Details of the Dispute between Hazrat Ubaidullah bin Umar (ra) and Hazrat Uthman (ra)

In the previous sermon, I mentioned the dispute between Hazrat Ubaidullah bin Umar (ra) and Hazrat Uthman (ra) in relation to the martyrdom of Hazrat Umar (ra). Allah knows best as to how authentic that narration is, but nonetheless it is mentioned therein that they also fought with each other. I will now mention various details that have come to light after further research on this matter.

At one place, it has been mentioned that Hazrat Uthman (ra) had not yet been elected as the Khalifa when Hazrat Ubaidullah bin Umar (ra) had a disagreement with him. It has previously been mentioned that Ubaidullah (ra) intended to kill every slave in Medina. The early Muhajireen came together and confronted him and tried to stop him and also warned him. Upon this, Ubaidullah (ra) said, “By God! I will most certainly kill them all”, i.e. all the prisoners and slaves. However, Amr (ra) bin Al-Aas continuously reasoned with him, until he handed his sword over to him. Following this, Saad (ra) bin Abi Waqas approached him in order to reason with him, but he fought him as well.

As has previously been mentioned, a fight broke out between Ubaidullah and Hazrat Uthman (ra) and people tried to settle the dispute. It is stated that when this incident took place, people had not yet pledged allegiance to Hazrat Uthman (ra); that is, he had not yet been elected as the Khalifa, as mentioned earlier.

(Muhammad Raza, Sirat Umar Faruq (ra) [translated] [Lahore, Pakistan: Maktabah Islamiyyah, 2010] pp. 342-343)

There are also narrations that state that Hazrat Ubaidullah (ra) was imprisoned after this. After the people pledged allegiance to Hazrat Uthman (ra) and he was elected as the Khalifa, Hazrat Ubaidullah (ra) was brought before Hazrat Uthman (ra). Hazrat Uthman (ra) addressed a gathering of Muhajireen and Ansar and asked them, “Give me your opinion with regard to this individual who has caused such disarray within Islam.”

Hazrat Ali (ra) bin Abi Talib said, “It goes against justice not to hold him accountable and in my opinion, he should be executed”, i.e. referring to Ubaidullah bin Umar (ra). However, some Muhajireen considered this view to be intolerable, harsh and extreme and they said, “Umar (ra) was assassinated only yesterday, should his son then be executed today?”

This objection saddened the people that were present and Hazrat Ali (ra) also remained silent. Nevertheless, Hazrat Uthman (ra) desired for someone in the gathering to find a solution to this delicate matter and give a suggestion. Hazrat Amr (ra) bin Al-Aas was among those present in this gathering, he said, “Allah has excused you from this matter. This occurred when you were not yet the leader of the Muslims and as this incident did not take place during your Khilafat, the responsibility of this does not fall upon you.”

However, Hazrat Uthman (ra) was not satisfied with this opinion and considered it best for some blood money to be paid. Accordingly, he said, “I am the guardian of those that were killed and as such, I will set an amount of blood money and then pay it from my personal wealth.”

(Hazrat Umar Farooq A‘zam, Muhammad Husain Haikal, pp. 881-882, Islami Kutub Khana, Lahore)

This is one opinion regarding this entire incident.

According to Tarikh al-Tabari, Hazrat Uthman (ra) handed Hazrat Ubaidullah (ra) over to the son of Hormuzan so that he may avenge his father by killing him; however, the son forgave him.