Instruction to the Companions to not take up arms
Hazrat Uthman (ra) then sent a message to Hazrat Abdullah (ra) bin Salam. When Hazrat Abdullah bin Salam (ra) came he asked Hazrat Uthman (ra) what his opinion was on what was happening. Hazrat Uthman (ra) said, “Refrain from fighting, refrain from fighting, because this will be more favourable for to prove that you are on the side of the truth.”
(Ibn Saad, Al-Tabaqat al-Kubra, Vol. 3, Uthman (ra) bin Affan [Beirut, Lebanon: Dar Ihya al-Turath al-Arabi, 1996], p. 39)
Muhammad bin Sirin narrates that Hazrat Zaid (ra) bin Thabit Ansari came to Hazrat Uthman (ra) and submitted, “The Ansar have gathered at the door and are saying that if you permit, we are prepared to become Allah’s Ansar [helpers of Allah] for the second time.” Upon this, Hazrat Uthman (ra) stated, “No, do not fight under any circumstance.”
Hazrat Abu Hurairah (ra) states, “On Yaum Al-Dar [the day of the siege], I went to Hazrat Uthman (ra) and said, ‘O Amirul Momineen! The situation warrants that you raise the sword [against the rebels].’
“Hazrat Uthman (ra) stated, ‘O Abu Hurairah! Would you like to kill everyone, including me?’ I said, ‘No’. Hazrat Uthman (ra) then said, ‘By God! Even if you kill one person, it is as if you have killed everyone.’” Hazrat Abu Hurairah (ra) states that he subsequently returned home and did not partake in the battle. As mentioned before, he stated that it was time to raise the sword.
Hazrat Abdullah bin Zubair (ra) narrates that on the day of the siege, he submitted to Hazrat Uthman (ra), “O Amirul Momineen! Wage war against these people, because waging war against them has been made lawful for you by Allah the Almighty.” Hazrat Uthman (ra) stated, “By Allah! I will never wage war against them.”
The narrator states that they made their way inside and at the time Hazrat Uthman (ra) was fasting. Hazrat Uthman (ra) had appointed Hazrat Abdullah (ra) bin Zubair to guard his door and said, “Whosoever wishes to obey me, he should follow Abdullah bin Zubair.” Hazrat Abdullah (ra) bin Zubair states that he said to Hazrat Uthman (ra), “O Amirul Momineen! You have a group of people here in your house for your protection, who have the support and succour of Allah. They are fewer in number than the rebels. Grant me permission to fight against these rebels.” Hazrat Uthman (ra) stated, “I say to you in the name of Allah, no person should shed their blood for my sake, nor should anyone else’s blood be shed for my sake.”
(Ibn Saad, Al-Tabaqat al-Kubra, Vol. 3, Uthman (ra) bin Affan [Beirut, Lebanon: Dar Ihya al-Turath al-Arabi, 1996], p. 39)