Some people asked Huwaytib ibn `Abd al-`Uzza...

Some people asked Huwaytib ibn `Abd al-`Uzza, in whose house Busr’s mother lived, to do something to save them. He told Busr, “These people are the companions of the Prophet (a.s). They are neither the killers of `Uthman nor did they have anything to do with the conspiracy of killing him! Leave them alone!” Busr did not agree. When they agreed to enter the bay`ah of Mu`awiyah, he allowed them to go home.

But those on whom he had doubt that they would not owe allegiance to Mu`awiyah, he got their homes burned down. These were the homes of Abū-Ayyūb al-Ansari, `Abdullah ibn Sa`d, Rafa`ah ibn Rafi` al-Azraqi and Zurarah ibn Harūn. At the arrival of Busr, many people abandoned their homes and fled. Among them was Jabir ibn `Abdullah al-Ansari who left his home and took shelter elsewhere.

When Busr did not see Jabir, he told a branch of Banū-Salamah that if they did not produce Jabir in front of him, the safety of their lives and property could not be guaranteed. When Jabir learned that the lives of the people of his tribe were in jeopardy, he went in the darkness of the night to Umm al-Mu’minin Ummu-Salamah and told her, “I have come to you to take your advice! What should I do in these circumstances?

“She said, “For you there is no other alternative than owing allegiance to Mu`awiyah and saving the lives of your men and your own! Although this bay`ah is sheer deviation, I have also advised my son `Umar ibn Abi-Salamah and my son-in-law `Abdullah ibn Zum`ah to save themselves by entering into it” Therefore Jabir very unwillingly went to Busr and entered into the bay`ah of Mu`awiyah.

All the days that Busr was in al-Madinah the clouds of terror and fear were hovering over the place and people were forced to owe their allegiance to the tyrannical force of Busr! Busr spared their lives and said, “O people of al-Madinah! You did not deserve that even a single person here should be allowed to live because in front of your eyes `Uthman was killed and you did not do anything to help him.

Although I am forgiving you in this world, I hope that you will be deprived of Allah’s Blessings in the Hereafter! I am appointing Abū-Hurayrah as the governor of al-Madinah on behalf of the government of Syria. Beware! Do not act against his orders!” Then he proceeded towards Makkah. When he reached near Makkah, spreading terror at all the places on the way, the governor of Makkah, Qathm ibn `Abbas quietly left the city. Most of the inhabitants of Makkah had left the place.