The life of the Caliph was mixed with the love of the sons of his father, the
progeny of Umayyah, who were the same tree, which is cursed in Holy Quran.
He gave them precedence over others and this inner affection had deep roots and
was apparent from him from the first day and whoever recognized him
recognized this.
Umar bin Khattab said to Ibne Abbas: “If Uthman takes over the kingdom,
he would impose the sons of Abu Muit on people and if he does this, they would
eliminate him.”1
When Uthman appointed Walid bin Uqbah as governor of Kufa, Ali, Talha
and Zubair questioned this decision and asked: “Did Umar not advise you not to
impose the progeny of Abu Muit and Bani Umayyah on people?” He did not give
any reply.2
He put all his efforts on establishment of kingdom of Bani Umayyah that
exercised power on complete Islamic territories for centuries, but destiny made
him a failure in this; and a beautiful everlasting mention and continuous praises in all periods remained for the progeny of Ali (a.s.).
As for the progeny Harb, you will not find anyone, who may be attributed to
them and they are forgotten stories and we don’t see any remembrance from
them.
The Caliph appointed as governors of important and sensitive districts,
wanton youths of Bani Umayyah, who were arrogant, rebellious, having
arrogance of youth, and were extremely selfish.
Youths, who paid scant attention to their words and deeds and Caliph did not
listen to any criticism regarding them.
These fellows were just as the Messenger of Allah (s.a.w.a.) had informed:
“Indeed, the corruption of my Ummah is at the hands of the foolish youths of
Quraish.”3
These were the implications of the statement of Holy Prophet (s.a.w.a.):
“After me there will be rulers, who would say things, which they do not do and
would do what they are not commanded to.”4
Uthman, while he appointed them, was cognizant of each of them and this
was while it is narrated from the Messenger of Allah (s.a.w.a.) that: “One, who
appoints someone over Muslims, while he knows that among them is someone
more eligible, more knowledgeable about Holy Quran and Sunnah of Prophet,
indeed he has been dishonest with Almighty Allah and His Messenger.”5
It is mentioned in Tamheed of Baqilani that:6 “One, who takes precedence
over a group of Muslims, while he knows that there is among them someone
more excellent than him, has indeed committed dishonesty with God, His Prophet
and the Muslims.”
Thus, the period of these youths was a period of turmoil and disturbance for
the Ummah. The mischiefs started from them and reverted to them. And you will
see governors of that period as rejected and cursed, till the accursed lizard and the
transgressor, who insulted the Holy Quran, till hypocritical freed slave, and from
the youth brought up in opulence, and silly young men.
After all this, the Caliph wished that the keys of Paradise had been in his
hands so that he hands them over to Bani Umayyah and all of them enter
Paradise. Ahmad in his Musnad,7 has narrated on the authority of Saalim bin Jaud
that: Uthman invited some companions of Prophet: among them being Ammar
bin Yasir and Uthman said: “I ask you to testify for me, do you know that
Messenger of Allah (s.a.w.a.) chose Quraish over all the people and Bani Hashim over the rest of the Quraish?”
Those people were silent. Uthman said: “If I had the keys of Paradise, I
would have given them to Bani Umayyah so that all of them had entered it.”
The chains of narrators of this report is correct and all its narrators are
trustworthy.
As if the Caliph was under the impression that this discord, which was
present in his bestowals would remain with him till the gate of Paradise so that he
may restrict the bounties of Paradise for his clansmen, just as he restricted
material wealth for them.
ايَطْمَعُ كُلُّ امْرِى مِنْهُمْ أَنْ يُدْخَلَ جَنَّةَ نَعِيمٍ
“Does every man from them desire that he should be made to enter the garden of bliss?”8
أَمْ حَسِبَ ٱلَّذِينَ ٱجْتَرَحُوا۟ ٱلسَّيِّـَٔاتِ أَن نَّجْعَلَهُمْ كَٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوا۟ وَعَمِلُوا۟ ٱلصَّـٰلِحَـٰتِ سَوَآءًۭ مَّحْيَاهُمْ وَمَمَاتُهُمْ ۚ سَآءَ مَا يَحْكُمُونَ (٢١)
“Nay! do those who have wrought evil deeds think that We will
make them like those who believe and do good that their life and
their death shall be equal?”9
إِنَّ ٱلْأَبْرَارَ لَفِى نَعِيمٍۢ (١٣) وَإِنَّ ٱلْفُجَّارَ لَفِى جَحِيمٍۢ (١٤) يَصْلَوْنَهَا يَوْمَ ٱلدِّينِ (١٥)
“Most surely the righteous are in bliss, and most surely the
wicked are in burning fire, they shall enter it on the day of
judgment.”10
كَلَّآ إِنَّ كِتَـٰبَ ٱلْفُجَّارِ لَفِى سِجِّينٍۢ (٧)
“Nay! most surely the record of the wicked is in the Sijjin.”11
كَلَّا ۖ لَيُنۢبَذَنَّ فِى ٱلْحُطَمَةِ (٤) وَمَآ أَدْرَىٰكَ مَا ٱلْحُطَمَةُ (٥) نَارُ ٱللَّهِ ٱلْمُوقَدَةُ (٦) ٱلَّتِى تَطَّلِعُ عَلَى ٱلْأَفْـِٔدَةِ (٧)
“Nay! he shall most certainly be hurled into the crushing
disaster, and what will make you realize what the crushing
disaster is? It is the fire kindled by Allah, Which rises above the
hearts.”12
وَأُزْلِفَتِ ٱلْجَنَّةُ لِلْمُتَّقِينَ (٩٠) وَبُرِّزَتِ ٱلْجَحِيمُ لِلْغَاوِينَ (٩١)
“And the garden shall be brought near for those who guard
(against evil), and the hell shall be made manifest to the erring
ones,”13
ۖإِنَّ ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوا۟ وَعَمِلُوا۟ ٱلصَّـٰلِحَـٰتِ وَأَخْبَتُوٓا۟ إِلَىٰ رَبِّهِمْ أُو۟لَـٰٓئِكَ أَصْحَـٰبُ ٱلْجَنَّةِ
“Surely (as to) those who believe and do good and humble
themselves to their Lord, these are the dwellers of the garden.”14
Are you not amazed at this Caliph that he did not like Holy Prophet
(s.a.w.a.) giving precedence to Bani Hashim over the rest of Quraish and his
inappropriate and blind prejudice instigated him to issue such insult to the
statement of the Prophet, which Ahmad has narrated?15
“O group of Bani Hashim, I swear by one, who sent me as a true
prophethood, if I take the circle of Paradise, I will not start, but with you.”16