He knew 'Ali well and was acquainted with his mentality and...

He knew 'Ali well and was acquainted with his mentality and his knowledge of the Islamic laws, apart from knowing that 'Ali would never sacrifice the injunctions of God and His prophet for the covetings of a group of selfish and ambitious individuals, or waste twenty-three year long efforts of the Prophet for a few days of rule and assumption of power. Consequently 'Ali would not accept the ways and policies of Abu Bakr and 'Umar.

'Umar himself was aware of this, and he may well have given 'Abd ar-Rahman certain instructions how to act in this case. In view of this matter, and as the course of history and available evidence show, and because of the collusions behind closed doors in those days, we see that 'Abd ar- Rahman could not agree with 'Ali's caliphate upon his refusal to accept the third condition.

'Ali was not prepared to sell his faith for this world of theirs, and knowing well that with his refusal to follow the ways of the two elder caliphs, he would lose the chance of being chosen as caliph, he replied at once: "I accept the Book of God and the Prophet's tradition, but not the ways of the two sheikhs.

I adopt my own way." If 'Abd ar-Rahman members pledged allegiance to 'Uthman on Saturday, first of Muharram, 24th year after Hijrah, three days after the burial of 'Umar, since 'Uthman had accepted all the conditions laid down by 'Abd ar-Rahman. 'Uthman became caliph and ruled for twelve years. The period of 'Uthman's rule can be divided into two parts: the period of confirmation and support, and the period of wrath and rebellion.

It was that same wrath and rebellion as well as people's uprising against the confusion in the country and the selfishness of 'Uthman's companions, most of whom were the Umayyads, which caused 'Uthman's overthrow and death, and made the assassination of the caliph something simple and feasible. As we said in our account of 'A'ishah, in people's uprising against 'Uthman and his assassination by the rebels, 'A'ishah played a very effective role.

There is a difference of opinion about the date of 'Uthman's death, and it is stated to have occurred between 12th and 28th of the month of Dhu al-Hijjah of the year 35 AH. His age, too, at the time of his death is stated to have been between 82 and 92. His body was buried after three days outside the al-Baqi' cemetery in a place called Hash Kawkab, which was the Jews' cemetery, surrounded by four walls.