Revolt in Medina Against Hazrat Usman (ra)

When the mischievous hypocrites and rebels caused a revolt in Medina against Hazrat Usman (ra), unfortunately out of his naivety Hazrat Ammar bin Yasir (ra) was also misled and deceived by them, although he did not physically support them in any way.

Hazrat Khalifatul Masih II (ra) says, “There were only three residents of Medina who supported the rebels; one was Muhammad bin Abi Bakr, who was the son of Hazrat Abu Bakr (ra). Historians are of the view that since people showed him respect due to his father, he began to think that he held a position of rank as well. Other than this [factor], neither did he hold any worldly precedence, nor did he benefit from the company of the Holy Prophet (sa) and nor did he gain special religious education afterwards. He was born in the days of Hajjatul-wida [the last Hajj performed by the Holy Prophet (sa)] and was still a suckling baby at the time when the Holy Prophet (sa) passed away. He was only four when Hazrat Abu Bakr (ra) passed away and was unable to benefit from the upbringing of this exemplary man.

“The second person was Muhammad bin Abi Huzaifah. He was not from among the Companions either. His father had been martyred in the battle of Yamamah and Hazrat Usman (ra) had taken his upbringing upon himself. He had nurtured him from childhood. When Hazrat Usman (ra) became Khalifa, he asked him for a post but Hazrat Usman (ra) refused. He then asked for permission to go out and take up some form of work. Hazrat Usman (ra) granted him permission, so he went to Egypt. Upon reaching there, he joined the supporters of Abdullah bin Saba and began inciting people against Hazrat Usman (ra). When the rebels of Egypt attacked Medina, he came along with them. However, after having come some distance, he returned, and was not present in Medina at the time of this conflict.

“The third person was Ammar bin Yasir (ra), who was one of the Companions. The reason he fell to deception was because he was not very informed in the field of politics. When Hazrat Usman (ra) sent him to Egypt so that he could return with a report on the administration of its governor, Abdullah bin Saba welcomed him and turned him against the governor of Egypt. Moreover, since the governor had bitterly opposed the Holy Prophet (sa) in his days of disbelief and had accepted Islam after the victory of Mecca, Ammar bin Yasir (ra) was quickly ensnared by them”, meaning that since the Governor was once a hostile enemy of the Holy Prophet (sa) and due to his own love for the Holy Prophet (sa), he became influenced by those who were conspiring against Hazrat Usman (ra) and his governor. Ammar bin Yasir (ra) thought that since he [i.e. the governor] was opposed to Islam previously, his heart may not have accepted Islam fully and for this reason he was acting in the manner that he was.

“Nevertheless, after creating suspicion against the governor, Abdullah bin Saba slowly made him suspicious of Hazrat Usman (ra) as well. However, Ammar bin Yasir (ra) did not practically participate in the rebellion. Although he was present in Medina when it was attacked, apart from sitting quietly at home and not taking part in opposing the rebels, practically, he did not take any part in the rebellion. (Thus, his only weakness was that he did not actively oppose the rebels that attacked Medina.) However, he was completely innocent of the crimes committed by the rebels.”