Ibn `Umar: "The Khawaarij behave like the Persians and the Romans"

بـسـم الله والحـمـد لله والـصلاة والـسـلام عــلى رسـول الله، وبـعـد

1. On the authority of Nafi` that `Abdullaah Ibn `Umar رضي الله عنهما said:

“`Uthmaan (Ibn `Affaan رضي الله عنه) consulted me when he was under siege, he said: ‘What is your opinion about what al-Mugheerah bin al-Akhnas* رضي الله عنه has said?’

I asked: ‘What did he say?’

`Uthmaan said: ‘He (al-Mugheerah) said: These people (i.e. the Khawaarij) want you give up this matter (i.e. the Khilaafah) and that you handover the matter to them.’  

[In the narration of Ibn Sa`d it is that `Uthmaan said: ‘They want me to give up (the Khilaafah). And if I do, they will let me live and if I don’t they will kill me.’]

I said: ‘Do you see that by handing it over to them, will you live forever in this world?’

He said: ‘No!’

I said: ‘If you do not do this, can they do anything more than to kill you?’

He said: ‘No!’

I said: ‘Do they own the Paradise and the Hellfire?’

He said: ‘No!’

I said: ‘I do not see any reason for you to introduce this matter (of giving up the rulership) in the religion, so that whenever they (the people) are discontent with the ruler that they remove him. So do not give up the dress (i.e. the Khilaafah) which Allaah عز وجل dressed you with.’”

[Imaam Ahmad mentioned it in “Fadhaail al-Sahaabah” (No. 767, pg. 1/473) and Ibn Sa`d in Tabaqaat al-Kubraa (3/66)]

* al-Mugheerah bin al-Akhnas رضي الله عنه was a companion. His mother Khaalidah was the aunt of `Uthmaan رضي الله عنه. He resembled `Uthmaan رضي الله عنه in appearance and died defending him when the Khawaarij surrounded `Uthmaan’s house and attacked it. In Usud al-Ghaabah it is mentioned that when the Khawaarij burned down the door to `Uthmaan’s house, al-Mugheerah said to `Uthmaan: “By Allaah! Lest the people say that we have betrayed you”, then he picked up his sword and went charging against the Khawaarij.

2. Saalim reported from him father, `Abdullaah ibn `Umar رضي الله عنهما that he said:

“One of the people from al-Ansaar came to me during the Caliphate of `Uthmaan رضي الله عنه and spoke with me; and he wanted me to speak out against `Uthmaan, and he spoke for a long time. He was a man with a heavy tongue (i.e. he didn’t speak clearly) and it was difficult for me to understand him with ease.

So when he finished his talk, I said to him: ‘We used to say this when the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم was still alive: ‘The most virtuous people from the Ummah of the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم after him were Abu Bakr, then `Umar, then `Uthmaan’, and by Allaah! We do not know that `Uthmaan has killed anyone unjustly (so that we can retaliate against him) nor did he commit any major sin. Rather it is this wealth (which you are after), if he gives it to you, you become pleased. And if he gives it to his near ones you become dissatisfied. Rather you want to behave like the Persians and the Romans, who do not find a ruler except that they kill him.’

Then the man’s eyes overflowed with tears and he said: ‘O Allaah! We do not want that.’ (i.e. he repented from speaking against `Uthmaan).”

[Abu Bakr bin al-Khallaal in his “al-Sunnah” (No. 546, pg. 1/386)]