz-Dzahab wa Ma’adin al-Jawhar. 

It is in both Sunni and Shi’ah works that Sayyidina ‘Ali (k.w.) and his sons cursed the murderers of Sayyidina ‘Utsman (r.a.).  The Ahl al-Bayt also prayed the swalah al-janazah over him.