Scholar of this Ummah and cousin of Holy Prophet (s.a.w.a.).
1. In Al-Istiab, Abu Umar has quoted from Tariq, in the biography of Ameerul Momineen (a.s.) that:1 Some people came to Ibne Abbas and said: We
would like to ask you a question. He replied: You can ask whatever you want.
They said: What kind of man Abu Bakr was? He replied: ‘He was all right’ or he
said: ‘he was okay’. In spite of the enmity that he had towards him. They asked:
What kind of man Umar was? He replied: ‘He was like a careful bird, which
thinks that everywhere a trap is laid for him.’ They asked: What kind of man
Uthman was? He replied: ‘He was a man awakened from sleep and who was
occupied in this personal gains.” They asked: “What kind of man Ali was?” He
replied: ‘His inside was full of wisdom, knowledge, valor and strength; and he
was related Holy Prophet (s.a.w.a.). And he knew he would not stretch his hand,
except that he would achieve it. And did not stretch his hand, except that he
achieved it.
2. It is mentioned in the letter, which Muawiyah wrote to Ibne Abbas: I
swear by my life, if I kill you for the sake of Uthman, I hope it would be
approved by Almighty Allah and that it would be a correct decision, because you
spoke ill of him and did not help him; you shed his blood and between me and
you there is no proximity that should prevent me from apprehending you and you
have no guarantee of security from me.2
So Ibne Abbas wrote a long letter in reply to it, in which it is mentioned: As
for what you said that I spoke ill of Uthman and did not render help to him, and
shed his blood and there is no proximity between me and you that should prevent
you from apprehending me, by God, you were waiting for his killing and you
wanted him to be killed.
You prevented people around you from rendering assistance to him; in spite
of the fact that you were aware of his situation. Indeed, you received his letter
seeking your help, but paid no attention to it. Till you sent money to him to make
up with him, you knew that they would not leave him till he is killed. So he was
killed as you wanted him to be.
After that you began to call out for revenging the blood of Uthman and accused us falsely for killing him and that he was killed oppressed. Thus, if he
were killed oppressed, you are the most oppressive of oppressors. After that you
deceived the innocent and sought help against us and at last achieved what you
wanted. And I don’t know perhaps this test is for you and is a source of respite
till an appointed term.
Allamah Amini says: The knowledgeable of this Ummah had no
interference in attack on house of Uthman and that year he was the guardian of
Hajj pilgrims, but you will see him that he does not believe in any value for
Uthman. It is from this aspect that he asked the Caliph: Fulfill the right of the
seat, and did not describe Uthman, except that which informs us of his
insufficiency.
Due to this viewpoint he remained silent from cursing the killers of Uthman
when Muawiyah wrote to him:
“Go to the Masjid and curse the killers of Uthman.”
He replied: “Uthman has son, confidants and relatives, who are more worthy
of cursing his enemies; thus if they want, they would curse and if they want to
refrain, they would refrain from it.”3
10. Tradition of Amr bin Aas4
More than that in a lengthy tradition, we quoted the statement of Imam
Hasan (a.s.), holy grandson of Messenger of Allah (s.a.w.a.) to Amr bin Aas that
he said:
“As for the incident of Uthman, which you have mentioned; thus, it was you,
who lit the fire for him in this world; then you went to Palestine. And when you
heard the report of his death, you said: I am Abu Abdullah, when I scratch the
wound I make it bleed. Then you dedicated yourself to Muawiyah and sold your
religion for his world. Then we would not condemn you for enmity and will not
be angry due to friendship; and by God, when Uthman was alive, you did not
help him and when he was killed you were not angered.”
In Al-Istiab,5 Abu Umar has mentioned in the biography of Abdullah bin
Saad bin Abi Sarah that: Amr bin Aas condemned Uthman and instigated people
against him and tried to spoil his situation. When he received the news of
Uthman’s killing in Palestine, where he was dismissed, he said: “Indeed, when I
injure the skin, I make it bleed.” Or said something similar.
It is written in the biography of Muhammad bin Abu Huzaifah that:6 Since
Uthman deposed Amr bin Aas from governorship of Egypt, he began to instigate
people against Uthman and condemn him.
Allamah Amini says: In view of Ahle Sunnat, he was a senior companion
and was regarded as just; and he had such point of view of regarding the Caliph!