The result was that the dignitaries and powerful persons...

The result was that the dignitaries and powerful persons grew much richer and the common men became their slaves. We narrate below a few instances which will go to show what position Bani Umayyah enjoyed during the days of Uthman and how the state had become a plaything in their hands. Uthman gave one-fifth of the war booty received from the conquest of African countries to his cousin Marwan bin Hakam. This innovation was resented very much by the people!