“Sabrah said...

“Sabrah said, “If you get up from Banū-Tamim and come over to me and stay at my home, we shall help you and provide you amnesty! “`Amir said, “I am supposed to stay where I have been ordered to stay!” When Sabrah heard this, he went away angrily! The governor of al-Basrah, `Abdullah ibn `Abbas was in al-Kūfah at that time to give his condolences on the demise of Muhammad ibn Abi-Bakr and the governorate was in the hands of Ziyad ibn `Ubayd.

On the arrival of Ibn `Amir, Ziyad was worried because Banū-Tamim, and others who wanted the qisas , were in favor of Ibn `Amir. He called Hazin ibn al-Mundhir and Malik ibn tasmah to the governor’s house and told them, “O people of the tribe of Bakr ibn Wa’il! You are counted amongst the supporters of Amir al-Mu’minin (a.s)! I am concerned about the interference and mischief of the enemy.

Until the instructions for action are received from Amir al-Mu’minin (a.s), give me protection.” Hazin ibn al-Mundhir said, “If you are asking for protection, I am ready to give it!” But Malik said, “I cannot tell anything without asking my men.” When Ziyad felt that Malik was trying to evade the issue of protection he sent word to Sabrah ibn Shayman al-Azdi to give him protection and protect the bayt al-mal .

Therefore, overnight Ziyad shifted to his place and the bayt al-mal and the pulpit too were shifted there. When the governor’s house was vacant after Ziyad shifted, Banū-Tamim and their cohorts wanted to keep Ibn `Amir there. Therefore, they proceeded towards the governor’s house with Ibn `Amir. When Banū-Azd saw this, they too came with their horses and said that we shall not allow an undesirable person to stay in the Dar al-Imarah.

When insistence started from the other side, the situation worsened and al-Ahnaf ibn Qays intervened and told the companions of Ibn `Amir that they did not have more right than the others on the governor’s house nor it was right to force a person on them whom they consider undesirable. With the persuasion of al-Ahnaf, they went back to their homes. Ziyad wrote to `Abdullah ibn `Abbas that Mu`awiyah had sent Ibn `Amir al-Hadrami who was staying with Banū-Tamim.

He was instigating people to start claiming retaliation for the blood of `Uthman once again. Lot of people from al-Basrah have joined him. He wrote that he had taken shelter with Sabrah ibn Shayman al-Azdi and the bayt al-mal too was shifted to Banū-Azd.