ভূমিকা
Shiavault - a Vault of Shia Islamic Books Biography of Imam `alĪ Ibn AbĪ-tĀlib The Atrocities of Busr Bin Arta’ah Yemen was under Amir al-Mu’minin (a.s) but there was a sizeable number of fans of `Uthman as well. Although they had entered into the bay`ah of the Imam (a.s) their hearts were elsewhere! Their attitude with the governor of Yemen, `Ubaydullah ibn `Abbas too was inimical.
When Muhammad ibn Abi-Bakr was killed in Egypt, and the guerilla attacks on the Iraqi territory by the Syrians continued at regular intervals, the inimical element in Yemen too started their act. They started instigating people to claim the retaliation for the blood of `Uthman. When `Ubaydullah ibn `Abbas knew about this intrigue, he called some important persons and told them what he was hearing about them. They said what he had heard was right.
They said that from the very beginning they thought that the killing of `Uthman was a calamity and that those who had killed him, and those who created the circumstances for the killing, must be punished. When `Ubaydullah felt that the intrigue was rising in the province, he put those persons under house arrest. They sent messages to the army men who subscribed to their thinking to create a revolt in their ranks and remove the chief, Sa`id ibn Nimran.
Therefore, they revolted and snatched away the command from him. The army was totally demoralized and splinter groups were formed. Since the martial strength was affected, the civilian unrest started raising its head. Those who were quiet until then started airing their views openly. And even those who did not subscribe to their views, joined with them to avoid paying the zakat and the tribute.
`Ubaydullah ibn `Abbas, Sa`id ibn Nimran and important Shi`ah met to decide the strategy to face the situation. They decided to inform about the situation to Amir al-Mu’minin (a.s) in detail and act on his advice. They thought that if they themselves started hostilities with the fans of `Uthman they did not know what will be the consequences. Therefore, the details were communicated to the Imam (a.s). When he read their report, folds appeared on his forehead.
He wrote to `Ubaydullah and Sa`id, “Whatever has happened is because of your poor politics! Otherwise they were not important enough to be given any importance! Neither they are more in numbers nor do they have any power. You must talk and convince them to be the men of piety. If they come back to the Right Path, we shall thank Allah!