Imam Ali (AS) frequently reminded Uthman about the danger of Marwan, but in vain.

Imam Ali (AS) frequently reminded Uthman about the danger of Marwan, but in vain. The following conversation between Imam Ali and Uthman testifies this fact. It happened when Uthman was being attacked, and thus he asked Ali for help. Uthman said to Imam Ali: "You see the trouble caused by this band of dissidents when they came to me today. I know that you enjoy prestige among people and that they will listen to you. I want you to go to them and send them away from me.

I do not wish them to come before me, for that would be an insulting act toward me on their part. Let others hear this as well." Ali said: "On what grounds shall I send them away?" Uthman replied: "On the grounds that I shall carry out what you have counseled me to do and you thought right, and I will not deviate from you direction." Then Ali said: "In fact I have spoken to you time after time, and you and I discussed such matters at length.

All this is the doing of Marwan Ibn al-Hakam, Saeed Ibn al-Aas, Ibn Amir, and Muawiyah. You have listened to them and defied me." Uthman said: "then I shall defy them and listen to you." Sunni reference: History of al-Tabari, English version, v15, p173 Then Imam Ali spoke to people and asked them to go away from Uthman, and thus many of them retreated.

Then Imam came to Uthman and informed him that people are gone, and said: "Make a statement which the people will testify that they have heard from you, and God will be witness as to whether or not you desire to repent in your heart." Thus, Uthman went out and preached the sermon in which he laid before the people his heartfelt desire to repent, and said: "By God, O people, if any one of you has blamed (me), he has not done anything that is unknown to me. I have done nothing unknowingly.

But my soul has raised vain hopes within me and lied to me, and my virtue has slipped away from me. ...I ask God's forgiveness for what I have done and I turn to him. A man like me yearns to repent." Then people had pity on him, and some among them wept. Saeed Ibn Zayd stood up before him (Uthman) and said: "O commander of faithful, (from now on) no one comes to you who does not support you.

Fear God, in your soul fear God, and fulfill what you have said!" When Uthman descended (from the pulpit), he found Marwan Ibn al-Hakam and Seed Ibn al-Aas, and a few other Umayad at his house. Marwan said: "Should I speak (to people) or remain silent?" Uthman's wife said: "Nay! Be silent, for they will kill him of sin.